Cobalt Blue Swirly Tshirt

Step 2:

3. After all lines are stitched, pull threads to gather fabric along each line. Knot threads. Wrap rubber bands tightly over gathered stitching.

Step 3:

4. Dye Recipe Preparation: Cobalt Blue is a custom dye recipe (#588 in the Rit Color Formula Guide, Blue palette) so I weighed the dry T-shirt on a food scale. The T-shirt weighed 4 ounces. As a guideline, ½ cup (half bottle) of liquid dye will color up to 16 ounces of dry weight fabric. The recipes are based on 1 ounce of dry fabric. To determine the amount of dye needed, I multiplied the recipe by 4. Just follow the recipe in the next step. I’ve done all the testing for you.

5. Dye Preparation: Wearing rubber gloves, measure:

2 Tbs. + 2 tsp. Evening Blue
1 Tbs. + 1 tsp. Royal Blue
½ cup salt
Pour into small bowl or large measuring cup. Add 2 cups very hot water; stir well.

6. Fill dishpan or bucket with 1 gallon very hot tap water (140ºF). 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 and stir. 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 shirt in warm water and squeeze out excess water.

9. Immerse T-shirt in dye bath and stir continuously for 10 – 15 minutes until desired shade is achieved. The longer the item remains in the dye bath, the darker the color will be.

10. Remove shirt from dye bath and squeeze out excess dye. Cut rubber bands and remove sewing thread. Rinse under cold running water until water runs clear. Then wash shirt in warm water with mild detergent, rinse, dry and iron.

And you're done!!!