How to Dye Aida Cloth
Cross-stitching fabric, an open-weave 100 percent cotton fabric that commonly comes in a pure white or tan-hued antique ivory color, is called aida cloth. Colored aida cloth is popular for unframed projects like pillows or as a background that complements a cross-stitch design. In a pinch, tea dyeing will give white aida cloth a tan tint. All-purpose chemical dye will also work. Dyeing with a fiber-reactive dye, which is made from plant fibers and allows mixing colors, is a better option.
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Things You'll Need
- White aida cloth
- White-cotton basting thread
- Sewing needle
- Warm water
- Sink
- Liquid dish detergent
- 2 metal baking pans
- Plastic wrap
- Paper towels
- Rubber gloves
- Face mask
- Apron
- Powdered fabric dye
- Glass or plastic bowls
- Old blender
- Sodium alginate
- Spoon
- Small sponges
- Clothes iron
- Embroidery scissors
Instructions
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Preparation
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1
Buy powdered fiber-reactive dyes such as Procion MX, urea and sodium alginate at a craft store or online specialty-dye supplier. Set aside until the day of dyeing.
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2
Prepare pieces of aida cloth before dyeing by hand sewing a basting stitch all around the outside of each fabric piece with a needle and white cotton basting thread.
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3
Prior to the dyeing session, fill a sink with warm water and add a teaspoon of liquid dish detergent, then soak the aida cloth in the sink to remove any fabric sizing.
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4
Cover two metal baking sheets with plastic wrap, then lay white paper towels over the tops and set aside.
Dyeing Aida Cloth
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5
Put on an apron, mask and gloves. Make a custom dye paste based on a recipe developed by Susan Druding of Straw into Gold, a Richmond, California, textile supplier.
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6
Mix 1 to 3 tsp. dye powder with a few drops of warm water to make a paste. Repeat for each color. Place the dye paste in a glass or plastic bowl. add 1-1/2 tsp. baking soda to each bowl and mix.
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7
Mix 4 cups of warm water with 10 tbsp. urea in a glass bowl. Take one cup of this solution and add to an old blender. Add 1 tsp. sodium alginate to the blender and mix. Repeat until you have 4 cups of thick paste. Pour 1 cup of thickened paste into each bowl of previously mixed dye paste (up to 4 colors), and mix well with a spoon.
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8
Dampen a sponge and dip into mixture. Dab the color onto the aida cloth, either all over for a solid look, or dab randomly leaving some open white areas in the fabric.
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9
Use a fresh sponge in another dye color, then dab over the fabric in the open white areas, slightly overlapping the previous color to create a multi-colored, hand dyed look. Set each finished cloth aside on the metal baking sheet.
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10
Steam iron each dyed piece for 5 to 10 minutes to set the dye, then rinse in cold water. Hand wash in the sink using a mild detergent and rinse in cold water.
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Tips & Warnings
Premix dye paste and keep covered in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Use only household utensils and equipment dedicated for dyeing only as fiber-reactive dyes are toxic.
