Can You Dye Yarn With Turmeric?

Written by Kate Curry

Are you interested in natural and organic ways to dye your yarn? How can you dye your yarn with berries, vegetables, and spices? It’s not that hard once you get the hang of it! Follow along with our buddy Jordan as she shares how she’s using turmeric to naturally dye her yarn! 

Materials

Natural yarn (we used our Worsted Weight in Dandelion Poof) 
Tongs
Large bowl
Large pot
Measuring spoon - tablespoon
Alum (or tartar cream or ascorbic acid)
Warm water
PH neutral dish soap

Steps

Step 1: Unwind your yarn into a loose hank. Soak your yarn in the warm water mixed with a small amount of dish soap in a large bowl. 

Step 2: In the large pot, add enough water so that it would completely cover your yarn. Bring the water to a boil and add 1 tablespoon of alum or alum substitute to the water. Add 3-4 tablespoons of turmeric to the pot and let it simmer for a few hours. The more turmeric you add and the longer you allow it to simmer, the deeper the dye will become! 

Step 3: Once you’ve simmered your dye, take the pot off the stove and add your hank of yarn to the pot using the tongs. You can leave your yarn from 20 minutes to overnight. The longer the yarn is percolating in the dye, the darker it will become! 

Step 4: Remove your yarn from the pot and rinse with warm water. Let it dry out in the warm summer sun! 

@darngoodyarn Come Watch us naturally dye DGY Dandelion Poof Yarn with Turmeric! Looks like a Florida orange! 🌞🧶☀️🍊 #crochetlife #sustainable #darngoodyarn #crochettok #crochetersoftiktok #crochet #yarn #yarntok #fiberartist #yarnlovers #naturaldye ♬ Lo-fi hip hop - NAO-K

Pro tip: You CAN save the dye for later use in your fridge or freezer!

Meet the Author

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