This weekend I decided to continue playing around with natural dyes. This time I decided to give red onion skins a try. I have to admit that I am fascinated by natural dyeing techniques. I wonder about the person who thought of trying onion skins to dye stuff. Was he/she weird? or brilliant?… was this an idea generated from careful thought and experimentation? or just a happy accident? What did they dye?
Geek fact…. evidence of textile dyeing has been found all the way back to the Neolithic period (stone age)
I am a red onion dyeing virgin. (That is quite the confession). I have read up on this and have seen pictures. All of which has created this urgent need and excitement. Red onions are magic… and can produce a very surprising color. I was anxious to see if I could get that color (you will have to read or scroll down to see what I was chasing after.)
I bought 5 very large red onions. I only need their skins and you can see that I put the skins in a gallon of water. I have a “non-reactive” pot (at least I think it is) and I threw all caution to the wind (danger is my middle name) and used tap water this time. (Every other time I have bought distilled water to know exactly what I was starting with… no minerals or other stuff that may change the outcome)
I put on the heat and simmered these skins for about and hour. You can see the color is a red brown.
I soaked both single ply wool and regular washed wool in an alum mordant.
Mordant Recipe and Instruction:
- 1 gallon of water
- 6 grams of alum
- 6 grams of tartaric acid
- Bring mixture up to a simmer then add wool. (DON’T stir the wool unless you want felt.)
- Let this soak for at least one hour.
- Rinse wool… again being careful not to turn it into felt. (always add the wool to the water never poor water onto it and keep extreme temperature changes to a minimum)
This mordant process is suppose to help with both the intensity of the color as well as helping to set the color.
I added just the yarn (wet) to the dye and being lazy didn’t remove the onion skins. Ben came by and asked what I was cooking. I had him convinced that I was making cow brains for dinner. (Ben was disgusted and said that he was probably allergic to brains) Doesn’t this look like brains?
I could see it turning a beautiful rosy brown… but that is not the color I wanted. (Rosy brown would be too obvious.)
I decided to play with the pH and see if I could get the color I wanted. I tried baking soda first. Water has a pH of about 7 and baking soda moved it up to around 9. (I have litmus paper). This did the TRICK!!! I don’t have a picture of the solution since I was too excited to remember I was documenting this. (Remember this is my first time) I let the wool simmer for about 40 minutes in the dye bath until I got the intensity I wanted. I then hung the yarn to dry.
HERE IS THE COLOR…
My kids say this color is “diarrhea green” but I think it is more of an avocado green. There is a bit of irony to this.. using red onion skins to get avocado green and in a past experiment I used avocado pits to get a pink (See photo below)
I plied the yarn and then decided to add it to a scarf I am knitting. Actually a scarf is the only thing I know how to knit… and well my knitting needs practice before I try something new. Here are some pictures and you will note that the “avocado” green goes very well with brown…. (No diarrhea scarf for me)
I love this green color and will probably be doing this again. I am lucky that Isabelle is very patient…. that is as long as I figure out something to do with all of the “skinless” onions. (had the same problem with the avocados)
hmmm… maybe a tarte aux oignons?
Do you have an idea for these onions?…
You do the most fun things on your weekends! I love the green and never would have guessed it came from red onion skins. Your knitting looks great!
My only suggestion for the onions is pickled onions. There are recipes on Pinterest:)
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mmm pickled onions… what a great Idea!
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Doesn’t it smell of onions at the end of the process?!
As for the onions, maybe the following recipe will interest you. It’s for yellow onions, but would work very well with red ones too.
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I was hoping you would chance by and offer a recipe!!! That onion tart looks fantastic… and I have enough to make two! THANKS
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My pleasure, hope you’ll enjoy it. Note that the post has links for 2 more recipes using onions. 🙂
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oh… man crab and onion!
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I love onions… 🙂
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Trickster with those colors! Science is fun.
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it is very interesting… and YES!!! I noticed you posted part two for your recent posts… I have been anxiously awaiting… (If you haven’t read her blog and you are reading this… go visit it)
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Aw, thanks for the shout out.
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Yes, pickle those onions. 1 pint of vinegar, 3 cups of sugar, 1 T cloves, 1 T allspice, 3 sticks cinnamon.
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I might have to make one onion tarte and then pickle the rest. That recipe looks awesome..
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That is such a great ‘weird weekend’- thank you for sharing with us all! Yes, good question: does it smell?
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The wool doesn’t smell too strong… but I can’t get the onion smell off of my hands!!!
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I think washing them in milk is meant to help…
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I will give it a try! (Thanks)
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Lemon juice takes the onion smell off…but then you will smell like lemons. Dunno how to make the lemon go away! lol
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I like lemons…
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Great job on the dye! When I took a natural dye class, the teacher said she asked the produce manager of her grocery store if she could collect all the loose onion skins for dyeing. He actually started saving them for her! Might be worth a try! As for your onions, aside from blooming onion or lots of onion rings (or a French onion soup experiment), you can chop them up and freeze them for sauteeing or adding to soups/sauces – much more handy than trying to eat lots of avocados!
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I have no onion suggestions, but am I impressed with your chemical deductions…who would’a thought you could impact the dyeing process so radically…I, too, love the avocado green. Your scarf is a feat and a marvel…what a wonderful mind you have….to quote Einstein (I’m 99% sure it was him)….”Imagination is genius at play”. 🙂 Thanks for sharing 🙂
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I really like that grassy green! Fancy that came from a red onion, would never have thought that…
As for the onions, hmm, would you like to turn your head to acting? Sniff them silly and rock up to an audition for Les Miserables.
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oh… Jolene I think that is the best onion tip I have received. You are awesome!
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Or actually, save them, and use them when you need to beg Isabelle for forgiveness for something (for anything!).
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that made me laugh… they wouldn’t last long.. I think I am “begging” for forgiveness daily!
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I’ve never forgotten doing this as a science project in school, I was totally amazed with the colours I created from the everyday one finds in their kitchen, I remember using discarded black tea bags and beets! This wonderful post brought those lovely memories back!
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P.S. I found you through Truly’s lovely blog via her shout-out!
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Truly is an amazing person… and I am so honored that you stopped by! I just read “Soar” on your blog… fantastic post!
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Thank you so much, you’ve made my day (& a big thank you to Truly for the introduction!)!
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THANKS… I think I need to try beets… and tea bags..
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Tea bags create an antique/aged look on paper but I imagine they might create some lovely creamy shades for wool!
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Pickled Red Onion is the BEST
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