SUPPLIES & TOOLS:
- Cotton Knit Sweater Vest
- Rit All-Purpose Liquid Dye
- Rit ColorStay Dye Fixative
- Rit Tie-Dye Accessory Kit
- Measuring Cup
- Measuring Spoons
- Plastic or Metal Stirring Spoon
- Paper Towels or White Fabric Swatch
- Baking Rack + Tray
- Mild Detergent
- Rubber Bands
DIRECTIONS:
- Prewash sweater vest in warm, soapy water before dyeing. This removes any finishes that may interfere with dye absorption. Leave damp.
- Randomly scrunch the sweater vest and secure with rubber bands.
- Wearing rubber gloves, fill squeeze bottle with 2 tablespoons of well-shaken liquid dye or 1/2 teaspoon of powdered. Fill the rest with water. Scale back the concentration to 1 tablespoon if using Rose Quartz or Tan.
- Add 1 tablespoon of salt. Shake well.
- Repeat for each color.
- Place sweater vest on baking rack with a tray under it. This is very important because it keeps the dye from puddling under the fabric. Squirt each dye color on fabric as desired.
- If you are trying to achieve sections of white space, purposely leave certain sections of the fabric white and undyed.
- Optional: Apply Rit ColorStay Dye Fixative with a squeeze bottle, which will enhance the colors and reduce bleeding. Mix 2 tablespoons of well-shaken ColorStay Dye Fixative with water and apply liberally to both sides of the fabric.
- Place bound sweater vest into the microwaveable tray and microwave for two minutes to heat set the dyes.
- Allow microwave tray to cool down before opening.
- Rinse in cool 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 fabric 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.
- Carefully remove rubber bands with a scissors and unfold the fabric.
- Wash in cold water with a mild detergent, rinse and dry.