Supplies
- Blanket
- Evening Blue All-Purpose Dye
- Rit ColorStay Dye Fixative (Recommended)
- Twine
- Rubber Band
- Dishwashing Liquid
- Measuring Cup
- Large Metal Spoon
- Paper Towel
- Plastic Table Cover
- Plastic Gloves
- Salt
Time
Total: {{ partial.tLWQ.total }}
Difficulty
Intermediate Total: {{ partial.tD8Y.total }}
Instructions
- Cover table with plastic. Gather supplies.
- Pre-wash blanket with detergent, rinse and leave wet.
- To create a Kanoko shibori pattern, pinch the center portion of the blanket and hold it in the air, letting the 4 corners drop.
- About ½” from the pinched center, wrap blanket tightly with a rubber band.
- Then wrap cotton twine in a crisscross pattern down the length of the blanket. Pattern will vary based on the spacing and wrapping of the twine. This will result in a long blanket wrapped with cotton twine.
- Set aside wrapped blanket to prepare the dyebath.
- To prepare dyebath: Fill large dye container with 3 gallons very hot tap water (140F). If water is not hot enough, heat some water in a cook pot or teapot. Shake dye bottles before pouring and wear rubber gloves when measuring dye. For a dark Indigo shade, add ½ cup Denim Blue dye and approximately 2 tablespoons Navy dye to hot water. For a softer shade, use ½ cup Evening Blue. Stir well. Note: More dye may be needed, depending upon the weight and size of the blanket
- For cotton fabrics, add 1 cup of salt to dyebath. This helps to intensify the color. Then add a squirt of liquid dish detergent. Stir well.
- Test dye color by dipping a paper towel into the dyebath. If color is too light, add more dye; if color is too dark, add more water.
- Immerse wrapped blanket into dyebath. For a high contrast pattern, keep the wrapped blanket in the dye for about 3 to 5 minutes to keep the wrapped part dye-free. For more color and less white areas, let the wrapped blanket set in the dyebath for 10 to 20 minutes.
- When desired color is achieved, remove the wrapped blanket from the dyebath. Wearing rubber gloves, squeeze out excess dye. Do not remove cotton twine.
- Recommended: To enhance the color and reduce color bleeding, use Rit ColorStay Dye Fixative immediately after dyeing and before washing, following package instructions. Let wrapped blanket set in fixative for 20 minutes.
- Carefully remove rubber band and twine from the blanket and unfold.
- Rinse blanket in cool water until rinse water begins to run clear.
- Then wash blanket in warm water with mild detergent in washing machine with an old towel, rinse and dry.
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