A Tie-Dye Pillowcase Trifecta

Step 2:

- Cut rubber bands in half. Tie 4 rubber bands on each side of pin so that they are close together (8 rubbber bands total).

- Soak pillowcases in warm water while preparing dye bath.

Step 3:

Dye Recipe Preparation: Phlox is a custom dye recipe (#567 in the Rit Color Formula Guide, Purple palette) so I weighed the pillowcases on a food scale. Each one weighed about 5 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 5 for one pillowcase. Then I doubled it for two pillowcases. Since Phlox is dark color, I doubled that amount.
So here’s my recipe.

Dye Preparation: Shake bottles before pouring out dye.

¾ cup Violet
¾ cup Purple
¼ cup salt

- Wearing rubber gloves, pour dye into small bowl or large measuring cup. Add 2 cups very hot water; stir well to dissolve salt and mix with dye.

- 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.

-Pour dye solution into hot water, add a squirt of dishwashing detergent 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.

Step 4:

- Remove pillowcases from water.

- Immerse pillowcases in dye bath for 15 – 20 minutes or until desired shade is achieved. The longer the item remains in the dye bath, the darker the color will be. Push down on tied pillowcases with a spoon or use rubber gloves to push by hand to help dye penetrate folds.

- Remove pillowcases from dye bath and squeeze out excess dye. Cut rubber bands. Rinse under cold running water until water runs clear. At this point the pillowcases are a deep phlox purple and white. Because I wanted an overall blended effect and wanted to pull out the Violet color, I overdyed the pillowcases.

Step 5:

Overdyeing Pillowcases (optional)

Wearing rubber gloves, measure

2 Tablespoons Violet dye
1 Tablespoon Purple dye
¼ cup salt

- Pour dye into small bowl or measuring cup. Add 2 cups very hot water; stir well to dissolve salt and mix with dye.

- Fill dishpan or bucket with 2 gallons very hot water (140º F). Pour dye solution into dye bath. Add a squirt of dishwashing detergent and stir. Test dye color to be sure your are satisfied. Note: If color is too light, add more dye. If color is too dark, add more water.

- Immerse pillowcases in dye bath for 2 minutes, moving fabric continuously.

- Remove pillowcases and squeeze out excess dye. Rinse in cool water until water runs clear. Then launder in washing machine with mild detergent.

Step 6:

DIP-DYE METHOD:

- Pre-wash pillowcases to remove any finishes that may interfere with dye absorption.

- Cover work surface with plastic cover.

- Dye Preparation: Shake bottle before pouring out dye.

4 Tbs. Violet
2 Tbs. Purple
¼ cup salt

Wearing rubber gloves, pour dye into small bowl or large measuring cup. Add 2 cups very hot water; stir well to dissolve salt and mix with dye.

- Fill dishpan or bucket with 3 gallons very hot tap water (140ºF). Note: If water is not hot enough, heat some water in a tea kettle or in the microwave.

- Pour dye solution into hot water, add a squirt of dishwashing detergent 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.

- Wet pillowcases in warm water. Then immerse in dye bath for 5 – 10 minutes or until desired shade is achieved. The longer the item remains in the dye bath, the darker the color will be.

- Remove pillowcases from dye bath and squeeze out excess dye and rinse in cold water.

Step 7:

Preparing for dipping:

- Lay out pillowcases flat and smooth out wrinkles.

- Fold each pillowcase in half in the lengthwise direction.

- Then fold each pillowcase in half in the opposite direction.

Step 8:

- Measure 9 ½” from each pillowcase opening. Mark each side with a straight pin.

Step 9:

- Dye preparation: Shake dye bottles before pouring out dye.

¾ cup Violet dye
¾ cup Purple dye
¼ cup salt

- Wearing rubber gloves, pour dye into small bowl or measuring cup. Add 2 cups very hot water; stir well to dissolve salt and mix with dye.

- Fill plastic bin with 1 ½ gallons very hot water (140º F). Pour dye solution into dye bath. Add a squirt of dishwashing detergent and stir. Test dye color to be sure your are satisfied. Note: If color is too light, add more dye. If color is too dark, add more water.

Step 10:

SOLID METHOD

- Pre-wash pillowcases to remove any finishes that may interfere with dye absorption.

- Cover work surface with plastic cover.

Dye Preparation: Shake bottle before pouring out dye.

1 Bottle Violet
1 Bottle Purple
1 cup salt

Wearing rubber gloves, pour dye into small bowl or large measuring cup. Add 2 cups very hot water; stir well to dissolve salt and mix with dye.

- Fill dishpan or bucket with 3 gallons very hot tap water (140ºF). Note: If water is not hot enough, heat some water in a tea kettle or in the microwave.

- Pour dye solution into hot water, add a squirt of dishwashing detergent 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.