How to Create an Avocado Dye for Wool

Materials & tools you'll need

Step 1 — Prepare the avocado dye bath

Clean your saved avocado skins and pits thoroughly, removing any green residue left clinging to the pits — this residue can muddy the finished colour if it's left on. Place the cleaned skins and pits in a large pot filled with water and bring it to a low simmer. Let the dye bath simmer gently for around two hours, which gives the pits and skins time to release their natural pigment into the water. You'll notice the water slowly deepen into a warm pink-to-terracotta shade as it simmers.

Step 2 — Scour the wool

While the dye bath simmers, prepare your wool by scouring it to remove any oils or residue that could prevent the dye from taking evenly. Mix up a solution of PH-neutral laundry soap and heat it on the stove, then add the wool directly to the pot. Let it sit in the hot soapy water for about half an hour, until the water becomes murky and slightly discoloured — a sign that the oils are lifting out of the fibres. Rinse the scoured wool thoroughly under cold running water before moving on.

Step 3 — Pre-mordant the wool

Combine equal parts alum powder and cream of tartar with water to create a mordant solution, and let it sit for about half an hour — conveniently, this is roughly the same time your avocado skins and pits still have left to simmer. Once the mordant solution is ready, soak your clean, scoured wool in it for 30 minutes. This pre-mordanting step helps the wool fibres bond with the avocado dye, giving you deeper, longer-lasting colour.

Step 4 — Dye the wool

Strain the avocado dye bath to remove all the plant matter, leaving just the coloured liquid. Add your pre-mordanted wool to the strained dye bath, along with enough extra water to cover the wool completely. Simmer the mixture gently for 30 minutes on low heat, keeping an eye on it so it never comes to a hard boil, which can felt the wool. After simmering, let the wool cool fully in the dyebath before lifting it out — cooling slowly helps the colour set. Rinse the dyed wool thoroughly under cold running water, then hang it up to dry.

Step 5 — Deepen the colour with a wood ash after-bath (optional)

If you'd like to push the colour further, prepare a wood ash solution ahead of time by soaking white ashes in water for two weeks, which creates a mild, basic pH solution. Soak your dyed wool in this after-bath for up to an hour — the shift in pH can coax out richer, warmer tones from the avocado dye. Once you're happy with the colour, rinse the wool again and hang it to dry a second time.

Step 6 — Finish and admire

Let the wool dry completely before handling it further, checking that no damp patches remain in thicker sections of the skein. If you dyed fabric alongside the wool for a tie-dye effect, unwrap or untie it now to reveal the pattern. Once everything is fully dry, your naturally dyed avocado wool is ready to use in your next knitting or crochet project, or to gift as a one-of-a-kind skein.

Frequently asked questions

How can I create an avocado dye for wool at home?
To create an avocado dye for wool at home, you'll need avocado skins and pits, water, PH-neutral laundry soap, alum powder, cream of tartar, an optional wood ash solution, a large pot, and bleached white wool or wool of your choice. Simmer the skins and pits to make the dye bath, scour and pre-mordant the wool, then simmer the wool in the strained dye bath before rinsing and drying.

What is the skill level required to create an avocado dye for wool?
Creating an avocado dye for wool is an intermediate-level project. It uses a kitchen-ingredients dyeing method with both metric and imperial measurements, and the final colour and yield can vary depending on how many avocado skins and pits you use.

Are there any safety precautions I should take while creating an avocado dye for wool?
When working with alum powder and wood ash solution, protect your skin and eyes, work in a well-ventilated area to minimize inhalation, and follow the safety instructions for any tools or supplies you use during the project.

How can I enhance the colour of my avocado dye on wool?
To deepen the colour of your avocado-dyed wool, soak the finished wool in a wood ash solution — made by soaking white ashes in water for two weeks to create a basic pH solution — for up to an hour, then rinse and dry it again.

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