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How to Ice Dye

I recently stumbled across this video, and knew my next tie-dye project needed to made with Ice. So Cool. They have a neat watercolor effect that I have never gotten with regular tie dye. With pillows as gorgeous as the ones featured, I need to try this cool tie dye technique.

How to Ice Dye – DIY.


 


 

– Click HERE for the written tutorial at Yen Mag. –

 

 


 

How to Ice Dye

* Photo / Watercolor pillows by: DENY Designs watercolor artist Jacqueline Maldonado. From top to bottom: RISE 1 throw pillow, ARPEGGI throw pillow, ARMOR throw pillow


 

Who is going to try ice dying with me? It looks like the PERFECT Summer project! And I know I’ve got some left over fit dye hanging around :).

Thanks so much for stopping by, and until next time…

Happy Sewing!

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Crafts// top Post// Videos24 Comments

About Jess

When I was a young girl, my nickname was Jessica Rabbit. Fast forward 20 years, and I am married to the love of my life who, as fate would have it, has the last name Abbott. That's me! Jessica R. Abbott - aka, Jess Rabbit. Simply living a happy, yet crazy, love-filled life in Virginia Beach with 3 kids and 1 puppy in tow. Read More…

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Comments

  1. Melody says

    May 23, 2015 at 2:28 pm

    I can’t tell you how much I love this technique! I can’t wait to use!!!!!!

    Reply
  2. Jessica says

    May 26, 2015 at 12:26 pm

    Those pillows are GORGEOUS, which is why I was disappointed at the end of the video to find that the ice-dyed fabric looked more like slightly diffuse tie-dye. I followed the DIY link to yenmag.net, and found a few more samples that looked more like the video, along with the same beautiful pillows and a t-shirt that was pretty clearly a digitally printed photo of clouds.

    After a little google image search detective work, I found that the reason why those pillows appear to have such a beautiful watercolor effect is because they actually *are* watercolors–digitally printed images from scanned (or photographed) watercolor paintings by artist Jacqueline Maldonado (http://www.jacquelinemaldonado.com).

    You can actually buy those pillows (or a host of other items like iphone cases and dog bandanas) printed with her designs at Deny Designs. For example, here’s a page of all of the products they sell printed with the first design shown above: http://www.denydesigns.com/collections/art-products/at-rise-1. If you click her name on that page, you can see all of her designs.

    If you want to create the look yourself, you could use the same method, painting wet-on-wet watercolors on paper, then scanning the image and printing with a service like Spoonflower (for fabric, wallpaper, wrapping paper, or decals) or Zazzle (for finished products like pillows and mugs). For direct dyeing fabric to similar effect, I don’t think ice-dyeing will do the trick. Hand-painted silks can work well (see the works of Ellen Brook, for example: http://www.ellen-brook.com/). For a more “DIY” process that starts to approach the look, the are tutorials out there using sharpies and rubbing alcohol (http://www.google.com/search?q=sharpies+and+rubbing+alcohol–note the first google image link is those same pillows–but they’re not made this way, either!)

    Anyway, I hope that helps!

    Reply
    • Rae says

      September 17, 2015 at 10:21 am

      You can do it like the pillows, just like anything else; you have to practice and develop your own style. Use less dye powder randomly and more ice. It doesn’t take much dye at all if you want this effect. Why not be happy someone is even showing you the technique and experiment a bit before being so critical. I did it several times and did get this effect. Thanks for sharing Jess. Loving the results.

      Reply
    • Liz says

      September 2, 2017 at 8:09 am

      Thank you! Your tip just saved me hours of frustration!

      Reply
  3. Bryony says

    June 2, 2015 at 12:59 pm

    Yo Jessica

    I was looking at creating those pillows for my tiny studio shop. I had already invested in a load of scarves and was JUST about to purchase a ton of dye etc when I read your comment. You are a life saver!! Onward to the sharpies! Thanks so much for commenting!

    http://www.facebook.com/buttercupandfate

    Reply
  4. pragna says

    June 12, 2015 at 4:14 am

    Its too good and innovativr

    Reply
  5. Courtney Crews says

    June 20, 2015 at 10:49 am

    This is the NEATEST idea! I am pretty obsessed with the whole water color trend and this is like bringing it to life via pillows! I cant wait to give this a try for some throw pillows!

