To prepare the red ginger for boiling, I cut the plant into smaller sections to ensure even dying. Since it came with many ants and bugs, I first washed the plant and then separated the ginger from the leaves. The leaves themselves are supposed to produce their own unique color, which is why I separated them from the ginger. I cut the leaves into smaller sections and then allowed them to soak for one full day in a glass bowl. At first, I was worried because the water that the leaves were soaking in did not begin changing until the next day. However, I learned to be patient and let nature run its own course. While the leaves were soaking, I boiled water (but kept the temperate well below 180ยบ) in preparation for the red ginger.
The Hawaiian name for red ginger is 'Awapuhi-'ula'ula. It comes in various colors such as deep red/pink, bright orange, and white, and flowering section of the plant can grow up to ten feet tall. The red ginger is also native to southwest Pacific islands.
In the meantime, I prepared my fabric by cutting a straight section of soft cotton. This would become my scarf. I decided to make my first tie-dye object a scarf because a scarf takes up less material than a shirt or bag, and it would require less soaking/boiling time since there is less fabric. However, to make the design more interesting than just a plain color, I tied rubber bands to various places on the fabric.
Hibiscus (Tea) Scarf
Since I could not obtain a real hibiscus plant, I substituted red hibiscus tea and soaked the material for my other scarf in a glass jar over night. I boiled this water the same way I boiled the water for the red ginger. However, this time I put in the tea and then let it soak before I transferred the tea into the jar. Also, instead of using cotton, I used an off-white/cream-colored silk fabric. At first I was unsure of whether or not the silk would absorb the color enough. However, the scarf turned out well in the end. The color is very subtle and natural looking.
Aloe Scarf
Aloe, or Panini-'awa'awa in Hawaiian, is a part of the Lily family and is commonly grown in Hawaii. Most people recognize the aloe plant for its healing properties. Even the ancient Greeks and Romans used aloe. The aloe plant thrives best in sunny areas. It is thick with green, prickly leaves. However, the shade of green often depends on the individual plant, for some are darker than others. The inside of the plant has a sappy substance which is the green/yellowish liquid that is used for medicine and other purposes.
I obtained the aloe for my project from my grandma's garden. She has a garden of various plants, and one of the plants that she grows happens to be aloe. My grandma often cuts aloe when she is injured and uses it to heal her burns/cuts. I trimmed five to six medium-sized branches of the aloe plant and when I got home, I placed them in a bowl with water. I cut the pieces of aloe into smaller sections as well so that the sap would run more and so more color would be extracted.
When I went to take some of the aloe plant from my grandma's garden, I noticed a lizard. It was resting on one of the thick aloe leaves until it saw me and scurried away. I had also not realized this immediately, but when I went to search for the aloe plant in my grandma's backyard, I could hear and almost taste the silence. I could hear the sound of cars passing by and the conversation of the people next door, however I could also hear the sound of the lizard move and the faint wind that was blowing the trees. When I reached into the garden, my feet made contact with the dirt and I felt immersed in the environment although it was not totally secluded. I took part of the aloe by snipping a few of the thick leaves. I did feel slightly bad for disrupting the lizard and taking part of the plant, but I knew that the plant would grow back and I wasn't really hurting it.
Onion Skin Scarf
When most people think of natural tie dye sources, they usually think of dark red or purple plants or vegetables. However, many of the sources that I used to research natural tie dying said that onion skins are great sources of dye. They are supposed to produce yellow, orange, and green shades. I only used one onion and cut the bottom to make it easier to peel the skin off. The skin is extremely thin, so at first I was worried because I didn't think that so little skin could produce enough color. I soaked the skins for about half a day like the aloe and then prepared to bath to dye the cloth in.
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