Margaret Byrd

View Original

Pomegranate Skin Dye & Mordant

Pomegranate seeds are a holiday treat, but don't throw away those skins! The peel is full of tannin and is a great way to pretreat your textiles, especially plant (cellulose) fibers like cotton, linen, bamboo and hemp, to create stronger color bonds with natural dyes. The 'mordant' process is an extra, but important, step to help organic color last longer and protect it from fading with exposure to light and wash. The process is as easy as simmering a pot of a water and soaking your textile for an hour. And, if you love yellow, pomegranate skins make a rich golden dye with a longer soak and some extra peels. This video tutorial will show you how to tannin mordant cellulose fibers with the skins, as well as create a long-lasting yellow color for your textiles.