Supplies
- Rit All-Purpose Liquid Dye: Petal Pink, Tan, Purple, Aquamarine and Lemon Yellow or Your Favorite Color(s)
- White Cotton Napkins
- Container for Dyeing
- Rubber Gloves
- Paper Towels
- Plastic Table Cover
- Measuring Spoon
- Salt
- Liquid Dish Detergent
- Rit ColorStay Dye Fixative (Recommended)
Time
Less Than 1 HourTotal:
Difficulty
Beginner
Instructions
- Cover table with plastic and gather your supplies.
- For best results, prewash napkins, rinse and leave wet. This will help to remove any finishes that may interfere with dye absorption.
- Fill a large plastic container with 3 gallons of very hot tap water (140F). If the water is not hot enough, heat water on the stove or in a microwave and add to the dyebath. For this project, we followed the Beach Glass and Ballet Slippers color recipes. Wearing rubber gloves, add All-Purpose Dye to water; stir well.
- Add 1 cup salt to dyebath; stir well. Salt helps to intensify the color.
- Add 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 it is too dark, add more water.
- Fold wet napkin in half lengthwise.
- Wearing rubber gloves, dip the top end of napkin about half way into dyebath. Move the napkin slowly up and down and back and forth. Let the bottom quarter of the napkin remain in the dyebath longer than the top quarter. Continue dipping napkin until you are satisfied with the color. This may take 5 – 10 minutes. Color will look darker when wet and prior to washing.
- When satisfied with the color, remove napkin from dyebath. Wearing rubber gloves, squeeze out excess dye and set napkin aside. Continue dip-dyeing each napkin, one at a time, until all the napkins have been dyed.
- To enhance the color and reduce color bleeding, immerse the dyed parts of the napkins into Rit ColorStay Dye Fixative for 20 minutes, following these directions.
- Rinse napkins under cold running water until water begins to run clear. Then wash in warm water with mild detergent, rinse and dry.
