Important Notes
Instructions
- Prewash sweatshirt in warm, soapy water. This helps to remove any finishes that may interfere with dye absorption.
- Lay fabric out on a flat surface.
- Carefully pleat and fold sweatshirt back and forth on a diagonal.
- Continue until entire sweatshirt is pleated and secure with rubber bands.
- 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.
- Repeat the same process laid out in step 4 for desired colors.
- Place bound sweatshirt on a baking rack with a tray under it. This keeps the dye from puddling under the fabric.
- Squeeze dye onto fabric in 4″ sections starting with Tangerine, Golden Yellow, Kelly Green, Aquamarine and then Purple. Flip over and repeat.
- To set the dye, do the following while the fabric is still tied up:
- Apply Rit ColorStay Dye Fixativewith 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, wrap the fabric in plastic wrap and seal the edges or place it into our microwave tray. Place the wrapped fabric on a paper towel in the microwave and heat for 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 fabric and open the plastic, letting it cool down.
- If a microwave is not available or feasible to use and it is a hot sunny day, lay the wrapped fabric out in the sun for an hour.
- 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.
- Carefully remove rubber bands with a scissors and unfold the fabric.
- Wash in cold water with a mild detergent, rinse and dry.
- Prewash sweatshirt in warm, soapy water. This helps to remove any finishes that may interfere with dye absorption.
- Lay fabric out on a flat surface.
- Carefully pleat and fold sweatshirt back and forth on a diagonal.
- Continue until entire sweatshirt is pleated and secure with rubber bands.
- Now it is time to create your dyebath.
- Cover work area around stove with plastic table cover or newspaper and have paper towels handy to protect against any possible spills.
- Fill a stainless steel pot with three gallons of hot water.
- Add 1 teaspoon of dish detergent to help promote level dyeing.
- As a general guideline, one bottle of Rit DyeMore will dye up to two pounds of dry fabric. If dyeing 100% polyester or trying to achieve a very bold color, double the dye quantity.
- Cover pot and heat water on stove top to just below boiling (or 180°F / 82°C).
- Wear rubber gloves to protect hands from getting stained and to insulate them when working with hot water.
- When water begins to simmer, add well-shaken dye and mix well.
- Wet fabric.
- Immerse your wrapped fabric in the dyebath for 4 to 10 minutes, up to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Allow more time if dyeing 100% polyester. The longer the fabric is in the dye bath, the darker the color will be. Please note that fabric will look darker when wet and will dry lighter.
- When desired color is achieved, remove wrapped fabric from the dyebath. Squeeze out excess dye.
- Rinse in warm water and then gradually cool water until rinse water begins to run clear.
- Carefully remove rubber bands with a scissors and unfold the fabric.
- Wash in warm water with a mild detergent, rinse and dry.
