Colorful Hand Towels

Step 2:

- Cover work surface with a plastic table cover.

- Weigh the towel on a food scale. The weight tells you how much dye to use. For example, one box of powder dye or ½ cup liquid dye will color 16 ounces of dry weight fabric. This towel weighed 4 ounces so 2 tablespoons of dye were used, but for more intense colors, use more dye.

- Prewash towels to remove any finishes that may interfere with dye absorption.

- Dye Preparation: Wearing rubber gloves, measure and mix dye following recipe below. Add ¼ cup salt and a squirt of dish washing liquid. Stir well.
Choose one color or make all three, dyeing one at a time.
2 Tablespoons Fuchsia + 4 cups hot water
3 Tablespoons Lemon Yellow + 4 cups hot water
2 Tablespoons Aquamarine + 4 cups hot water

- Pour dye solution into a dishpan or bucket. Add 1 gallon very hot water; stir well. Note: Test the color by dipping a paper towel or scrap of fabric in the dye bath. If color is too dark, add more water. If it is too light, add more dye.

- Wet towel in warm water; wring out excess water. Immerse towel in dye bath for 10 minutes, stirring continuously for first few minutes. The longer the towel is in the dye bath, the darker the color will be.

Step 3:

- Rinse towel in cool water until water runs clear. Then wash with warm water and detergent; rinse and dry