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  5. Dip Dye

Dip Dyed Napkins

by Rit Dye |

Item # 082339021P11
Beginner Under 1 Hour

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

  • White Cotton Napkins
  • Rit All-Purpose Liquid Dye, Purple (or color of choice)
  • Rit All-Purpose Liquid Dye, Rose Quartz (or color of choice)
  • Rit All-Purpose Liquid Dye, Emerald (or color of choice)
  • Container for Dyeing
  • Rubber Gloves
  • Paper Towels
  • Plastic Table Cover
  • Measuring Spoon
  • Salt
  • Liquid Dish Detergent
  • Rit ColorStay Dye Fixative

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Cover table with plastic and gather your supplies.
  2. For best results, prewash napkins, rinse and leave wet. This will help to remove any finishes that may interfere with dye absorption.
  3. Estimate the weight of the napkins to determine how much dye to use. As a general guideline, half bottle of liquid dye or 1 box of powder dye will color up to 1lb of dry weight fabric. These instructions are for dyeing 6 napkins, which weighed a total of 12oz.
  4. Fill a large plastic container with 3 gallons of very hot tap water (140F). If the water is not hot enough, heat water on the stove or in a microwave and add to the dyebath. Shake dye bottle before pouring. Wearing rubber gloves, add 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp of Emerald All-Purpose Dye to water; stir well.
  5. Add 1 cup salt to dyebath; stir well. Salt helps to intensify the color.
  6. Add squirt of liquid dish detergent. Stir well.
  7. 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.
  8. Fold wet napkin in half lengthwise and roll into a loose cylinder.
  9. 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 the bottom quarter of the napkin remain in the dyebath longer than the top quarter. Continue dipping napkin until you are satisfied with the color. This may take 5 to 10 minutes. Color will look darker when wet and prior to washing.
  10. 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.
  11. To enhance the color and reduce color bleeding, immerse the dyed parts of the napkins into Rit ColorStay Dye Fixative for 20 minutes, following the bottle directions.
  12. Rinse napkins under cold running water until water begins to run clear. Then wash in warm water with mild detergent, rinse and dry.

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