May Musings: Dyeing Play Silks in Avocado Scraps
There’s something truly magical about transforming natural materials into vibrant colors using nothing more than kitchen scraps and a bit of time. One of our favorite natural dyes to experiment with is avocado. Yes, the same fruit you mash onto toast!
At The Nestling Company, our mordanted play silks are specially prepared to absorb color more effectively and evenly, making them ideal for home dyeing adventures. Today we’re sharing a simple and satisfying way to create a soft, blush pink hue on your play silks using avocado pits and skins. It’s a beautiful process that’s as gentle on the earth as it is on your hands.
What You'll Need:
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1-2 of our pre-mordanted play silks
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Avocado pits and/or skins (the more you have, the deeper the color — about 3–5 avocados per silk is a good start)
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Large pot (not aluminum)
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Water
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Strainer or cheesecloth
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Tongs or a spoon for stirring
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Optional: A second pot for soaking silks separately
Step 1: Collect & Prepare Your Avocados
You can save your avocado pits and skins over time — just give them a rinse and let them dry on the counter or freeze them until you're ready. Both the skins and pits contain tannins that create a range of peach to dusty rose colors, depending on how concentrated your dye bath is.
Step 2: Make the Dye Bath
Place your avocado pits and skins into a non-reactive pot and cover with water (enough so your silks can be fully submerged later). Bring to a gentle simmer and let it steep for at least an hour, or up to several hours for deeper color. You’ll see the water turn a rich amber or pinkish hue.
Let the dye bath cool slightly, then strain out the solids.
Step 3: Dye Your Silk
Submerge your mordanted play silk in the strained dye bath. Use a spoon or tongs to gently stir and ensure even coloring. You can let the silk sit anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours, depending on how deep you want the color to be. For a deeper hue, leave the silk to soak overnight.
Step 4: Rinse & Dry
When you're happy with the color, remove the silk and rinse it in cool water until the water runs mostly clear. Hang or lay flat to dry away from direct sunlight. The color may soften slightly as it dries, a lovely reminder of its natural origin.
A Few Tips:
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Natural dyes are sensitive to pH. Adding a splash of vinegar can shift the color toward more pink, while baking soda may bring out more taupe or beige tones.
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Every batch of avocados gives a slightly different result. Embrace the surprise!
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Because your silks are already mordanted, you can skip the usual prep work and get straight to dyeing.
Why We Love This:
Dyeing at home is a grounding, sensory-rich experience for kids and grownups alike. It’s a way to slow down, connect with nature, and see color in an entirely new way. When your child plays with their hand-dyed silk by fluttering it through the air or turning it into a cape, they’re wrapped in a story that began with a fruit pit and your hands.
We’d love to see your creations! Tag us @thenestlingcompany and share your naturally dyed silks.
Happy dyeing!