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Kool-Aid Tie Dye Recipe #1

  
  1/2 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup water
2 pkg unsweetened drink mix (Kool-Aid) -
         dark colors work best

Place ingredients in saucepan. Heat to boiling. Simmer for 20-30 minutes. Cool and place each color in a separate squirt bottle. May be stored in refrigerator for several weeks. VERY IMPORTANT: Set colors before washing by ironing T-shirt. Wash in cold water.

 

  
 

Kool-Aid Tie Dye Recipe #2

  
 
Materials
T-shirt
Unsweetened Kool-AidŽ
Vinegar
Small plastic bowls
Plastic gloves
Rubber bands 		Cool and classy tye dye t-shirts
Directions
  1. For every color you wish to use, put 1 package Kool-AidŽ and 1 ounce
    of vinegar in individual plastic bowls. 
  2. Mix until Kool-AidŽ is dissolved. 
  3. Using rubber bands, pull and twist T-shirt into different
    shapes. 
  4. Dip rubber-banded ends in bowls (make sure you wear gloves or
    your hands will stain). 
  5. To set colors, iron on medium-high using an
    ironing cloth between shirt and iron. 
  6. Let set for 24 hours before
    washing. 
  7. To be safe, wash separately the first time. Launder T-shirt
    as usual and it's ready to wear.

Additional Notes: Don't put softener on the T-shirt if you pre-wash it as the
dye will not take. - This method is safer for smaller children to use then the Rit dye we all buy at the supermarkets.

Kool-Aid Tie Dye Recipe #3

  
  Steps for Dyeing Fabric with Kool Aid

Materials for dyeing.
 nine 4 ˝" squares of washed UNBLEACHED muslin*
 2-4 pks (1.4oz each) unsweetened Kool Aid for each dye bath. (m/l)
 ˝ cup white vinegar for each dye bath
 1 gallon water for each dye bath

1. Prepare fabric:
Place prewashed fabric in a bowl of room temperature water and let it soak for 20-30 minutes.

2. Prepare dye bath:
Stir together Kool Aid, cold water, and the vinegar in a pot large enough to hold the liquid and the fabric without crowding.

3. Dye fabric:
Place the presoaked fabric in the dye bath. Bring the mixture to a low simmer, and continue to simmer for 15-30 minutes, or longer, until the water is clear, or the desired shade obtained. Clear water means all of the color has been absorbed by the fabric. Let the fabric sit in the water until it cools to room temperature.

4. Finishing process:
To rinse, fill a large bowl with room temperature water, add the room temperature fabric, and gently squeeze the fabric. Repeat process with fresh water until the water stays clear. Line or flat dry the fabric.

5. Disposal of dyebath:
Chemical dyes can be stored in airtight, glass containers and reused. Kool Aid dyes, because of their composition, can be disposed of in the kitchen drain. However, dyes with metals or chemicals need to be treated as a hazardous waste, and disposed of accordingly.

*White (bleached) muslin will not dye because it has been chemically bleached in the manufacturing process. The bleaching process prevents the fabric from absorbing color.

NOTES:

 Cherry Kool Aid will 'bleed' more than other colors after the dye process. You may need to rinse repeatedly. Grape also bleeds, but not as much.
 It is best to dye precut pieces rather than one large piece. Dyeing one large piece will result in possible mottling. There may be times when you desire a mottled effect.
 It may be necessary to use more Kool Aid packets to achieve desired color. For instance, lights such as yellow will require 4-8 packets rather than 2-4 packets. Darks, such as greens and purples, require more if a dark color is desired.
 		  
 

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