Shibori Baby Swaddling Blanket

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• White cotton or rayon swaddling blanket
• Rit® Liquid All-Purpose Dye in your favorite color (coral used for this project)
• 2 Wood blocks 4" square
• Rubber bands
• 4 Gallon plastic tub or bucket
• Measuring cup
• Plastic or metal stirring spoon
• Salt
• Liquid dish detergent
• Rubber gloves
• Paper towels
• Plastic table cover
• Mild detergent
• Rit® ColorStay Dye Fixative (recommended)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cover table with plastic. Gather supplies.
2. Prewash baby blanket with detergent, rinse and leave wet.
3. To create a traditional itajime pattern, accordion fold or “fan fold" the baby blanket in 4 1/2" wide folds down the length of the blanket. This will form a long, rectangle. For more pattern variations, vary the size and width of the folds.
4. Then accordion fold or “fan fold" the long rectangle into a 4 1/2" fabric square.
5. Sandwich the fabric square between the 4" blocks of wood.
6. Secure “sandwich" with rubber bands to tightly hold the fabric square together.
7. Set aside “sandwich" to prepare the dyebath.
8. To prepare dyebath, fill large dye container with 3 gallons very hot water tap water (140F). If water is not hot enough, heat some in a cook pot or teapot. Shake dye bottles before pouring. Wearing rubber gloves, add 1/2 cup of coral dye to hot water. Stir well.
9. For cotton fabrics, add 1 cup of salt to dyebath. This helps to intensify the color. Then add a squirt of liquid dish detergent. Stir well.
10. Test dye 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.
11. Immerse blanket “sandwich" bundle into the dyebath. For a high-contrast pattern (more white areas), keep the bundle in the dye for about 3 to 5 minutes to keep the bound-up part dye free. For more color and less white areas, let the square set in the dyebath for 10 to 20 minutes.
12. When desired color is achieved, remove the baby blanket bundle from the dyebath. Squeeze out excess dye. Do not remove wood blocks.
13. Recommended: To enhance the color and reduce color bleeding, use Rit® ColorStay Dye Fixative immediately after dyeing and before washing, following package instructions. Let “sandwich" set in fixative for 20 minutes.
14. Carefully remove wood blocks and rubber bands; unfold the baby blanket.
15. Rinse blanket in cool water until rinse water begins to run clear.
16. Then wash the baby blanket in warm water with mild detergent by hand or in your washing machine with an old towel, rinse and dry.