Supplies
- Rit Color Remover
- Rit All-Purpose Liquid Dyes in Truly Green
- Rit ColorStay Dye Fixative
- Black 100% Cotton Sweatshirt
- Stainless Steel Pot for Dyeing
- Tongs
- Paper Towels
- Plastic Table Cover
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Salt
- Dish Soap
- Plastic container
Time
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Difficulty
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Instructions
- Gather supplies.
- Pre-wash item in warm, soapy water and leave damp.
- Pinch center of sweatshirt and secure with rubber band. Place another rubber band roughly 1-2″ inches from the first one to create the rings in the bullseye. Repeat to create more as many bullseye patterns as desired.
- Once complete, set aside.
- Fill a stainless steel pot with enough water for the fabric to move freely. Cover pot and heat water on stove top to just below boiling (or around 200F).
- When water begins to simmer, add one packet of Color Remover. Mix well.
- Keep temperature at a low simmer.
- Place only the bound portion of the sweatshirt into the simmering bath.
- Stir occasionally. Some fabrics will lose their color in as fast as 10 minutes, others can take up to 20 minutes. Once your garment turns white or off-white, you can remove it from the bath.
- Wash portion that was in color remover with warm water until water runs clear.
- Once the color is removed, your item is now ready to be dyed.
- Fill dye container with 3 Gallons of very hot water, 140ºF. Note: If water is not hot enough, heat some water in a cook pot to boiling and add to dye container.
- Dye Preparation: Shake dye bottle before pouring. Wearing rubber gloves, pour dye into the water. Then measure 1 cup salt dissolved with 2 cups hot water; add to dye bath. (Salt helps to intensify the color.) Then add a squirt of dish washing liquid and stir well.
- Add bound portion of the sweatshirt, where the color was removed, into the dyebath.
- Let the fabric sit for 10-30 minutes to allow the dye to absorb.
- To set the dye, do the following while the fabric is still tied up:
- Optional: To set the dye, apply Rit ColorStay Dye Fixative with a squeeze bottle, which will enhance the colors and reduce bleeding. Mix 2 tablespoons of well-shaken ColorStay Dye Fixative with water and apply liberally to both sides of the fabric.
- We strongly recommend using your microwave, as long as the fabric does not have any metal parts on it. After applying ColorStay Dye Fixative, place the fabric in microwave tray and close. Place the tray in the microwave and heat for 2 minutes. This will create a heat chamber that helps bond the dye with the fabric. Once the microwave is done, remove the fabric and open the tray carefully, letting it cool down.
- If a microwave is not available or feasible to use and it is a hot sunny day, Place the tray out in the sun for an hour.
- Rinse in cool water until rinse water begins to run clear.
- Carefully remove rubber bands with a scissors and unfold the fabric.
- Wash in cold water with a mild detergent, rinse and dry.
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