Photography by Dalilah Arja.
Native to Southern India and identifiable by its show-stopping yellow, turmeric has been a staple in cooking and medicine for thousands of years. The spice, a member of the ginger family and a key ingredient in curry, has countless health benefits.
• Natural fabric (cotton, linen, silk, or wool), unhemmed or hemmed and sized to cover your table (My fabric measured 4.5 by 3 feet; if you use something a lot bigger, increase the amounts of the ingredients or expect more subtle results.) Tip: Pillowcases also work well for this project.
Materials
Start by folding your fabric (or, if you want a solid color, jump to Step 4 and dye the fabric unfolded).
Instructions
Step 1: Fold the fabric in half lengthwise and then in half again.
Step 2: To create the square pattern, fold the fabric into an accordion by alternating the sides of each fold.
Continue the accordion fold until you run out of fabric.
Step 3: Place rubber bands horizontally and vertically to secure the fold.
Step 4: In a stockpot, add 4 cups of vinegar to 16 cups of water and immerse the folded fabric; heat on medium.
Step 5: While the stockpot heats, make the dye in a second pot by adding 1/4 cup of turmeric to 12 cups of water; heat on medium.
Step 6: Drain the vinegar mixture and pour the turmeric dye over the fabric; heat over medium-low flame. The longer you leave the fabric in the turmeric dye, the darker the color will be.
Step 7: After you finish dyeing the fabric, drain the turmeric dye from the pot and rinse the fabric under a running tap to remove excess dye.
Step 8: Let the fabric dry overnight.