DIY Botanical Dyeing with Flowers and Leaves
Botanical dyeing is slow, meditative, and wonderfully imperfect—each piece tells a story rooted in the land and the seasons. Whether you’re dyeing a scarf, a tea towel, or paper for your next art project, you can start small and watch the wonder unfold.
What Is Botanical Dyeing?
Botanical dyeing is a form of natural dyeing that uses plant material—like flower petals, leaves, and stems—to imprint color and shapes onto fabric or paper. It’s sometimes called eco-printing, especially when you’re using leaves to transfer their shapes directly onto fabric.
No harsh chemicals, no synthetic dyes. Just water, heat, and the living pigment of the plant world.
Materials You’ll Need
You don’t need much to begin—just a few simple tools and access to fresh or dried botanicals.
Basic Supplies:
Natural fiber fabric (cotton, silk, wool, or linen work best)
Fresh or dried flowers and leaves (see ideas below)
A hammer, rolling pin, or iron
String or rubber bands
A steamer or pot for boiling water
Alum or vinegar (for pre-treating your fabric to help the dye “stick”)
Gloves (optional, but helpful!)
Flower & Leaf Ideas:
Marigolds (gold and yellow)
Coreopsis (orange/red)
Rose petals (soft pinks)
Black-eyed Susans (deep golds)
Eucalyptus leaves (silvery-green imprints)
Maple, oak, or sumac leaves (shape-rich and tannin-heavy)
Purple cabbage, onion skins, or berries for richer, unexpected hues
Simple Botanical Dyeing Techniques
1. Hammered Flower Prints (for fabric or paper)
Perfect for beginners and a great project for kids.
How-To:
Place your fabric or watercolor paper on a hard surface.
Arrange petals and leaves in a design you love.
Cover with a paper towel or parchment.
Gently hammer the plants with a mallet or rolling pin until the color bleeds through.
Peel away the plants to reveal your print.
2. Bundle Dyeing (Steam Method)
Creates beautiful, watercolor-like effects on fabric.
How-To:
Soak fabric in a vinegar or alum mordant solution, then wring out.
Lay flat and scatter botanicals across the surface.
Roll tightly like a jelly roll and tie with string.
Steam in a pot for 30–60 minutes.
Let cool completely (or let it sit overnight for deeper color), then unwrap and rinse.
3. Eco-Printing with Leaves
Use leaves rich in tannins for more detailed impressions.
How-To:
Press damp leaves onto mordanted fabric.
Fold or sandwich between fabric layers.
Roll or fold into bundles and tie tightly.
Steam for an hour and let sit overnight before opening.
Tips for Success
Use natural fibers for the best color uptake.
Pre-soak in mordants like alum or vinegar to help set the color.
Let bundles sit overnight before unwrapping for deeper, richer hues.
Experiment with layering and folding to create unique patterns.
Why It Matters
Botanical dyeing is more than a craft—it’s a practice of slowness, observation, and gratitude. It invites us to work with the earth, not against it. To honor the cycles of bloom and decay. To see the beauty in what’s fleeting.
It’s also a sustainable alternative to synthetic dyes, which are often toxic and water-polluting. By using natural dyes, we reduce our impact and deepen our connection to what we wear, use, and create.
