Rainbow Mesh Beach Bag

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• Rit® All-Purpose Liquid or Powder Dye: Cherry Red, Golden Yellow, Denim Blue
• Rit ColorStay Dye Fixative
• Rit Tie-Dye Accessory Kit
• Cotton Shirt
• Salt
• Baking Rack & Tray
• Measuring Cup & Spoons
• Plastic Table Cover
• Paper Towels
• Scissors

DIRECTIONS:

1. Prewash bag in warm, soapy water. This helps to remove any finishes that may interfere with dye absorption.
2. Lay bag out on a flat surface.
3. Carefully gather bag horizontally and secure with rubber bands every 2".
4. Wearing rubber gloves, mix 2Tbsp of well-shaken All-Purpose liquid dye with two cups of hot tap water. Add 1Tbsp of salt. Pour into a squirt bottle. Shake well.
5. Repeat Step 4 to create Golden Yellow, Denim Blue, and Scarlet squeeze bottles.
6. If using powder dyes, use 1 1/2tsp of powder dye for two cups of hot tap water.
7. Place bound bag on a baking rack with a tray under it. This keeps the dye from puddling under the fabric.
8. Start by applying 4" of Cherry Red dye on the bottom and top of the bound bag.
9. Starting 2" from the bottom of the bound bag, apply roughly a 6" section of Golden Yellow. The Golden Yellow should overlap with the Cherry Red to create orange in-between.
10. Next, apply Denim Blue. Make sure the dye overlaps the yellow portion to create green in-between. Apply Denim Blue all the way up until it overlaps with the Cherry Red from Step 8. This creates the purple color between the blue and red to complete your rainbow.
11. To set the dye, do the following while the bag is still tied up:
12. Apply Rit ColorStay Dye Fixative with a squeeze bottle, which will enhance the colors and reduce bleeding. Mix 2Tbsp of well-shaken ColorStay Dye Fixative with water and apply liberally to both sides of the fabric.
13. We strongly recommend using your microwave, as long as the fabric does not have any metal parts on it. After applying ColorStay Dye Fixative, wrap the fabric in plastic wrap and seal the edges. Place the wrapped fabric on a paper towel in the microwave and heat for 2 minutes. Plastic will puff up, creating a heat chamber that helps bond the dye with the fabric. Once the microwave is done, remove the fabric and open the plastic, letting it cool down.
14. If a microwave is not available or feasible to use and it is a hot sunny day, lay the wrapped fabric out in the sun for an hour.
15. Rinse in cold water until rinse water begins to run clear. This is very important to prevent unabsorbed dye from bleeding into any white areas. If possible, rinse with the bag bundle sitting flat on the baking rack. If it is held vertically, some of the unabsorbed dye could run into white areas as it is rinsed off.
16. Carefully remove rubber bands with a scissors and unfold the bag.
17. Wash in cold water with a mild detergent, rinse and dry.