Silk Scarf Dyeing Tutorial

Echo playing with her new silk scarf

Silk scarves are a great toy for imaginative play no matter what age your child is. They are so soft and beautiful and are good for everything from dress up to making forts. My mom and I were interested in purchasing some for Echo but were surprised at how expensive they are. We found that it was a little bit cheaper to buy plain white scarves and dye them yourselves so we decided to give it a go. Not only is it less expensive but it's a fun activity to boot. 

all you need is icing dye, water and white vinegar 

 Icing dyes are a great way to add color to your scarves since it is food safe and safe for babies to chew on. Boil enough water to submerge your scarves completely and add about a quarter of a teaspoon of the dye to the water, stirring well to break up any clumps.

Soaking the scarves in water with a little vinegar mixed in will help the dye set

You'll also want to add a few tablespoons of vinegar to your dye solution before putting your scarves in. Once you add the scarf to the dye mixture make sure you stir it around really well to evenly distribute the dye. 

Simmer the scarves in the dye mixture for about 30 minutes and then remove and rinse with cold water until the water runs clear. 

Dry to scarves in the sun and iron when they are slightly damp, this makes them soft and smooth. 

Look at my cool scarf!

 You can do a variety of colors or mix colors, you can even tie dye! The scarves turn out so soft and vibrant, we just love them!