Results

Well, they didn't turn out the way we thought they would, but they're still cool! The girls were impatient and wanted to stick them in the dryer instead of line drying. The jumble of the dryer combined the colors and bled into all of the excellent white from tie dyeing. They're still happy with the results and have talked about doing it again! If they're happy, I'm happy. :) 

(Sorry about the terrible pictures and the messy house!) 

Tie dyeing the natural way.

The girls and I wanted to have some fun this week, so we decided to tie dye some clothes. (Nothing says summer like pots of dye in the yard. :) ) Instead of buying expensive kits, we pulled some beets and picked some blackberries around the block, and grabbed some turmeric and spinach. Basic and bright colors. Red, yellow, and green (although, I'm not sure if the green will work). They will set overnight in the pots and we will ready our fabric with a mordant in the morning. After that, we dye! The clothes will soak a day or two and hang to dry. This is our first attempt at natural dyeing, but I have a good feeling. The girls have been open to learning how people dyed fabrics before the use of artificial and synthetic dyes used today. It's nice to know they now consider the many uses of plants and the natural world around us as something more than just vegetation. 

Whatever our results, I'll post photos soon!