SUPPLIES & TOOLS:
- 6 white cotton napkins
- Rit® All-Purpose Liquid Dye: Coral or color of choice
- 4 gallon plastic tub or bucket
- Measuring cup
- Measuring spoons
- Plastic or metal stirring spoon
- Salt
- Liquid dish detergent
- Rubber gloves
- Paper towels
- Mild detergent
- Plastic table cover
- Rit ColorStay Dye Fixative (recommended)
DIRECTIONS:
- Cover table with plastic. Gather supplies.
- Estimate the weight of the napkins to determine how much dye to use. As a guideline, 1/2 bottle liquid dye or 1 box of powder dye will color up to one pound of dry weight fabric. These instructions are for dyeing 6 napkins, which weighed a total of 12 oz.
- For best results, prewash napkins, rinse and leave wet. This will help to remove any finishes that may interfere with dye absorption.
- To prepare dyebath: Fill large plastic tub or bucket with 3 gallons very hot tap water (140F). If water is not hot enough, heat water in a cook pot or teapot. Shake dye bottle before pouring. Wearing rubber gloves, add 1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp Coral dye to water; stir well.
- Add 1 cup salt to dyebath; stir well. Salt helps to intensify the color.
- Add squirt of liquid dish detergent. Stir well.
- Test dye color by dipping a paper towel into the dyebath. If color is too light, add more dye; if it is too dark, add more water.
- Fold wet napkin in half lengthwise and roll into a loose cylinder.
- Wearing rubber gloves, dip hem-stitched end of napkin about halfway into dyebath. Move the napkin slowly up and down and back and forth. For more of an ombre look, let bottom quarter of napkin remain in the dyebath longer than the top quarter. Continue dipping napkin until you are satisfied with the color. This may take 5-10 minutes. Color will look darker when wet and prior to washing.
- When satisfied with the color, remove napkin from dyebath. Wearing rubber gloves, squeeze out excess dye and set napkin aside. Continue dip-dyeing each napkin, one at a time, until all the napkins have been dyed.
- Recommended: To enhance the color and reduce color bleeding, immerse dyed parts of napkins into Rit ColorStay Dye Fixative for 20 minutes, following directions on bottle.
- Rinse napkins under cold running water until water begins to run clear. Then wash in warm water with mild detergent, rinse and dry.