Dyed Cotton Batting for Quilted Wall Art Projects

Step 2:

Large cotton batting swatches show Golden Yellow and Teal dyed separately and then combined to create the green/yellow swatch. Lighter variations are in the background.
Golden Yellow and Teal dyes are combined to create a mottled green/yellow batting. The rules of color mixing apply. When yellow and teal blue are mixed, shades of green will appear.

- Cover work surface with plastic table cover.

- Cut 18” x 22” piece of batting (fat quarter). Immerse in bowl of warm water. This will help open up the fibers and make them ready to absorb the dyes; set aside.

- Wearing rubber gloves, measure 2 teaspoons Golden Yellow dye into 3-cup container. Add 1 cup hot tap water (about 140°F); stir to dissolve dye and set aside. Note: If your tap water is not hot, heat water in a tea kettle or in the microwave.

- Measure 2 teaspoons Teal dye into 3-cup container. Add 1 cup hot tap water; stir to dissolve dye and set aside. Note: At this point, you can test dip a strip of batting into the dye solution. For lighter shades, add more water or use less dye.

- Squeeze excess water from batting and shake out so scrim (polyester backing that holds fibers together) is scrunched up on the inside.

- Push batting into plastic container with Golden Yellow dye solution. Use a spoon to move batting around and push it down to be sure it absorbs the dye.

- Pour Teal dye solution over the batting. (Use just as much dye solution as you desire.) Push out air bubbles with a spoon. Continue to push and move batting. The more movement of batting, the more the colors will blend together.

- Line microwave with paper towels. Place lid on top of container that holds the batting and dyes. (Do not seal container.) Place in microwave and set on HIGH for One minute. This creates a heat chamber that helps the dye penetrate the fibers.

- Carefully remove container from microwave. Rinse batting in cool water until water runs clear. Wash batting in warm water with detergent; rinse and hang to dry.

Step 3:

Cotton Batting Dye Recipes
These are the mottled cotton batting dye color combinations used in the 9-Patch Quilt. . Refer to the Low-Water Immersion directions above. Note: Batting is immersed in the first dye solution and then the second dye solution is poured over it before it’s placed in the microwave.

(Left to Right)

Purple/Fuchsia
1 ½ tsp. Purple mixed with ½ cup water
1 ½ tsp. Purple & 1 ½ tsp. Fuchsia mixed with ½ cup water
Tangerine/Red
1 ½ tsp. Tangerine & 1 ½ tsp. Golden Yellow mixed with ½ cup water
1 ½ tsp. Scarlet & 1 ½ tsp. Tangerine mixed with ½ cup water

Purple/Blue
1 ½ tsp. Purple mixed with ½ cup water
1 ½ tsp. Royal Blue & 1 ½ tsp. Purple mixed with ½ cup water

Green
1 ½ tsp. Golden Yellow & ½ tsp. Kelly Green mixed with 1 cup water
(only one color combination used)
Wine
1 ½ tsp. Wine mixed with 1 cup water
¾ tsp. Fuchsia mixed with ½ cup water

Brown
1 ½ tsp. Dark Brown mixed with 1 cup water
½ tsp. Scarlet mixed with ½ cup water

Olive Green
1 ½ tsp. Golden Yellow & 1 tsp. Kelly Green mixed with 1 cup water
1 ½ tsp. Dark Green & 1 ½ tsp. Golden Yellow mixed with 1 cup water

Tangerine
1 ½ tsp. Scarlet mixed with ½ cup water
¾ tsp. Tangerine mixed with ½ cup water