SUPPLIES & TOOLS:
- Stool with removable cover
- Rit All-Purpose Liquid Dye: Aquamarine, Royal Blue, Evening Blue (or Your Favorite Color(s))
- Rubber bands or string
- Plastic container
- Measuring cup
- Salt
- Plastic gloves
- Plastic table cover
- Paper towels
- Rit ColorStay Dye Fixative
DIRECTIONS:
- Cover work area with plastic table cover and have paper towels handy to protect against any possible spills. Gather supplies.
- For best results, prewash stool cover to remove any finishes that may interfere with dye absorption. Leave damp.
- 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 well-shaken dye into dyebath. For this project, we used the Sodalite Blue color formula, which includes: 2 and 1/2 bottle of Royal Blue, 1/4 cup of Aquamarine and 1/4 cup of Evening Blue.
- To enhance the color, add one cup of salt. Add 1 teaspoon of dish detergent to help promote level dyeing.
- Stir well.
- 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.
- Place damp stool cover flat on work surface and fold accordion-style vertically.
- Wrap rubber bands or string tightly around folded stool cover 3" apart.
- Dip folded accordion side halfway into the dyebath.
- When satisfied with color, remove cover from dyebath. Fabric will look darker when wet and will dry lighter.
- Wearing rubber gloves, squeeze out excess dye and set cover aside.
- We recommend using Rit ColorStay Fixative immediately after dyeing and before washing to enhance color, increase color retention and prevent dye from bleeding into white areas.
- Rinse in cool water until water runs clear.
- Wash in warm water with mild detergent, rinse and dry.