Going Green Steals the Scene!

Blue jeans step aside!  Color is moving into your territory.  This spring designers are offering denim jeans in every color of the rainbow!  Take your pick, better yet, ---   dye your own custom color.  I’m just lovin’ my new Lemon-Lime jeans!

What's YOUR color du jour? 

Here’s the tutorial ...

SUPPLIES:

• Rit Liquid Dye:  Lemon Yellow, Aquamarine
• White Jeans, 100% Cotton 
• 4-Cup Measuring Cup & Measuring Spoons
• Spoon for stirring dye
• 4-Gallon Container for Dyeing 
• Fabric Scrap for testing dye color
• Salt
• Dishwashing Liquid
• Rubber Gloves
• Paper Towels
• Plastic Table Cover

INSTRUCTIONS:

1.  Prewash jeans to remove any finishes that may interfere with dye absorption.

2.  Weigh the dry jeans using a food scale.  My jeans weighed 14 ounces.  As a guideline, ½ cup (half bottle) of liquid dye will color up to 16 ounces of dry weight fabric.

3.  Lemon Lime Green is custom color #578 in the Rit Color Formula Guide, located on the Green 3 color palette.  This recipe will color 1 ounce of dry weight fabric.  After doing some testing, I created a new dye/water ratio based on the weight of the jeans.  If you are dyeing a larger item, you will need more dye and more water.

4.  Dye Preparation:  Wearing rubber gloves, shake dye bottles and measure ¾ cup  Lemon Yellow and 3 Tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon Aquamarine dye into large measuring cup.  Add 1 cup salt and 2 cups very hot water; stir well. 

5.  Fill dishpan or bucket with 3 gallons very hot tap water (140° F).  Note:  If water is not hot enough, heat some water in a tea kettle or in the microwave. 

6.  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.

7.  Wet jeans in warm water and squeeze out excess water.

8.  Immerse jeans in dye bath and stir continuously for 20 minutes, then occasionally for 10 minutes or until desired color is achieved.  The longer the jeans remain in the dye bath, the darker the color will be. (Color will appear lighter when dry.)  Stirring helps to ensure an even color.

9.  Remove jeans from dye bath and squeeze out excess dye.  Rinse in cold running water until water runs clear.  Then wash jeans in warm water with mild detergent, rinse, dry and iron