Tie-Dye Cheesecloth Ghosts

September 26 2022

Move over Casper, there’s a friendlier and cuter ghost in town. We’re giving Halloween a colorful makeover with these adorable tie-dye cheesecloth ghosts.

Supplies
Time
Total: {{ partial.t8YV.total }}
Difficulty
Beginner Total: {{ partial.t7C5.total }}
Instructions
  1. Cover work area with plastic table cover and have paper towels handy to protect against any possible spills.
  2. Create ghost mold using aluminum foil, wire and mason jar as shown below.
  3. Cut cheesecloth into squares long enough to drape over the ghost mold created in step two.
  4. Scrunch cheesecloth squares randomly and secure with rubber bands.
  5. Wearing rubber gloves, mix 2 tablespoons of well-shaken liquid dye with two cups of hot tap water. Add 1 tablespoon of salt. Pour into a squirt bottle. Shake well.
  6. Repeat the process to create as many dye bottles as desired.
  7. Place bound cheesecloth on a baking rack with a tray under it. This keeps the dye from puddling under the fabric.
  8. Squeeze dye onto pants in random sections. Flip over and repeat.
  9. To set the dye, do the following while the fabric is still tied up:
    • 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.
    • After applying ColorStay Dye Fixative, wrap the fabric in plastic wrap, seal the edges and lay the wrapped fabric out in the sun for an hour. If you live somewhere cold, you can use a chair dryer to apply heat. Slowly apply heat by passing the hair dryer back and forth across the item, about 2-3” from the surface for two minutes on each side.
  10. Rinse in cold water until rinse water begins to run clear. This is very important to prevent unabsorbed dye from bleeding into any white areas. If possible, rinse with the fabric bundle sitting flat on the baking rack. If it is held vertically, some of the unabsorbed dye could run into white areas as it is rinsed off.
  11. Carefully remove rubber bands with a scissors and unfold the fabric.
  12. Wash in cold water with a mild detergent, rinse and dry.
  13. Once dry, dip each tie-dye cheesecloth square into a bowl of fabric stiffener and squeeze out any excess.
  14. Drape over ghost mold as desired. Repeat to layer on more tie-dye cheesecloth squares dipped in fabric stiffener over the mold.

  15. Dry over night and carefully remove cheesecloth ghost from the mold.
Posts You May Like
We send awesome emails.

We send awesome emails.

We send awesome emails.

Be the first to know about new products, dye techniques and more!
{{ formErrors('newsletter-modal', 'email') }}
{{ formErrors('newsletter-modal', 'other') }}
Thank you for subscribing!
Thank you for subscribing!