Bring a fresh-picked feel to your table with DIY tomato napkins. In this easy tutorial, we’ll show you how to stamp colourful tomatoes onto cotton napkins using Rit All-Purpose Dye, then add the finishing details with FreeFlow Paint Markers. A playful project for summer dining, garden parties or a thoughtful handmade gift.
Supplies:
- Rit All-Purpose Liquid Dyes in Apple Green, Cherry Red and Golden Yellow
- Rit FreeFlow Marker in Primary
- 100% Cotton Napkins
- Round Craft Sponge
- 3 Small Containers
- Paper Towels
- Cardboard scrap
- Blow Dryer or Heat Gun
- Pressing Cloth and iron
Time: 1 Hour
Difficulty: Beginner
Instructions:
- Before dyeing, remove any visible stains on the fabric. This will help achieve uniform color results when dyeing. Prewash item in warm, soapy water without any fabric softener. This helps to remove any finishes that may interfere with dye absorption.
- Mix four cups of hot with 2 tbsp of Rit All-Purpose Liquid Dye in desired colors. The water should ideally be 140ºF / 60°C. If tap water is not hot enough, heat water on the stove and add to the dyebath.
- To enhance the color: (1) add 1 tbsp of salt when dyeing fabrics containing cotton, rayon, ramie or linen; (2) add 1 tbsp of vinegar when dyeing fabrics containing nylon, silk or wool.
- Repeat to create three small dyebaths with Apple Green, Cherry Red and Golden Yellow.
- Lay clean, dry cotton napkins over scrap piece of cardboard to absorb excess dye.
- Dip round sponge into dye and stamp onto fabric as desired.
- Allow dye spots to dry completely and spray with Color Stay Dye Fixative. Apply heat from a blow dryer to help heat set the dyes.
- Rinse in cold water until rinse water runs clear.
- Hand wash napkins in cold water with detergent and allow it to air dry.
- Once dry, use FreeFlow Marker in Green to draw tomato stems in the shape of elongated stars.
- Allow marker to fully dry, then use pressing cloth to iron from the back side of the illustration to set
