How to Make Dye from Flower Petals?

Creating natural dyes from flower petals is a simple and rewarding process. Here's how:

Gather your petals: Choose flowers known for vibrant colors. Roses, marigolds, and hibiscus are excellent choices. The more petals you use, the more intense the color will be. (Reference: Multiple sources including Rebecca Desnos' blog, HGTV Handmade YouTube video, and Botanical Colors instructions).
Prepare the petals: Chop or cut the petals into smaller pieces to help release the pigments more effectively. (Reference: Pennington.com, How to Make Natural Plant Dyes From Your Garden)

Dye Extraction Process

Combine ingredients: In a pot, add one quart of water, two tablespoons of white vinegar, and your prepared petals. The vinegar helps to set the color and acts as a mordant (a substance used to fix dye to fabric). (Reference: Pennington.com, How to Make Natural Plant Dyes From Your Garden).
Simmer: Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until the desired color intensity is achieved. This can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. Monitor the color closely. (References: Multiple sources, including Botanical Colors, which suggests maintaining a temperature around 160°F for 30-45 minutes, and Reddit's r/dyeing suggesting keeping the temperature below 170°F, ideally around 160°F.)
Strain: Once the color is satisfactory, remove the pot from the heat and allow it to cool. Strain the dye liquid through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth to remove the flower petals.
Store: Store the dye in an airtight container in the refrigerator for later use.

Experiment with different flowers and ratios of petals to water to achieve various shades and intensities.
The type of flower will significantly impact the resulting color. For example, red rose petals create dusty pink hues, while other flowers yield different colors. (Reference: YouTube video on dyeing with rose petals)
Mordants, like alum or tannin, can be added to improve the colorfastness of the dye on fabrics. (Not explicitly mentioned in references, but common knowledge in natural dyeing)