Supplies:

• Cotton Tablecloth
• Rit All-Purpose Liquid Dye in Hyacinth
• Elmer's Glue Paper and printer (optional)
• Container for Dyeing
• Paper Towels

Time: 1 hour

Difficulty: Intermediate

Instructions: 

1. Cover work area with plastic table cover and have paper towels handy to protect against any possible spills.

2. Prewash fabric and completely dry.

3. Print pattern of choice or freehand design. If using a template, place printed pattern underneath the fabric to use as a guide.

4. Trace pattern with Elmer’s Glue and use a paint brush to fill in the bunny motif. Adding a thick layer of glue will ensure a completely blocked area, while a thin layer may start to dissolve in the dyebath, allowing a bit of color to seep through.

5. The key to success in a glue resist project is to make sure the glue is COMPLETELY DRY before you move to the dye process. If the glue is still wet when you start to dye, it will wash away in the dye bath leaving no resist or only partial resist. Be patient. A hairdryer can be used to speed up the process.

6. Once completely dry, you can start the dye process. Using a bucket or sink, fill with 3 gallons of warm water and 1/2 bottle of All-Purpose Liquid dye in Hyacinth. Make sure the bottle of dye is well-shaken before pouring into the water. Tip: Have the water hot but not as hot as you might usually do for a dye bath (hot straight out of the kitchen tap works for this project). If the water is too hot, the glue design could start to melt and wash away before you are ready for that to happen).

7. Soak until the desired color is achieved, stirring occasionally. Be mindful of the glue, you don’t want the glue to rub off or dissolve during this process.

8. Use Rit Dye Fixative on your freshly dyed fabric and let it sit for 20 minutes. Fixative directions available here. Rinse well in cold water until the water runs clear.

9. Rinse the fabric thoroughly with hot water to dissolve the glue. If glue remains, wash gently in warm water with mild detergent.