SUPPLIES & TOOLS:
• Silk Skirt
• Rit All-Purpose Liquid Dye (We Used a Mixture of Denim Blue and Black)
• Rit ColorStay Dye Fixative (Recommended)
• Bucket
• Plastic Bag
• Rubber Bands
• Rubber Gloves
• Measuring Cup
• Large Metal Spoon
• Vinegar (Optional)
DIRECTIONS:
1. Prewash skirt, rinse and leave damp.
2. Gather bottom of the skirt and secure it with a rubber band where you want the dye to resist.
3. Once the rubber band is in place, place the top half of the skirt in a plastic bag and secure it so that the dye doesn’t get on it.
4. Fill a large dye container with 11.4 litres (3 gallons) of very hot tap water. The water should ideally be 60ºC (140ºF). If tap water is not hot enough, heat water on the stove and add to the dyebath.
5. Wearing rubber gloves, add 1 bottle of wellshaken Rit Denim Blue All-Purpose Dye and 1/4 bottle of well-shaken Rit Black All-Purpose Dye. To enhance the colour, add one cup of vinegar. Add 1 teaspoon of dish detergent to help promote level dyeing. Stir well.
6. Test the colour by dipping a paper towel into the dye bath. If the colour is too light, add more dye; if colour is too dark, add more water.
Give a simple white skirt or dress a whole new look using Rit’s shibori dyeing technique. The pattern adds just the right amount of colour and style while still maintaining a timeless look. Perfect for summer (which of course includes festivals!). An easy way to refresh an old favourite by adding a pop of colour.
TIME: Under 1 Hour
DIFFICULTY:
Beginner
7. Immerse bottom of skirt into the dyebath. Let it sit in dyebath anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes. Longer time in the dye bath creates darker dye colours.
8. When you achieve the colour you want, remove the skirt from the dye bath and gently squeeze off excess dye. Do not remove rubber bands yet.
9. Recommended: To enhance the colour and reduce colour bleeding, use Rit ColorStay Dye Fixative immediately after dyeing and before washing, following instructions on bottle. Dip only dyed portion of skirt into fixative.
10. Rinse the skirt in cool water until rinse water begins to run clear.
11. Hand wash in warm water with a mild detergent, rinse and dry.