Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Adventures in Fabric Dying

Remember when I said I was doing a little fabric dying on some baby blankets? Well, I finally got around to finishing them all, and here are the results...

Plain white cotton gauze blankets...
get the Rainbow Bright treatment!

I also threw a little plain onesie into each of the dye baths, too.
I can't really say that I experimented too much with the dying, as I mainly just followed the same basic procedure for each. The yellow, orange, and pink were all dyed using one box each of powdered Rit dyes, the coral color was from a packet of Dylon dye that has been sitting in my closet for probably 4 years. For these colors, I just dissolved the dye along with some salt in a small Rubbermaid tub, added water and then the wet blankets and onesies. I left them in the dye for anywhere from 6-24 hours and occasionally stirred and redistributed the fabric in the tubs.

For the dark purple I was really going for more of a plum, and I was worried that only using one pack of dye would be too light, so I used two packs of iDye that were on clearance at JoAnn's. This type of dye comes in a packet that you are supposed to throw in the washing machine along with your fabrics and let the machine do the work. However, it also said that for dark colors you should dye in a large pot on the stove, so that is what I did. I only left this one soaking for about 2 hours, but it was nearly black when I took it out to rinse it. And rinse, and rinse...After much rinsing in the sink and 3 trips through the washer, it lightened up to this dark purple color. Perhaps one box of dye would have been sufficent.

So there you have it, 5 brightly colored receiving blankets and onesies for Baby Girl. Which pretty much makes up half her wardrobe so far. I think I have a bit of shopping to do in the next 6 weeks...

16 comments:

  1. What a great idea! I bought a ton of white onesies before this babe not knowing what she was...maybe I can dye them now that she's here. Thanks for the idea Toni!

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  2. I loved dressing my little ones in brit happy colors! Well done!

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  3. I love this! How much more fun than plain old white. And I still think those guaze blankets are such a great idea. I know what my next baby shower gift will be... ;)

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  4. what fabulous colours: great idea!

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  5. The colours are fabulous, Toni! Great idea!

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  6. So awesome! I hope you don't take this the wrong way, but my first thought when seeing your photos was of my grandma! I think she wore clothes in that sort of crinkly gauzy fabric a lot that I remember (she is still alive, but I don't get to see her often enough). And maybe even in similar colours.

    Super cute though, your little girl is going to be a star!

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  7. Those are so darling Toni!! I just love them all together so could you just swaddle her in all 5 at a time, thanks! :-)

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  8. Toni, these turned out so great! Where did you find the blankets?

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  9. Oooh, fun, and you can mix and match her with the blankies...

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  10. Oh Toni, what fabulous results. Be sure to was them, especially the purple items, away from other items, at least for the first few washes. Well done you.

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  11. These turned out so vibrant! Fun project. :)

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  12. SO CUTE! I love bright colours for babies :o)

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  13. what great colors for baby girl!

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  14. They're wonderful. What a great idea to throw the onesies in too.

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