Utilization of Natural Dyeing in Environmental Education

Experiments to Examine the Effects of Dyeing Time and Methods of Preserving Plant Materials

Abstract

  We conducted experiments using several plant species to examine the effects of dyeing time and methods of preserving plant materials on the coloring of cotton cloth. The dyeing times ranged between 30 and 90 minutes. The results revealed that dyeing time that is too short may affect the color of the dyed cotton cloth. Regardless of preservation methods (dry, frozen and liquid form), the change in color was observed more in Bidens pilosa var. radiata and Coreopsis lanceolata than in Acer buergerianum. We found that A. buergerianum could be stored for one month in the three preserving methods of this study. In light of these results, we proposed to introduce the dyeing process as an educational experience in elementary schools.