Rit Dyed Eggplant Shoes

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• White cotton or canvas shoes
• White cotton napkins
• Rit All-Purpose Liquid Dye: Eggplant or your favorite color(s)
• Container for dyeing
• Painter's tape
• Measuring cup
• Salt
• Liquid dish detergent
• Rubber gloves
• Paper towels
• Plastic table cover
• Rit ColorStay Dye Fixative (recommended)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cover work area with plastic table cover and have paper towels handy to protect against any possible spills. Gather supplies. 
2. For best results, prewash shoes to remove any finishes that may interfere with dye absorption. Leave damp.
3. To protect the soles of your shoes from getting dyed, cover the soles with painter's tape.
4. Wearing rubber gloves, fill a large container or stainless-steel sink with 3 gallons of very hot water. The water should ideally be 140ºF. If tap water is not hot enough, heat water on the stove and add to the dyebath. Pour 1/2 bottle of well-shaken Eggplant dye into dyebath.
5. To enhance the color, add one cup of salt. Add 1 teaspoon of liquid dish detergent to help promote level dyeing. Stir well.
6. Test color by dipping a paper towel into the dyebath. If color is too light, add more dye. If color is too dark, add more water.
7. Immerse shoes in dyebath. Stir slowly and continuously. The first 10 minutes are the most critical. Stirring helps to ensure an even color with no splotches.
8. The shoes can remain in dyebath from 10 minutes up to one hour. When desired color is achieved, remove from dyebath. Shoes will look darker when wet and will dry lighter. Squeeze out excess dye.
9. Recommended: Use Rit ColorStay Fixative immediately after dyeing and before washing to enhance color, increase color retention and prevent dye from bleeding into white areas. Pour fixative into a spray bottle and spray the shoes. Let set for 20 minutes.
10. Rinse shoes in cool water and hang to dry.