Dyed Cotton Batting

Dyed Cotton Batting & Interfacing for Quilted Wall Art Projects

Quilt designers like to work with cotton batting and are using it on the outside of quilts to create quilted wall art, pillows and other projects. Cotton batting has a soft, felt-like surface, takes the dyes beautifully and can be stitched and embellished in many ways. Cotton batting can be dyed easily using a low-water immersion technique and the microwave. The result is a mottled effect with light and dark areas that add visual depth and texture.

Designer Judy Coates Perez has created several quilted wall art pieces using Rit-dyed cotton batting and interfacing. Dyed sheer nylon interfacing has a translucent quality which allows the under colors to show through, resulting in special color effects.

Low-Water Immersion Dyeing for Cotton Batting & Interfacing

Low-water immersion dyeing uses a small amount of water compared to standard dyeing methods, and the dyeing is done in small plastic disposable containers. When the batting is pushed into a small container, it creates patterns and texture that give it a mottled, hand-dyed look. This method also makes it easy to combine two or three dye colors at the same time, giving the batting more visual depth with light and dark areas.

Supplies Needed

• Rit Dye, powder or liquid
• 18” x 22” Fat quarter cuts of Warm & White® Batting by The Warm™ Company
• Measuring cup
• Measuring spoons
• Plastic disposable spoon
• Plastic disposable containers with lids (3-cup for batting, 1-cup for interfacing)
• Small bowl
• Rubber gloves
• Plastic table cover
• Paper towels
• Microwave

Low-Water Immersion Dyeing Instructions

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.

1. Cover work surface with plastic table cover.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Squeeze excess water from batting and shake out so scrim (polyester backing that holds fibers together) is scrunched up on the inside.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.

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