Color-Block Accents For a Fashion Pop

Here’s another spin on color-blocking -- the hot trend for 2012.  Color blocking can be as simple as adding a colorful accent to a jacket or accessorizing with a colorful bold handbag or pair of shoes.  I wanted to make my own color sensation with a super-cute, dyed jacket. My inspiration came from a Tommy Hilfiger trapeze style coat in Phlox accented with a Tangerine collar. Tangerine Tango is Pantone’s 2012 color of the year – what a perfect accent color!  

So I decided to create my version of this divine jacket using Rit Dye.  Dyeing is the quickest way to infuse color into your wardrobe and it’s so much fun! Wanna see how I did it? Well, I've got the full tutorial right here. 

To punch up the color, I paired the jacket with electric Lime-Green jeans that I dyed. Whoa, color!!! I've got the colored jean tutorial coming soon, so keep an eye out.  

OK, on to the how-to...

SUPPLIES:

• Rit Liquid Dye:  Violet, Purple, Sunshine Orange, Tangerine
• White Jacket, 100% Cotton
• 4-Cup Measuring Cup & Measuring Spoons
• Spoon for stirring dye
• 3-Gallon Container for Dyeing
• Fabric Scraps for testing dye color
• 2 Rubber Bands
• 1” Wide Foam Brush
• Scissors
• Salt
• Dishwashing Liquid
• Plastic Wrap
• Paper Towels
• Rubber Gloves
• Plastic Table Cover

INSTRUCTIONS:

1.  Prewash and dry jacket to remove any finishes that may interfere with dye absorption.

2.  Accordion pleat collar in 1” folds along neckline seam.  Make sure front edges are visible to be certain they are matched up evenly.  Tie rubber band around neckline seam.

3. Wrap plastic wrap around collar.  Secure with rubber band over previous band. 

4.  Weigh the dry jacket to be dyed using a food scale.  The jacket weighed 9 ounces.  As a guideline, ½ cup (half bottle) of liquid dye will color up to 16 ounces of dry weight fabric.  I chose to use Rit custom color Phlox #567 in the Rit Color Formula Guide, located on the Purple board.  This recipe will color 1 ounce of dry weight fabric.  I increased the dye/water recipe based on the weight of the jacket.

5.  Dye Preparation for Jacket:  Wearing rubber gloves, shake dye bottles and measure ½ cup Violet and ½ cup Purple into large measuring cup.  Add 1 cup salt and 2 cups very hot water; stir well.

6.  Fill container with 2 gallons very hot tap water (140º F).  Note:  If water is not hot enough, heat some water in a tea kettle or in the microwave.

7.  Pour dye solution into hot water, add squirt of dishwashing liquid and stir well.  Test dye color to be sure you are satisfied.  Note:  If color is too light, add more dye.  If color is too dark, add more water.

8.  Wet remaining part of jacket, excluding the collar, in warm water; then squeeze out excess water.

9.  Wearing rubber gloves, immerse lower part of jacket, excluding the collar, in dye bath for 10 minutes.  Move jacket continuously back and forth and down and up to base of collar.  Tip: To be sure dye does not bleed into collar, use a brush to carefully dye-paint near base of collar.

10.  Remove jacket from dye bath, carefully squeezing out excess dye.  Set aside. 

11. Dye Preparation for Collar:  Tangerine Tango #98 is a custom dye color, located on the Orange color palette in the Rit Color Formula Guide.  Wearing rubber gloves, shake dye bottles and measure 2 teaspoons Sunshine Orange and 2 teaspoons Tangerine into large measuring cup.  Add 1 Tablespoon salt and 2 cups very hot water; stir well.

12.  Carefully unwrap plastic from collar.  Then wrap plastic around the upper part of the jacket just next to the rubber band.  This will help to keep dye from the collar from splashing on to jacket.

13.  Dip collar in dye solution for 1 to 2 minutes.  Move collar slowly up and down, separating folds so the dye can penetrate the folds and color the collar evenly.

14.  Remove collar from dye bath and squeeze out excess dye. Carefully remove plastic and cut rubber band.

15.  Rinse jacket under cold running water, holding jacket from the collar and allowing the lighter color dye to flow through to the darker color.  Continue rinsing until excess dye is removed.  Then wash in warm water with mild detergent; rinse and hang to dry.