Supplies
- 100% Cotton Tablecloth
- Rit All-Purpose Rit Dye in Cherry Red
- Empty Refillable Maker Paint Pen
- Rit ColorStay Dye Fixative
- Water soluble fabric pencil
- Small container with spout
- Salt
- Dish Soap
- Iron
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Rubber Gloves
- Scrap Cardboard
Time
Total: 1 hour
Difficulty
Intermediate
Instructions
- Pre-wash tablecloth in warm, soapy water without any fabric softener. This helps to remove any finishes or stains that may interfere with dye absorption.
- Dry tablecloth completely.
- Draw as desired onto dry tablecloth using a water soluble fabric pencil.
- Wearing gloves, fill small container with a pouring spout with 4 cups of hot water, ideally 140ºF. If tap water is not hot enough, heat water on the stove and carefully add to the dyebath.
- Add 1 tablespoons of salt.
- Add 2 tablespoons of well-shaken All-Purpose Rit Dye or follow desired color recipe and mix well.
- Repeat steps to create additional dyebaths in different colors as desired.
- Test 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.
- Carefully fill empty refillable marker paint pen with prepared dye mix.
- Place tablecloth over scrap cardboard to prevent dye from bleeding through the surface.
- Prime tip of refillable marker paint pen as needed.
- Slowly trace the water soluble fabric pencil from Step 3, holding the tablecloth taught onto the surface to prevent any snags.
- Allow the drawn dye lines to dry fully.
- Once fully dry, heat set drawn lines with an iron on low.
- Alternatively, use a blow dryer to heat set the dye.
- Spray tablecloth with Rit ColorStay Dye Fixative.
- Rinse thoroughly under cold water to remove any unabsorbed dyes and fabric pencil lines.
- Wash in cold water with mild detergent and air dry.
