Colorblock Flannel
Our latest obsession: overdyeing and color-blocking our flannels for fall. 🍁🍂
Supplies
- Cotton Flannel
- Rit All-Purpose Liquid Dye in Indigo
- Plastic Bucket or Container for Dyeing
- Large metal spoon
- Paper towels
- Plastic table cover
- Salt
- Dish soap
Time
Total: 30 minutes
Difficulty
Beginner
Instructions
- Prewash flannel to remove any finishes that may interfere with dye absorption.
- Cover work area with plastic table cover and have paper towels handy to protect against any possible spills.
- Wearing gloves, mix ½ cup of well-shaken All-Purpose Dye with 2 quarts of very hot water in a container and stir well. Add ½ cup of salt and 1 tsp of dish soap to the dyebath.
- Holding flannel sideways, immerse one half of the unbuttoned flannel into the dyebath for about 5 minutes. Keep shirt very still and allow the shirt to absorb the dye upwards to create an organic look. Be very careful not to get dye on the remainder of the shirt.
- To set the dye, do the following right after applying the dye: Apply Rit ColorStay Dye Fixative with a spray 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 jacket.
- After applying ColorStay Dye Fixative, wrap sweatshirt in plastic wrap and seal the edges. Place the wrapped sweatshirt on a paper towel in the microwave and heat for 1 to 2 minutes. Plastic will puff up, creating a heat chamber that helps bond the dye with the fabric. Once the microwave is done, remove the sweatshirt and open the plastic, letting it cool down.
- 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.
- Wash in cold water with a mild detergent, rinse and dry.
