How to Naturally Dye Fabric or Yarn with Concord Grapes

Materials & tools you'll need

Step 1 — Prepare the grapes

Start by washing your fresh Concord grapes thoroughly. Squish the grapes by hand if you can, or run them through a juicer to extract the juice — either way, save the skins and seeds rather than discarding them, since they're what you'll use to build your dye bath in the next step.

Step 2 — Make the dye bath

Place the reserved grape skins and seeds into a large pot along with enough water to fully cover them. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer gently for about one hour. Once the simmering time is up, strain out the solids so you're left with a clear Concord grape dye bath ready for dyeing.

Step 3 — Mordant your fabric or yarn

Before dyeing, soak your cotton fabric or yarn in a mordant solution — alum, cream of tartar, or vinegar all work — following the package instructions for timing and concentration, typically around 30 minutes. Mordanting prepares the fibers to properly accept and hold onto the dye. Once the soak is complete, rinse the material thoroughly and squeeze out the excess water before moving on to dyeing. Always handle mordant solutions with care and work in a well-ventilated area.

Step 4 — Dye the fabric or yarn

Submerge your mordanted fabric or yarn into the Concord grape dye bath, stirring gently to make sure it's evenly coated. The longer you leave the material in the bath, the deeper and richer the resulting colour will be — for a more intense hue, simmer the fabric or yarn in the dye bath for several hours rather than a quick dip.

Step 5 — Rinse and dry

Remove your dyed fabric or yarn from the bath and rinse it thoroughly under cold water until the water runs clear, which helps set the colour and remove any excess dye. Squeeze out the extra water gently and let the piece air dry naturally, away from direct heat, to preserve the colour you've achieved.

Frequently asked questions

How can I get a deeper colour from Concord grape dyeing?
The longer you leave your fabric or yarn in the Concord grape dye bath, the deeper the colour will become. For a richer hue, simmer the material in the dye bath for several hours rather than a shorter soak.

Why do I need to mordant the fabric or yarn before dyeing with Concord grapes?
Mordanting prepares the fibers to accept and retain dye. Soaking your fabric or yarn in a mordant solution, such as alum, cream of tartar, or vinegar, before dyeing helps the Concord grape colour bond to the fibers properly instead of washing out.

Does the fabric or yarn need to be white for Concord grape dyeing to work?
White cotton fabric or yarn gives the best results because it shows the true colour of the grape dye without any existing colour interfering. You can dye other light colours, but the final result will be influenced by the base colour you start with.

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