Tangerine Tango Goes Plaid With This Dye-Painted Silk Scarf!

tutorial

August 17, 2012

Tangerine Tango Goes Plaid With This Dye-Painted Silk Scarf!

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Well, we've finally come to our final Tangerine Tango project and, boy, is it a winner! What's great about this thin, silk scarf is that it can work in any season for a "light as a breeze" summer look or a fun color-punch to brighten a somber winter day. Silk can be a sophisticated look for work or as casual as sunny beachwear. How can you get more versatile than that, friends?

AND... it just happens to be quite an easy look to DIY too! It's as simple as drawing a few lines and a quick dip of the ends in the dye bath. The beauty of the technique lies in the "imperfect-ness" of the lines. By just hand painting with dye, the lines have a more naturalistic or expressionistic feel which adds a unique character to the scarf. What? The dye dripped a bit? Not to worry, it only adds more interest to the look. You'll have fun experimenting to create your own style. This project is pure play, so relax and just have fun with it!

OK, ready to tango! Here's the tutorial...

SUPPLIES:

Rit Liquid Dyes: Tangerine & Sunshine Orange
100% Silk Scarf (prewashed)
Measuring Cup & Spoons
1 Gallon Plastic Container
1 Pint Plastic Container
Mixing Spoon
Small Foam Brush (chisel-tipped)
Spray Bottle
Plastic Wrap
Microwave
Paper Towels
Rubber Gloves
Plastic Table Cover

INSTRUCTIONS:

Note - Even though we dyed a silk scarf, this technique can be used for thin cotton scarves as well.

1) Cover your work surface with plastic cover to protect it.

2) Lay out layers of overlapping plastic wrap slightly larger than size of the scarf. Lay scarf flatly on top of plastic wrap.

3) Grab your rubber gloves. Shake, measure and mix 1 tsp of Tangerine + 1 tsp of Sunshine Orange with 1 cup of very hot 140˚F water in a 1 cup container. Mix well.

4) Using just the tip of a chisel-tipped foam brush, dye-paint fine diagonal lines across the entire scarf. A light touch is advised, as the lines will bleed out slightly for a softer look. These lines don't need to be perfect. Small imperfections or drips can actually add a nice natural feel to your scarf.

5) Next, dye-paint lines in the opposite direction. Experiment with different spacing if you like for a more interesting plaid effect.

Note: Set aside your dye solution. It will be used later.

6) Allow scarf to dry fully.

7) In order to create a steamy environment needed to heat set the dyes in the microwave, spray the scarf with water to fully dampen.

8) Cover with another layer of overlapping plastic wrap to cover the scarf. Seal top and bottom layers of plastic wrap. Fold wrapped scarf to fit into microwave.

9) Line bottom of microwave with paper towels. Lay wrapped scarf in microwave and set on HIGH for 30 seconds. Watch carefully. Let cool for a few moments and repeat for another 30 seconds. Let cool fully and unwrap.

10) For added fun, try a dip-dye accent! Grab those rubber gloves again. Heat 1 quart of very hot 140˚F water and pour into 1 gallon plastic container. Add your previous dye solution to the hot water and mix well.

11) Dip just the scarf ends into dye bath until desired shade is achieved.