Silk Dying Tutorial

This week my family hosted a Waldorf inspired silk dying day. We used Kool Aid to dye the silk. It was really fun and worked surprisingly well!

Here’s how to do it:

We ordered bolts of silk from Dharma Trading Co.

First, soak your silk in equal parts hot water and white vinegar.

While it is soaking, prepare your dye bath:
3 Kool Aid packets
2 cups hot water
2 cups vinegar

The kool-aids we used were cherry, grape, orange, lemonade, lemon – lime, and blue raspberry.

Put your silk in the dye bath and stir for two minutes. You might want to wear gloves and aprons. It’s really cool to watch the silk absorb the color and the water turn clear.

Rinse the silk in cool water until the water runs clear.

Hang your silk to dry.

We got very creative making rainbow play cloths.

And tie dyes.

And bellydance veils.

My boys made juggling cloths.

Some folks dyed yarn.

It’s beautiful to watch my fairy girl dancing with her silks.

These sites were inspirational:

http://blueskiesdragonflies.blogspot.com/2010/06/silk-dying.html

http://www.mamaseasons.com/2010/03/make-your-own-play-silks/

http://mommosttraveled.com/kool-aid-dyed-playsilks/

http://bendingbirches2010.blogspot.com/2011/02/dye-rainbow-silk-on-budget.html

And now I want to make these butterfly wings:

http://thismamamakesstuff.com/2009/11/week-of-tutorials-silk-scarf-butterfly-wings/

Author: thewitchmama

Melanie Elizabeth Hexen is a midwife, regionally famous bellydancer, homeschooling mother and matriarch of the Many Hands House. She has been a witch for 25 years, and her belief system is currently based on the writings of Terry Pratchett and the teachings of Steven Posch. With her coven, the Prärie Hexen, she is creating the Hexen Tradition of Witchcraft. View all posts by thewitchmama

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