Hand Dyed Playsilks for the Holidays

Last month Francesca came home from her preschool with a silk cape that they had dyed using Marigolds. Our pile of playsilks has slowly grown over the years. Gifts from friends or ones that we have acquired for birthdays and they are the most well loved and utilized for just about everything. Fort building and dress up, fairy grass or a mermaid lagoon, playsilks are open ended and good for all ages.

I was inspired to dye some playsilks of our own and ordered a few different sizes in white online. The girls loved playing with the unfinished ones and I finally had to coax them away (well, most of them.)

I didn't have time to experiment with plant dyeing which I would really love to do. We used fabric dyes and ended up with the loveliest goldenrod and sun yellow for Autumn.

I just got another batch and plan on making some over the holidays with Winter colors. The girls are hooked and were so proud to wear the ones that they made. These would make the sweetest little gifts. I am sure they will be even more thrilled when we practice making some in the Spring from plants and flowers just as we often experiment with our easter eggs.

The undyed silk below.

Before I dyed our silks, I washed them on the delicate cycle using Seventh Generation Laundry Packs. It still freaks me out that you walk in almost any big box department store and are greeted to aisles and aisles of household cleaning products that are filled with synthetic fragrances and chemicals. I don't want my girls thinking this is normal so I do most of my household shopping online or at our local grocer that emphasizes green products.

The Free & Clear Laundry Packs are certified by the EPA as a Safer Choice certified product which means that the ingredients are reviewed to ensure that they meet their stringent human health and environmental guidelines.

I love that they work well with both hot and cold water and in my HE washer. There are also ZERO synthetic fragrances or artificial brighteners.

Fabric Dyed Playsilks:

Pre-wash silks in your washer (I used the 7th Generation Laundry packs for the delicate silks.)

1. Silks

2. Dye

3. Stainless steel pot for boiling water

4. 5 gallon plastic bucket

5. Rubber gloves

Instructions:

I purchased a few different sizes here

(although the 30x30 was the favorite size.)

I used iDye

which is water soluble and has a load of great colors to choose from.

I simply followed the instructions on the package, warmed up 2 gallons of water and put it in the large bucket. I just put in enough to make sure the silks could move freely.

Add the dye to the water and stir well, making sure it is completely dissolved before adding the silks. I know some people use a tablespoon of white vinegar or some salt but I didn't and really love how the colors turned out.

Take the silks, wet from the washer, and submerge them into your dye mixture. Stir frequently over the course of 30 minutes. Make sure your silks are completely unfolded and moving freely.

I covered the bucket and let sit for a few more minutes. This depends on how saturated you want them to be. They will look darker when wet so if you want really vibrant colors, take your time.

Once you are finished, remove with a pair of rubber gloves. If you are satisfied with the color then go ahead and rinse thoroughly with water.

Wash them again with HOT water on the Delicate Cycle and then hang them up to dry. I washed mine twice as I really wanted to make sure that they would not bleed.

The whole process takes about two hours (not counting initial washing!) So worth it!

This post was sponsored by Seventh Generation. I am a long time customer and proud partner of this amazing company. 

Photos by Darcy Hemley