Blue Peter - Tie-dye with fruit and vegetables

Before you start, make sure to grab some rubber gloves and an apron and cover any surfaces with newspaper. Natural dyes may stain your clothes, hands and surfaces so be careful and get permission from a grown-up first.

Use the colour chart to help you decide which colour, or colours you’d like to make. Experimentation is key here, so don’t pick your favourite t-shirt to dye on, try with an old one, or one you don’t wear anymore first!

TOP TIP: Natural dyes work best on natural materials like cotton, silk and wool. If you start with a light material, the colours will stand out more, so we recommend dying onto white cotton fabric so your result will be bright and bold.

White onion skin = Orange
Blueberries = Purple
Beetroot = Pink/red
Orange Peel = Yellow
Red Cabbage = Blue
Red Cabbage + vinegar = Hot pink
Red Cabbage + Add bicarbonate of soda = super bright blue

Carefully chop, smash or peel your chosen fruit or vegetable and add to a pan.

Pour in just enough water to cover your ingredients and bring it to the boil. Simmer on a low heat to bring out the beautiful colours - get a grown up to help with this.

TOP TIP: The longer you boil your ingredients the richer the colour you’ll get.

When the liquid is cool, carefully strain into your jug. Congratulations you have just created your very own natural dye!

Grab your t-shirt and elastic bands. Twist, fold, crumple or scrunch up your t-shirt. Use the elastic band to fasten your folds and scrunches in place. Make loops around the fabric to create circle patterns or wrap the bands around your twisted t-shirt in any way you like to create different effects. Get creative here, it’s fun to experiment and see which pattern and style of binding you like best.

Top Tip: A damp t-shirt works best, but make sure to squeeze out any excess water, as tie-dying doesn't work well if the material is very wet.

Fun Fact: The elastic bands will protect some of the t-shirt from the dye, and that's how you make your amazing patterns!

Once you’re happy with how your t-shirt is bound, it's time to apply your dye. Wear gloves to protect your hands from staining and make sure your surface is covered in newspaper, you're standing over a sink or you are using an oven tray over a wire rack (like us). Pour, spoon-on or dip your t-shirt into the dye. We used an old plastic sauce bottle for more control when applying the dye.

Top Tip: If using a plastic bottle, squeeze the empty bottle into the dye and when you let go it will suck in the dye, ready for you to apply. 

Once you are happy with your dye application, put the t-shirt in the sandwich bag and leave overnight. In the morning take the elastic bands off to reveal your pattern. Rinse with cold water until the water runs clear, then squeeze out any excess liquid. Leave it to air dry.

You’ve given your t-shirt a new lease of life and you look fabulous! If you’d like to share you creation with us, you can upload a photo or video of yourself wearing your new outfit and we may show it on Blue Peter.

Let us know if you tried natural tie-dye in the comments below. Did you try a different fruit or vegetable? Did you try it on a pair of old socks? Did you mix your dyes to create a new shade? 

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