Remember doilies? Maybe your grandmother crocheted these decorative circles for her coffee table with off-white cotton string. They became popular again when country was the big decorating style in the 1970s.
Since doilies and runners are plentiful, I decided to update them with color.
Fabric dye is available for purchase, but I wanted to try food coloring (it’s inexpensive and I already had some in my pantry).
You will need:
- rubber gloves and old clothes
- old pot and spoon
- be sure to protect your counter since the dye will stain everything it touches!
- 4 T food color per quart of water
- 1 cup salt per gallon of water
Heat water to boiling.
Reduce heat to low simmer; add salt and food coloring.
Submerge fabric completely.
Simmer, stirring occasionally for 20 minutes.
Rinse in warm water, then cold water until it runs clear.
Be sure to use only natural fibers or crocheted items. 100% cotton works best. Synthetics will not take dye.
Allow to dry on newspaper (I set them outside on the grass). When dry, set color with a hot iron. Protect you ironing board with an old towel. Either hand wash or wash separately in the washing machine so the dye won’t ruin anything else.
The best part of this project is experimenting with color. Add more dye for deep, intense hues or use less for pastel shades. I set mine on an end table, but they would be cute on pillows, too.