To Dye For

Dye Preparation

Cover a smooth work surface with a plastic tablecloth. Wearing gloves, add water to the dye bottles. Replace the caps tightly, and then shake until the dyes are dissolved. Use the dyes at full strength for the most intense color. For lighter shades, add more water and pour the excess into an extra bottle if needed. Pour the red and orange dyes into separate spray bottles.

Use gradation dyeing on the yellow fabric. Dampen (don't completely wet) the fabric and smooth it out over the covered work surface. Spray red horizontally across the center of the fabric, leaving the upper section undyed. Spray orange slightly above and blending into the red dye (1).

To over-dye the printed fabric, dampen it and place it in a bowl or bucket. Pour fuchsia dye over the fabric. Wearing gloves, turn and squeeze the fabric until the color is spread and absorbed evenly through the fabric (2).

Dampen the white fabric and place it in a bowl or bucket. Wearing gloves, pour brown dye over fabric; turn and squeeze the fabric until it's saturated (3).

To set the dye, cover the dyed fabric with plastic. Let the dye set for four to eight hours or longer for the most intense color. After the dye has set, machine-wash the fabric separately in cool water using a small amount of laundry detergent. Dry the fabric in a warm dryer; press.

Cutting

Pin the patterns for the uppermost sections onto the fuchsia-colored fabric. Using a chalk pencil, add 5/8" seam allowances on the lower edge of each section. Cut out the pieces.

Pin the mid-section pattern pieces onto the gradated fabric with the yellow fabric along the upper edge of the pattern pieces. Add 5/8" seam allowances to the upper and lower edges of the pattern pieces. Try to match the colors as closely as possible at the side seams; cut out the pieces.

Pin the lower pattern sections onto the brown fabric. Add 5/8" seam allowances at the upper edges; cut out the pieces.