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!

DIY Beaded Napkin Rings - Easy Tutorial + Video

There are so many things to love about this beaded napkin ring project: it's easy, conducive to messy crafting (it doesn't need to be perfect to look good), and potentially very thrifty (you can snag beads on clearance or cut apart old jewellery and scavenge the beads).  Plus it works as a cute DIY cuff bracelet, according to Vanessa - who suggested that this handmade napkin ring could be a fun take home favor for a casual dinner party with girlfriends.

Read on for step-by-step instructions with photos, or take a peek at the video below for quick instruction for making these napkin rings (and my dip dyed napkins.)

Supplies:

• A spool of 24 gauge wire (makes four, for six you'll need a spool and a half)
• A spool of 16 gauge wire
• Needle nosed pliers (2 pairs makes this easier)
• Wire cutters
• Beads (see below for links)**
• Bottle (empty, full - doesn't matter, it's to shape the cuff)

**A note about the beads: mine were drilled through the end, while most beads are drilled end to end. You can use any style or kind or bead you like, but to create the sea anemone feel, the end drilled beads stand up nicely.  Check your local craft stores, but if you're striking out, I did find some similar looking end drilled coconut shell sticks online, in aqua and blue, that would look really beachy.  These shell beads are also similar, but in a much more natural colour palette. 

Steps:

To begin, cut about 14-16 inches of the 16 gauge wire and gently form a circle, wrapping the wire back on itself to secure the shape.

Take the circle you've created and flatten in a bit, so you've got a really elongated oval.  Flatten the twisted ends a bit with your pliers, because you don't want them sticking up and poking your linens (or wrist).  This is where two pairs of pliers come in handy.

 
Gently wrap the oval around a bottle to form a cuff shape.  You can re-shape it later, so it doesn't need to be perfect.  Make as many of these forms as you need and set aside.

To start wrapping, anchor the 24 gauge wire by wrapping it around one side of the cuff shape a few times.  Flatten any pokey ends with the pliers.  Wrap the 24 gauge wire once around one side of the 16 gauge wire cuff, then bring it across to the other side, wrap around the other side - back and forth.  Because I was on a budget and happened to fall in love with the most expensive beads ever, I didn't wrap the beads all the way around.  The bottom and sides are wire with a few turquoise beads here and there, while the dyed shell beads are really lush and full on the top.  You can arrange the beads however you please and can start adding the beads anytime in this process. 

Because I used beads with a hole drilled at one end of the long shape, I decided to "lift" the beads up a little and give them life so that the finished product has an organic feel - like some sort of sea anemone.  To achieve this look, in the midst of wrapping the wire back and forth across the cuff, I grabbed a bead, twisted the wire, and kept wrapping.  Every now and then I stopped to adjust the beads, twisting them a bit and nudging them into facing random directions.

This was my first time doing wire work like this, and my wraps aren't perfect but because I wanted a napkin ring that felt relaxed and organic, I am going to vehemently argue that the imperfections add to the casual, beachy look.

;)

This was a great craft project to do while my brain was otherwise engaged - perfect for in front of the television.  Actually, I was dyeing a pair of jeans while I made one of these.  I had to stay by the washing machine to keep setting the cycle back to ensure the jeans were agitated in the dye bath for a full half hour.  I set my supplies on the washer and whipped one of these up standing in the laundry room. (Multi-tasking for the win.)

I love how these beaded napkin rings turned out!  They catch the light beautifully and add the perfect beachy, seaside feel to a summery tablescape.

Here's another look at the napkin rings paired with the dip dyed napkins I made.  I loved the beads because they tied together the blue and aqua accessories perfectly.  

For more photos of my tablescape with Canadian Tire and CANVAS, and some awkward videos of me, check out all of the posts about my "Backyard Oasis".  This was such a fun collaboration!

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DIY Dip Dyed Napkins Tutorial + Video

Yesterday I shared photos of the backyard oasis I created, plus the beautiful pictures from my Greek honeymoon that served as my inspiration.

Today I'm sharing the tutorial - with video! - for my DIY dip dyed napkins.  Read on for my "how to dip dye" tutorial - plus tips, tricks and troubleshooting advice.



