To DYE For!

Hello there darling DIY-ers!

 

So Happy I Could DIY is back with our 2nd tutorial to help make your last-season spring and summer denim "to DYE for".

 

You probably saw tie-dye make a come back this summer, especially in the form of cut-off shorts and crop tops. Thanks to some inspiration from Paige denim and amazing blogs like this one, we've found an easy way keep your light-colored pants closet-worthy and introduce dye into your fall wardrobe. Pull out your best pastel skinnies, channel your inner-Picasso, and let's get started!

Here's what you'll need:

• A pair of white or light colored pants (most tutorials use white denim, I went with a pair of light pink corduroy skinny jeans from Target... a steal at only $22!)
• 3 different RIT dyes in complementary colors/shades (one lighter, one medium , and one darker). Boxes of concentrated dye powder are around $3 at Michael's while the larger bottles of liquid dye are around $4, either will work it just depends on the availbility and colors you prefer!  I ended up using Petal Pink, Pearl Grey, and Wine Bordo.
• A package of latex gloves...or anything that can keep your manicure safe! (Tulip craft gloves- $4ish at Michael's).
• 3 buckets/bowls/pitchers to create your dye baths in (I used old plastic drink pitchers for easy set-up/clean-up... you don't need anything too large, just enough to hold 1-2 gallons of dye!)
• at least 3 sponge bushes in whatever size you prefer, as long as each dye gets its own brush! ($.05-$.99 at Michael's... so stock up!)
• trash bags and painters tape, or something similar to create a workspace that won't give your parents/roommates a heart attack.
• white distilled vinegar (enough to completely soak the pants in)

It's DYE time! Let's get started:

 

1. Create your "dye station" and lay the pants completely flat, front-side up.

2. Make your dye baths! Fill each pitcher with boiling water; how much water you use depends on how strong you want the dyes to be. Follow the instructions on the dye packets, of course, but hold-back if you're unsure... adding water later is easy but taking it out when you have too much is not! When adding dye to the water, do so in increments and test the dye baths on scrap fabric to play with colors. Mix in splashes of other dyes to create unqiue hues! I added a dash of Wine Bordo to my Petal Pink so the lighter dye wouldn't blend in with my pant color and added a little Denim Blue to the Pearl Grey to give a slight purple effect.

3. Once you have tested your dyes and done a few practice strokes on the scrap fabric, you can get to work on your pants! Start with the lightest color first. Dunk your brush into the dye bath so it is soaking, dripping wet and paint short strokes anywhere you like! I used a combination of paint strokes and pushing the sponge into the pants and allowing the dye to spread in its own way.

 

 

 

4. Repeat step 3 with the medium dye, and then again with the darkest shade, allowing the 3 different colors to overlap and blend together to create that subtle watercolor effect.

 

 

 

5. Air dry the pants in the sun until the dye is completely dry, then lay back down on the other side and dye the back! Make sure to connect any crotch or side seam splotches from the front side to give continuity to your pants and make them more flattering! When done, air dry again.



 

6. Once both sides have air dried, soak the entire pair of pants in white distilled vinegar for 15 minutes. This will "set" the dye to prevent future bleeding and fading.



 

7. Almost done! Just throw the pants into the washing machine *ALONE* and then air dry once more.

 

Finally your done!  All that's left is adding your own flair to these bold statement pants.  Dress them up in wedges for a casual night on the town or use a simple flat sandal to milk the last remaining bits of summer.

 

You are now the proud owner of a one-of-a-kind, hand-dyed pair of jeans without paying the hefty designer pricetag!  Why darling, you just look to DYE for! xoxo Hanah