diy

Transform old T-shirts into eco-friendly masterpieces this Children’s Day

Create organic vegetable and flower dyes at home with this fun activity

These days, even our little ones follow the latest fashion trends. But one piece of clothing that would surely be their all-time favourite is the one they create themselves. This Children’s Day, plan a fun activity with a T-shirt dyeing party using organic vegetable and flower dyes. Here are two fun ingredients to use for dyeing those old T-shirts into something new:

• Beetroot: Chop a couple of fresh beetroots into small chunks and place them in a large pot. Bring to a boil
•  After simmering for about 30 minutes, strain the liquid to remove beet pieces, leaving only the dye
•  Pre-soak your white T-shirt in water to help it absorb the dye evenly and then place the damp T-shirt in the beetroot dye and let it soak
• Soak for as much dark or light you want your shade to be and then rinse the T-shirt in cold water until the water runs clear
• Dry it after washing and enjoy the deep red-pink tee!

• Red Cabbage: Chop about a quarter of a red cabbage into strips and boil in water for 45 minutes
•  Strain out the cabbage to leave behind a purplish-blue dye
•  For a deeper purple, pre-soak the T-shirt in a vinegar solution or for a bluish tint, pre-soak the T-shirt in a mild baking soda solution
• You can tie up the T-shirt into a twisted circle and use droppers to apply the dye in specific parts of the tee.
•  Let it dry, then wash the t-shirt — and your little one will have their own multi-coloured tie-and-dye creation!

—Urvashi Bhattacharya

Also read: Create your own pink dye at home using avocados