Dip dyeing is really easy - the hardest part was finding a basic white linen napkin!  Most white napkins were "stain resistant," which I figured would resist the dye.  In a pinch, you could whip up some inexpensive ones using this cloth napkin tutorial, but I chose to drive around, wild-eyed, to every store in town instead.  Success!

Because I was dyeing six napkins, I tried a shortcut that I don't recommend!  I created a dye bath in a huge plastic tub and then hung each napkin on a pant hanger.  I placed all of the hangers on a long rod and my Mom helped my dip them all at once.  I thought this would create an even look, but dye rubbed off some onto others and there was unfortunate splattering - I definitely recommend just doing one at a time!  It really doesn't take long to dip dye a napkin.

To learn how to do it the right way, you can read the dip dyeing tutorial below, or check out my dip dyeing video!


Supplies:

• 2 Bottles of Rit Dye (I chose Royal Blue and Navy)
• Large plastic tub
• Hot, hot, hot water - I mixed a kettle of boiling water with super hot tap water
• Stir stick
• 1 cup of salt
• Rubber gloves 
• An apron to protect clothing
• White linen or cotton napkins (this set seems nice, as does this one)

Steps:

• Wash the napkins and set aside (do not dry)
• Cover your work surface with drop cloths and put on rubber gloves
• Create the dye bath, following the manufacturer's instructions (using only the Royal Blue)
• Add a cup of salt to the dye bath and stir
• Dip in the still-wet napkin to the highest point you'd like the dye
• Lift the napkin and dip again, to the same point
• Keep the napkin moving in and out of the dye bath, until the first "level" is as dark as you'd like it
• Keep dipping, but this time don't dip it so deep in the dye bath - dip, dip, dip
• Dip each "level" for about 3-5 minutes - remember, it will fade after the first rinse & wash
• Keep repeating this process, gradually raising the height of the napkin
• When you have only the very bottom left to dye, add the Navy
• Hold the bottom of the napkin in the darkened dye bath for 3-5 minutes
• When the dyeing is done, rinse the napkins in cold water - running the water away from the white
• Launder as usual, but beware the dye may tint the white a pale blue

The Best Tip for a Beautiful Dip Dyed Project:

Continually moving the napkin up and down helps the gradient to be more subtle - and also keeps the Rit dye from being splotchy (it likes to be agitated during the dyeing process).  Continually moving the fabric creates a softer look than just holding the napkin in the dye bath at various heights, but if you'd prefer harder lines (like Anu's gorgeous dip dyed curtains, below), you can just dip and hold:

I also have a tutorial for these beachy DIY beaded napkin rings! 

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DIY Cloth Napkins and Tea Towels with Mitered Corners

I hope you enjoy this sweet tutorial for sewing napkins (or tea towels) with tidy, mitered corners.  My Mom & I have gone a bit play kitchen mad and we sewed mini tea towels and mini quilted pot holders for the play kitchen I made.  Although the finished products are wee, you can use the same sewing tutorial to create larger tea towels or make pretty cloth napkins.

How to sew cloth napkins and tea towels with mitered corners:

Start by ironing and cutting out your fabric.  Then fold, iron and measure your edges once, and then turn them over once again and iron, for a tidy edge:

Do this all the way around your fabric.  Then gently unfold your ironed edges and take a look at where the folding has created a square.  Fold the corner in toward the fabric at that point and iron it in place:

Next, test out your mitered corner before making any cuts.  To make the miter, trim the edge of the corner:

Then re-fold the edges iron back into place, like this:

Pin into place:

Finally, sew along the edge.  When you have sewn all the way around, tie off the thread.  You can also do a second row of decorative stitching.

And ta da!  Depending on the size, you've created a pretty cloth napkin . . .

or mini kitchen accessories for a play kitchen . . .



You can use this tutorial to create a mitered edge on almost any sewing project, from tea towels to table cloths - anything that is square or rectangular!

Don't forget to check out the finished DIY play kitchen, the quilted mini pot holder tutorial, and my DIY project gallery for more great sewing tutorials!

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