How to Dye Fabric With Avocado Pits (6-Steps With Pictures)
If you think you loved avocados and guacamole before, then get ready to take your romance to the next level. This simple six step guide is going to show you how to use avocado pits to create beautiful fabric dye.
You might have noticed that tie-dye has become a mega-trend since the start of 2020. I find there is something nostalgic and carefree about summer camp style tie dye projects - that I personally can’t get enough of as an adult.
But as an ethical fashion designer at the House of Ellechemy, I wanted to elevate the project and dye my clothing with natural dye! Natural dye is not only better for your skin, health and the environment, but I think the colors add an element of barefoot luxury to the clothing.
Instead of artificially vibrant colors, natural dye gives you subtle, bohemian tones that look like they’re straight out of an Ellechemy lookbook. While I’m only starting to experiment with the world of fruits, vegetables and mineral that produce natural dye (think coffee grinds, cinnamon, hibiscus), for this tutorial I’ll take you through how to dye fabric with fresh avocado pits.
This is a great project to try with kids and teenagers, as a creative date idea, or simply to make something new and beautiful out of a tired old piece of cotton clothing. It can get addictive Personally I invited over one of the friends, dear Andy, who had helped me eat endless prerequisite avocados. Let’s dive in!
✦
What You Will Need
2-3 pieces of natural fabric or clothing
10-15 avocado pits
1 large pot
1 large wooden spoon
String and Rubber bands or string (for tie-dye)
1. Prepare the avo pits
It is time to eat a ridiculous amount of guacamole, my friend. Keep going until you’ve eaten 10-15 avocados. To test this project, I ate avocado toast and hosted Mexican food nights until my local grocer thought I was running my own restaurant. Personally I went too hardcore, ate too many bowls of guacamole solo and was positively sick of of them for a month. That’s saying a lot for a Mexico-based mama who considers guacamole to be its own food group.
“The trick is to gently wash your 10-15 avocado pits and then not wait more than a day or two to use them. ”
2. Create the dye bath
Fill a large pot ⅔ full with clean water. Place your 10-15 avocado pits in the water and blast the heat on high until you’ve got a full boil.
Allow the pits to simmer on high heat for 2-3 hours with the lid on. A good playlist going in the background is always a good idea.
After the pits have been simmering for a few hours, check on your dye bath and give it a good stir with your wooden spoon. If you used fresh avocado pits, it should appear dark with a slight pinkish hue.
3. Prepare the fabric
Choose fabric or clothing that is 100% natural fiber like cotton, linen, or hemp. Otherwise, the natural dye will not adhere or last very long.
Make sure they are freshly cleaned and stain-free. You give them a wash while the avocado pits are simmering if need be.
4. Twist and tie the fabric
If you do not want to tie-dye, skip to the next step!
If you do want a more varied, artsy look then grab your rubber bands and string, and start twisting!
I like to fold the fabric into a fan and then twist the fan into a ball secured by string. Get creative and definitely don’t overthink this part. For all my A-type friends, it is time to let go of the plans, strategies and just get twisty with it OK?
Another Emily favorite is to tie strings around small marbles or crystals. The fabric look like it has grown funny heads with twisted string necks. This creates the gorgeous star-burst effect you see in my pieces. See above.
Remember that unlike other tie dye methods you won’t get a wide color variation because the fabric/clothing will be completely submerged in the dye bath. Going monochromatic is super chic so I hope you’re here for it as much as I am!
3. Add your fabric to the dye bath
When your avocado pit dye bath is looking nice and saturated in color, add your fabric. For the first five minutes you’ll want to push it down with your wooden spoon and rotate it to ensure it stays underwater. These first five minutes are key to getting even dye coverage since the fabric will be at its most absorptive and the dye bath at its most potent.
Keep the heat on low and simmer for 2-3 hours.
Alternately, you can set it in a corner for two days (I’m not that patient but hey it works).
4. Remove the strings
Using a wooden spoon or tongs, carefully remove your beautifully dyed fabric from its bath, and lay it on plastic, silicon or a countertop surface that won’t easily absorb color. Your fabric will be steaming hot so be careful and keep kiddos hands away when its out.
Now very carefully cut off the string/rubber bands if you used any.
5. Hang it up to dry
Admire your unique work! Look what you’ve created! Now hang it up to dry in the shade, preferably outdoors where there is a mild breeze.
Laying it flat to dry is an option that takes much longer, and comes with a risk. I have found that the dye can run into any white spaces and change the design. If you like the results when the tie-dye string is removed then hang it up so the water drips downward. This step preserves your one-of-a kind tie dye style.
6. Celebrate and Share
I hope you snap a photo of your avocado pit creation and share it with me! @EmilyBauman__ on Instagram or if you’re not on socials, please send me an email Emily @ Amanacer.ca
During these unprecedented times, I believe the world needs more, not less, creativity, beauty and joyful moments than ever. I believe people all over the world are doing incredible good, are making time for fun, elevating their mood through self expressionand prioritizing earth-friendly projects like this. Sharing and encouraging others to make avocado pit tie dyes parties may seem like a small act, but it’s actually essential. Your high vibe and good energy is medicine for all those around you (online and in-person!).
If you’re in need of a hopeful boost day, this post has encouraged people just like you (according to emails and comments that keep making my day). Thank you for being part of this positive community. Your presence here and taking the time to read this tutorial has a tangible ripple effect for good. I truly believe that, like ripples in a pond, you’ll never know how far the waves of your positivity reach.
Note on care for your creation: Always let your dyed fabric dry completely before washing it. To preserve the dye, I always wash with mild, eco-detergent and use a gentle cycle. In addition, I avoid laying it out in the sun because the natural color fades more quickly than artificial, chemical-based dyes.
Thanks again for being here! Bookmark this page for reference.
To your creativity, joy and ongoing success,
