How to Tie Dye Using Onion Peels

This is an organic eco-friendly way to tie-dye fabrics using the peels from onions that you have from home or can easily find at the grocery store. Some of the items that you will need are onion peels, (yellow or red) vinegar, rubber bands, pot, colander, something white such as a t-shirt (cotton material best) bowl, rubber gloves, and plastic bag.

Steps

1
Take outer peels off of the onion. Peel only the dry outside outer part of onion peel with the most visible yellow or red color.
2
Place onion peels in large pot.

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3
Pour water over peels. Use enough water to fully cover peels with an inch or 2 over the peels.
4
Place pot on the stove and bring to high heat until the water reaches a boil. Turn stove down to low to medium heat and simmer for 1 hour.
5
Place colander over a large bowl. Drain pot with water and onion peels into a colander. Discard onion peels. Consider using a glass bowl as the dye may stain plastic containers.
6
Set the bowl aside and let the water cool for at least a half-hour.
7
Take the shirt and dampen it with cold water. Rinse and lay the shirt flat onto a table
8
Decide on a pattern for the shirt. For ideas on different patterns go to Tie-Dye-a-Shirt. For spiral pattern see next step. If using other pattern follow to rubber band instruction and then skip to step 11.
9
Locate the center of the shirt and the area just under the sleeves. Pinch the fabric at this area in the middle and twist into a spiral. Keep twisting fabric tight until the shirt is formed into a large spiral shape.
10
Use 3 rubber bands to secure into place. Use 3 rubber bands to hold together the shirt, crisscrossing the rubber bands.
11
Take the shirt and put it into a bowl. Pour dye over shirt making sure all areas have been covered. For darker color leave the shirt directly in dye water for up to an hour.
12
Place shirt into a bag and leave for 6-8 hours.
13
Take the shirt out of the bag and rinse with a half cup to cup of vinegar. Place shirt back in the bag for 30 minutes.
14
Remove rubber bands and rinse with cold water and 1 teaspoon of detergent or dish soap. Keep rinsing until all color comes out of the shirt. There may be loose pigment leftover and can dye other things if not rinsed out enough.
15
Place shirt into the dryer by itself to dry or hang dry on the clothesline.