An Ode to Onion Skins: Modifying a Humble Dyestuff

Using supplies that are already in your kitchen or easily collected on your next grocery run can make getting started with natural dyes less stressful. Onion skins are one of those dyestuffs that people often start with and then continue using even after exploring more exotic palettes. Not only are onion skins readily available for most people, they create a range of reliable colors with little effort.

This article will show you how easily you can create yellows, golds, and oranges using a few grocery items: yellow or red onion skins, alum (used for canning), and vinegar. By soaking some rusty nails in a vinegar solution, you can expand your palette to khaki and greens.

About: Madeline Keller-King is a fiber artist, handspinner, and natural dyer living in the woods of northwest Montana with her spouse and small household of creatures. When not in the wool, she spends as much time as possible outside foraging dye plants. You can follow her on social media as Wooly Witch of the West.

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