Article: Rit dye is a union dye, meaning that it's universal and works on cellulose and protein fibers, which most fabrics are made of. While some fabrics, such as those that are bleach damaged or 100% acrylic, won't accept dye, most will. When deciding what you'd like to tie dye with Rit dye, choose: Rayon or nylon Cotton, linen, silk, wool, and ramie Nylon-based plastic Natural materials, like wood, paper, feathers, and cork Fiber blends with at least 60% cotton. Blends will tint evenly but won't fully accept the color of the dye. It's best to get everything together before you start dyeing your fabric so that you don't run the risk of getting dye on yourself or, worse yet, your floor, clothes, or other fabrics. Each method is a little different, requiring different tools, but you will generally need: Plastic bags (preferably bags that seal) Newspaper (to protect your work area) Gloves (to keep dye off your hands) Rubber bands (to make patterns) A large tub plastic tub, a sink, a washing machine, a child's swimming pool, etc. A clear work space Enough dye for your project 1 package of Rit powder for approximately every pound/3 yards of fabric Hot water heat locks in dye Salt, vinegar, or laundry detergent (depending on what fabric you're using) You want to start out with clean fabric. Wash and dry your fabric and ensure that there are no stains. Stains will prevent the fabric from picking up the dye, so look over your fabric for any blemishes and use a stain remover if necessary. You'll thoroughly wet and ring out the fabric again right before you begin dyeing it. The hotter the water that you use, the more vibrant the dye will be. Always follow the package directions when preparing your dye, which should direct you to dissolve one package of Rit powder into two cups of very hot water. You want to make sure that the powder is thoroughly dissolved before you use the dye solution. Just like when dyeing eggs, you want to add a color booster to the dye solution. While this isn't imperative, you'll achieve brighter, more vibrant colors if you thoroughly dissolve a booster in your liquid. What you add will depend entirely on the type of fabric that you're using. 1 cup salt add this to a dye bath if you're dyeing cotton, rayon, ramie, or linen. 1 cup white vinegar add this to a dye bath if you're dyeing nylon, silk, or wool.
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Choose your fabric. Gather your supplies. Clean your fabric. Follow the package directions. Choose salt or vinegar.