1. Prepare your cotton fabric: Wash the fabric to remove any dirt or residue, and then soak it in a mordant solution to prepare the fabric to better absorb the dye.

2. Gather Acorns and collect rust: Collect rusty pieces of metal scraps or even from rusty old tools from your garage. Then, crush them into smaller bits.

3. Prepare the dye bath:

- For Acorn dye: Boil the crushed acorns in a large pot with water for 30-45 minutes. Strain the mixture to extract the dye and discard the solid remains.

- For Rust dye: Place the rusty metal pieces in a container filled with water and let it sit for a few days. The metal will start to release rust, creating a rusty-orange colored water.

4. Tie and Dye techniques: Now it's time to get creative! Use rubber bands, strings or even wooden sticks to tie your fabric in different patterns to create sections that will be colored differently when dipped into the dye baths.

5. Dye the fabric:

- Dip the tied fabric into the acorn or rust dye bath. Leave it for several minutes to few hours, depending on how intense you want the color to be.

- When you're satisfied with the color, rinse the fabric thoroughly with water to remove excess dye.

6. Untie the fabric and Rinse: Carefully untie the fabric and then rinse it thoroughly in cold water to remove any residual dye.

7. Oxidize and Set the Dye: To prevent the dye from washing out, use a mild oxidizing agent like diluted hydrogen peroxide or an iron sulfate solution.

8. Dry and Enjoy: Hang the dyed fabric to dry completely.

Remember: The results may vary depending on the type and quality of fabric, mordant used and the timing of the dye process. Experiment and have fun with different patterns and techniques!