Dyeing with Avocado Skins Part 2
My next step was to use the avocado skins for dyeing. Again, the instructions varied. Some said to tear the skins, others use whole. I went with using the whole skins.
I used approximately the same amount of wool, thick and thin yarn, silk habatoi, silk gauze and cotton voile. What I did differently this time was to put everything in before it was heated. I felt this would save some time waiting to put in the wool after cooling. I’m not sure this changed the outcome.
I let the pot come to a boil, left it to simmer for almost an hour. Then let it sit overnight to cool.
The results were interesting and different from the pits. The color was like a latte for the wool and silk. The cotton was a very pale pink.
But I couldn’t stop there. I had saved the dye pot from the pits and used half and half with the skins and pits. I also presoaked the wool, silk and cotton in an alum mordant for several hours.
Again, I added the fabrics and wool before heating, heated to boiling then simmered for almost an hour and left it all sit overnight. I wondered if the colors would be brighter and more intense with the addition of the alum.
Here are the results:
The result a little more coppery except for the cotton.
Now here they are next to each other. From left to right – pits, skins, pits and skins with alum.
I thought it was interesting that the silk gauze was the deepest color in the mixed batch.
They are all lovely colors. Now to figure what to do with them. And yes, I’ll continue to save my avocados.