SUPPLIES & TOOLS:
- Linen Pants
- Rit All-Purpose Liquid Dye: Golden Yellow used in this project
- Rit ColorStay Dye Fixative
- Plastic Squeeze Bottles
- Rubber Bands
- Salt
- Baking Rack and Tray
- Measuring Cup
- Rubber Gloves
- Plastic Table Cover
- Paper Towels
- Microwave
DIRECTIONS:
- Prewash linen pants in warm, soapy water. This helps to remove any finishes that may interfere with dye absorption.
- Scrunch pants into a ball. Wrap rubber bands around fabric to hold it together.
- Wearing rubber gloves, mix 1/2 cup of well-shaken liquid dye with two cups of hot tap water. Add 1 tablespoon of salt. Pour into a squirt bottle. Shake well. For these pants, we used Golden Yellow.
- Place pants on baking rack with a tray under it. This keeps the dye from puddling under the fabric.
- Squeeze dye onto bandana in random sections. Flip over and repeat.
- To help set the dye, we recommend using your microwave. Wrap the dyed fabric in plastic wrap and seal the edges. Place the wrapped fabric on a paper towel in the microwave and heat for 1 to 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 shirt and open the plastic, letting it cool down.
- Before removing the rubber bands, we strongly recommend using Rit ColorStay Dye Fixative on the tee. It enhances the color, increases color retention and prevents dye from bleeding into white areas. Follow these instructions.
- Carefully remove rubber bands with scissors and unfold the fabric. Wash in warm water with a mild detergent, rinse and dry.