Q1.
Let us prepare a natural dye. Step 1. Collect some flowers, leaves, barks, and roots, such as beetroot, hibiscus, and marigold that have colouring properties. Step 2. Boil any of the collected plant parts in approximately 1 – 2 litres of water for 30 minutes to an hour covering the container with a plate. (Please take help from your teacher or an elder.) Step 3. Strain the liquid to remove the plant materials, leaving behind the natural dye. Now, try to paint a piece of cloth such as a light-coloured handkerchief or hand towel using the dye you have prepared. Note that you need to soak the cloth overnight, squeeze it and dry it the next morning.
Answer
Do the three steps in order, with an elder near you. Then dye a small white cloth.
What to do
- Collect one plant part that has strong colour. Beetroot, hibiscus petals or marigold petals work well.
- Put it in a pot with about 1 to 2 litres of water.
- Cover the pot with a plate. Boil for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Ask a teacher or an elder to do the boiling.
- Let it cool. Strain it through a cloth or a sieve. The coloured water left behind is your dye.
- Put a light-coloured handkerchief in the dye. Leave it soaked overnight.
- Next morning, squeeze the cloth and dry it in the shade.
What a correct result looks like
| Plant part used | Colour you should get |
|---|---|
| Beetroot | Pink to deep red |
| Hibiscus petals | Purple-red |
| Marigold petals | Bright yellow |
| Onion skins | Golden brown |
Sample answer: “I boiled beetroot pieces in water for about half an hour. The water turned deep pink. I strained it and soaked my white handkerchief in it all night. In the morning I squeezed it and dried it. My handkerchief became pink.”
Why it works: the colour is already stored inside the flower, the root or the bark. Hot water pulls that colour out of the plant and holds it. That coloured water is a natural dye.
Safety tip: never boil the water yourself. Stand away from the hot pot and let an elder strain the liquid.