Make Your Own Ombray Fabric

 

Ombray: dyeing technique where similar color tones are used to go from light to dark. (ref) 

For this project I will be using white cotton muslin, $1.49 a yard at Jo-Ann’s Fabric. Fabric needs to be white or your colors will not come out the same as the dye packet. I will be dyeing the fabric in three different dye baths. For this project I used Tangerine Rit dye and Fire Red iDye. Jo-Ann’s Fabrics carries Rit, Dylon, iDye, etc.  I saw no difference in performance of the different brands; each did well. So just choose which ever colors you like.

Follow the directions on the dye packet, using the bucket method, NOT the washer method.

STEP 1

• Soak entire piece of fabric in the bath.
• [TIP: Water amount and length of time will after the concentration of your color. If you want it lighter dilute the bath and leave the fabric in for less time. Vice versa if you want it darker.]
• Rinse fabric till most of the dye is out. Don’t worry about trying to rinse it clear till the end of the third step.

 

STEP 2

• Mix up Fire Red iDye. Take half of it and combine it with half of the Tangerine bath.
• Take 2/3 of the fabric and soak it in the bath, letting 1/3 of the fabric hang out of the bucket.
• Rinse.

STEP 3

• Take 1/3 of the fabric and put it in the pure Fire Red bath, letting 2/3 of the fabric hang out of the bucket.
• Rinse till water runs clear. May have to run it through the washer. If so add 1/3 vinegar and 1/3 salt to load, will set the color so it won’t run in future washings.