How to Ice Dye | Easy DIY Ice Dyed Napkins

I mentioned in the post about dyeing my damask table linens that I was getting experimental with fabric dyeing.  I have so many ideas swirling around in my head but, before attempting some more complicated projects, I wanted to test different brands of dye.  Having been a dye hard fan of Rit Dye for so many years, I was especially intrigued by cold water dyes and the beautiful patterns ice dyeing can create:

Aren't my new ice dyed napkins beautiful?  I'm so mesmerized by the organic feel of the design!  I originally wanted to try ice dyeing in the winter, with snow, but Szuka and a pair of neighborhood foxes are in this hilarious peeing competition and so there was so safe snow for me to use.

Ice dyeing is SO easy - the hardest part is making and stocking piling enough ice (I highly recommend just buying a bag).

Supplies:

• White cotton or linen napkins
• Cookie cooling rack
• Wash basin/bin large enough to fit cooling racks (I used a basin from the dollar store)
• Empty water bottles or cans (to prop up rack)
• Bucket (with liter or gallon measurements)
• Jacquard Products Procion Four Color MX Dye Set with Soda Ash*
• Soda Ash (if buying Procion dyes individually)
• Rubber gloves
• Dust mask 
• Measuring cup
• Stir stick

I bought an awesome cold water dye starter kit, with four colours of dye (turquoise, lemon yellow, fuschia and jet black) and a small packet of soda ash, on Amazon.  It was a great way to do some experimenting without committing to - or being overwhelmed by - the huge selection of Procion dyes available!  If you want more colour variety, this pack of 8 colours looks good - but you can also buy colours individually.

How to Ice Dye Fabric:

First wash the fabric to remove any sizing, oils from skin, etc.  You can use a fancy textile detergent, to help prepare the fabric for dye, but you can also just toss it in the washing machine as per usual - which is what I did.

Mix 1 cup of soda ash in a bucket with 1 gallon (4 liters) of water and stir until dissolved.  Submerge the laundered fabric and let soak for about half an hour.  This stuff burns the sinuses, so use a dust mask and gloves!

Meanwhile, set up a basin with a cookie rack propped up on some empty water bottles - or anything to keep it up.  You want enough room underneath the dry rack so that when the ice melts and the basin is filled with water, the fabric doesn't sit or dip into the dye bath that's created.

Remove the fabric from the soda ash, wring out the soda ash solution, and scrunch it up, as randomly as possible.  Place it on the cooling rack and cover with ice.  (Save the dissolved soda ash for future projects.)

Once again don that dust mask and gloves, and sprinkle the ice with powdered Procion dye.  I used a couple teaspoons of turquoise and lemon yellow for my first set, and a couple of teaspoons of turquoise and jet black for the second.

Set it aside and wait patiently for the ice to melt!  When the ice has melted, rinse the fabric in cool water until the water runs clear.  Then launder with like colours.

I made the yellow, aqua and green design first but at first I didn't love the shade of green that the lemon yellow and turquoise mixed - it was a smidge more lurid than intended, but it grew on me and I think the set of four napkins will be fun and summery for patio dining.

I tried too hard to control the design with how I scrunched the fabric and where I sprinkled the dye and it didn't turn out how I expected.

With this project, you really have to let go and learn to let the dye work its magic while you sit back and enjoy the surprise. 

The second design, with a more muted turquoise and grey color palette, is definitely my favorite.  I scrunched the fabric in more of a ball and sprinkled the two colours liberally and randomly.   I relaxed and didn't try to encourage any dye patterns or designs.  It worked!  I love the smokey teals and layers of soft grey that emerged, with pops of my favorite aqua - of course.

I also tried ice dyeing with a single colour, which turned out to be quite striking!  The Procion Fuschia is really quite vibrant.  I want to experiment a little more and try using just the jet black.

I really want to get my hands on some pretty lightweight cotton for a dress or blouse.  I'm hopelessly addicted to ice dyeing - nothing is safe in my house!