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Ellen's Onion-skin Dye

In Hobo Jungle, Ellen is given an unusual gift: a bag of onion skins. Today, onion skins -- the papery covering on the outside of cooking onions -- usually get tossed in the trash. We don't think they are valuable or useful at all. But did you know that for centuries people used onion skins to make a beautiful dye? Until chemical dyes were invented in the 1800s, natural dyes were the only way to add colour to clothing and fabric.

During the Depression, most families had very little money to spare for new clothes, so they had to make do with the same old clothes for a long time. To brighten up their clothing, many people used natural dyes to make their clothes look fresh and new.

Here we have given you instructions on how to prepare a pretty yellow dye using onion skins. It is VERY IMPORTANT that you do this craft with the help of a grown-up. If you are not careful you can make a big mess or, even worse, burn yourself on the stove. So ask permission first and get a grown-up to help!

Materials

  • Papery outer skin from 3-4 onions. You don't have to collect these all at once. Just ask your mom or dad to save the onion skins for you whenever they chop up an onion.
  • A large pot such as a stockpot
  • An old -- but clean! -- nylon stocking
    Note: A beige stocking works better than a dark stocking, which may leak its own dye into the water!

  • Wool or fabric for dyeing. A small piece of white cotton fabric or some plain white wool are good materials to start with. DON'T try this with a valuable piece of material or clothing!
  • A pair of metal tongs or a metal slotted spoon. DON'T use a wooden spoon.
  • A cookie sheet
  • Paper towels
Instructions

    1. Peel the outer skins from the onions and lay them on a cookie sheet to dry (on top of the fridge is a good place). Let them dry for several days.

    2. Stuff the skins in a nylon stocking and tie it shut.

    3. Place the stocking in a large pot and add 8 cups of cold water.

    4. Boil over high heat for 5 to 10 minutes, or until the water is brightly coloured.

    5. Turn off the heat and let the dye cool.

    6. While the dye is cooling, take the cookie sheet you used to dry the onion skins, and line it with several layers of paper towels.

    7. To dye your fabric or wool, drop it in the pot of dye and watch it carefully. The longer it stays in the dye, the brighter it will become. To remove the fabric or wool, use the tongs or a slotted spoon -- not your fingers! Place the fabric or wool on the paper towels and let dry.

    8. Experiment by leaving one piece of fabric or wool in the dye for 5 minutes, and another piece in for 30 minutes. Notice how different they look afterwards.

    9. The dye is not colourfast, which means it will run (leak colour) if placed in water. So try not to get anything you have dyed wet!

    Onion skins aren't the only natural material that can be used as a dye: frozen blueberries, canned beets, coffee grounds, and spinach leaves also make interesting dyes. Just make sure you have a grown-up around!







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