How to Hand Dye Cotton

Dye your own cotton fabric.

Sometimes it just isn't possible to purchase fabric in the exact color you need for a sewing project. Whether you would like to match your fabric to an existing item or you simply have a very specific color in mind, you can dye your fabric at home. All you need to get started custom-dyeing your cotton fabric is a large cooking pot and some fabric dye in the color of your choice.

Things You'll Need

• Fabric dye
• Water
• Cooking pot
• Large spoon
• Chlorine bleach

Instructions

1. Fill a large cooking pot with hot water; you will want to use three gallons of water for every pound of fabric. Place the pot onto a stovetop burner.

2. Add dye to the water and stir it in thoroughly. Use 1/2-bottle of liquid dye or one package of powder dye for every three gallons of water. If using powder, pre-dissolve it in two cups of water before adding it to the water in the pot.

3. Unfold your fabric, then place it into the pot of dye. Turn on the burner and bring the water in the pot to a simmer while stirring the fabric with a large spoon to make sure that it is completely saturated. Continue stirring the fabric in the dye bath for at least 30 minutes.

4. Turn off the burner to allow the water to cool. Remove the fabric from the dye bath and rinse the fabric in a large sink or bathtub. Use warm water initially, then gradually cool the water until no more dye bleeds from the fabric and the water runs clear.

5. Hang up the fabric to dry or run it through a clothes dryer. While the fabric is drying, scrub the pot and sink or bathtub with chlorine bleach to remove any dye residue.

References

• Rit Dye: Stovetop