Dye-tastic Collage Table

by Rit Guest Crafter Added 0 year ago

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By Ellen Highsmith Silver
Starting with an unfinished wood table, Ellen dyed the wood an alluring reddish pink and created a collage top using an assortment of blue-printed fabrics that were overdyed with Aquamarine Blue.

Step 1:

1. Cover work surface with a plastic drop cloth.

2. Lightly sand table. Remove dust with tack cloth.

3. Wearing latex gloves, measure and mix ¼ cup Fuchsia, ¼ cup Cherry Red with 2 cups very hot tap water (140°F); stir well.
Note: Test dye color on underside of table. If color is too light, add more dye; if color is too dark, add more water. Dye will appear lighter when dry.

4. Apply dye solution to table: Use a foam brush for larger flat surfaces and a bristle brush for tight spots and crevasses. Avoid overloading brush with dye to prevent drips. Keep a rag handy for quick wipe ups.
Note: For better dye absorption, apply dye hot. If it cools down, cover dye container with plastic and reheat in the microwave on high for 1 – 2 minutes.

5. Allow table to dry completely.

Note: If color is too light, apply another coat of dye. We used 3 coats of dye to achieve a deep color saturation. Hard woods require more dye. This table was made out of Alder wood, which is a hardwood.

Step 2:

1. Wearing rubber gloves, measure and mix 1 Tablespoon Aquamarine dye with 1 cup very hot water (140ºF); stir well.

2. To have twice as many fabrics to work with, dip half the blue fabrics in dye solution for 1 – 2 minutes, depending upon the shade desired. Remove, rinse fabrics in cool water and let dry. Overdyeing the fabrics will turn them into harmonious shades of blue and aquamarine that will play nicely with their non-dyed cousins.

Circles in center show sample of overdyed fabric.

Step 3:

Decoupaging Fabrics

1. Pre-treat the blue-printed fabric pieces to be used: Mix ¾ cup Mod Podge with ¼ cup water in a lidded container. Mix more as needed.

2. Spread a waterproof drop cloth over work surface and another nearby for drying fabric. Lay all fabrics face up on first drop cloth.

3. Using the sponge brush marked “MP”, completely coat the fabrics with the diluted Mod Podge mix and transfer them face up to the second drop cloth. Smooth the wet pieces as flat and straight as possible, especially the checks. Let dry completely.

4. Trace the outline of the tabletop onto paper. Plan your design by drawing random pie- shaped pieces in a mosaic style on paper. Or, draw any design you like. Remember pre-treated fabrics can be cut into any shape or size without fraying.

5. When treated fabrics are dry, iron them between two pressing cloths.

6. Cut the blue overdyed fabrics into random width pie shapes based on your layout. (We used 16 pieces.) Then lay and position the fabric shapes on the tabletop as desired.

7. Using the “MP” brush, apply full strength Mod Podge to the underside of each fabric pie shape, one at a time. Then carefully lay it down on the tabletop, smoothing out wrinkles as you work. Let dry overnight.

Finishing:

1. Using the “MP” brush, apply a final coat of full strength Mod Podge over the tabletop. Let dry overnight.

2. With the brush labeled “Poly,” apply a coat of polyurethane over the tabletop and table legs. Let dry overnight.

3. Sand tabletop lightly and use steel wool on wood legs. Wipe with a tack cloth. Continue to apply 2 or 3 more coats of polyurethane in this manner.

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Details

Category:Home Decor Wood and Wicker

Origin:The Rit Team

Difficulty:Moderate

Techniques:Dye-Painting Wood and Wicker

Inspirations
Ellen's Floorquilts! book

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Materials Used

• Rit Liquid Dyes: Fuchsia, Cherry Red, Aquamarine
• 14” Dia by 24” Unfinished Wood Table
• Mod Podge (matte decoupage medium)
• Assorted Blue Print Cotton Fabrics – for 6” pie shapes
• Polyurethane Clear Satin Finish
• Measuring Cup & Spoons
• Container (microwave safe) w/lid for dye mixing
• Container w/lid for Mod Podge
• 2 Sponge Paint Brushes: Labelled “MP” & “Poly”
• Foam & bristle brushes
• 14” wide Tracing Paper
• Fine Sandpaper
• Steel Wool
• Tack Cloth
• Latex Gloves
• 2 Plastic Drop Cloths
• Plastic Wrap, Paper Towels & Rags

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Dye-tastic Collage Table