How to Make Natural Dye from Onion Skins

Learn to create beautiful golden and reddish-brown natural dyes using onion skins for family craft projects.

  1. Gather Your Materials. You'll need onion skins from 8-10 onions (yellow onions give golden colors, red onions create reddish-browns), white cotton fabric or yarn, a large pot that you don't use for food, wooden spoons for stirring, water, white vinegar, and rubber gloves. Save onion skins in the refrigerator for up to a week before dyeing, or freeze them for longer storage. Choose natural fiber materials like cotton, linen, or wool for the best results - synthetic fabrics won't absorb the dye well.
  2. Prepare Your Fabric. Wash your fabric or yarn in warm water without fabric softener to remove any finishes that might prevent dye absorption. While the fabric is still damp, create a mordant bath by dissolving 1 tablespoon of white vinegar in 4 cups of water. Soak your fabric in this mixture for 30 minutes - this helps the dye bond better and last longer. Rinse lightly and set aside while you prepare the dye bath.
  3. Make the Dye Bath. Place your onion skins in the large pot and cover with water - use about 8 cups of water for every 2 cups of loosely packed onion skins. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 45-60 minutes until the water turns a rich golden or reddish color. The longer you simmer, the stronger the color will be. Strain out all the onion skins using a colander, leaving just the colored liquid in your pot.
  4. Dye Your Fabric. Add your damp, mordanted fabric to the warm dye bath and stir gently with wooden spoons. Heat the bath to just below boiling and maintain this temperature for 30-60 minutes, stirring occasionally to ensure even color distribution. The fabric will look darker when wet, so lift it out periodically to check the color. For deeper color, you can leave the fabric in the cooling dye bath for several hours or overnight.
  5. Rinse and Set the Color. Remove the fabric and rinse it in cool water until the water runs clear. Gently squeeze out excess water without wringing or twisting. Wash the dyed fabric once more in cool water with a small amount of mild detergent, then rinse again. Hang to dry away from direct sunlight, which can fade natural dyes. Once dry, your naturally dyed fabric is ready to use for crafts, clothing, or decorative projects.