    Reply
  6. Patricia says

    July 4, 2015 at 9:29 am

    I agree with Jessica’s comment. Rit would not produce the effect you’re looking for. When in art school I did a lot of exploring with this effect on canvas. I ended up mixing actual water colors and diluting acrylic paint ( art kind, not craft). Because canvas is primed with gesso, the paint sits on top and takes a while to air dry. Basic canvas can also have coating . However, you will get this watercolor effect. I often painted water blobs on the canvas and then dipped the diluted colors in it with different hues to get the rainbow swirl effect. If you use regular water colors you do have to coat it with a protectant (gel medium, etc). If you just do diluted acrylics, you do not. Btw I didn’t use any fancy art brands, just the cheapest ones I could find since I was experimenting. My painting still sits prominently on the wall of the living room.

    Reply
  7. Patricia says

    July 4, 2015 at 9:52 am

    I forgot to mention that water soluble oil paint also works ( probably is the best option). It’s a little more expensive though.

    Reply
  8. Carey says

    July 6, 2015 at 6:40 am

    While the idea of sharpies and rubbing alcohol is s cool idea, it doesn’t work as well as you think. If done on material that will be washed, it doesn’t hold its bright colors for long. Was a fun kids project, but I wouldn’t do it again for anything to keep long term.

    Reply
  9. La Sombra Chica says

    July 6, 2015 at 8:59 am

    I work at a fabric store and a customer told me of this technique. I like the concept but I don’t like the idea of fabric dye. I’ve done tea dying before. Has anyone thought of or tried this technique with instant tea mix? Opinions, please.

    Reply
  10. Sarah says

    July 6, 2015 at 9:00 am

    Dharma sells a pigment dye that works great for wet-on-wet painting, especially on silk.

    Reply
  11. Margo says

    July 6, 2015 at 1:45 pm

    Actually, I have done quite a bit of ice dyeing on yardage and it turned out really fabulous! It does take a little bit of practice but do not discount the beautiful results!

    Reply
  12. Ann says

    July 7, 2015 at 10:24 am

    If you use fiber reactive dyes and a thickener like sodium alginate (I use the print base they sell at dharma trading) you can get the type of effects seen on those pillows.

    Reply
  13. Mikel says

    July 7, 2015 at 4:11 pm

    What would happen if you put the dye in the ice tray with the water and froze them, then arranged them for melting on the fabric? (that’s the idea I got.. not just splashing the dye on the ice covered fabric.)

    Sounds more like ‘ice dying’ to me.

    Reply
  14. Erin says

    July 8, 2015 at 2:06 pm

    In order to get the watercolor effect, you have to do the accordion fold! It’s really easy… Then pay close attention to where you place the color! Happy dying, folks!!

    Reply
  15. Charlotte altmann says

    July 9, 2015 at 9:39 am

    I am so inspired! Fiber/frabic dying for fifty years and I can’t wait to go to the dye cabinet and begin.thank you.

    Reply
  16. Dawn says

    July 11, 2015 at 1:17 am

    Where do I get the special ice cubes they mention in the video? How about the soda ash? I did not see it on Dharma. I have been using the SetaSilk fabric paints, as well as the SetaColor fabric paints for watercoloring, but still have not gotten these results. Any suggestions on how to apply to get more of the results like the pillows with Seta Color fabric paints?

    Reply
  17. Joye says

    July 12, 2015 at 3:35 pm

    I’m a fiber artist and use a variety of hand-dyed techniques all the time. Ice dying is tons of fun because what you get at the end is a surprise! The surprise at the end us the point of this dyr technique.

    My tips:
    Use quality dyes and chemicals easily available thru Dharma Trading. Rit dye results look washed out and will fade into nothing.

    Look at a color wheel as you place your dyes on the ice, for example orange next to purple will give you brown in the area where the colors overlap. Brown isn’t bad…just know that it’s coming.

    Don’t give up after your first try. Learn from it and make it even better.

    If you want similar results, but with more control over the finished results, try the dye technique called low water immersion.

    Reply
  18. Bev Smow says

    July 15, 2015 at 5:10 pm

    Also consider what fabric you’re using. A tight weave will allow for better dye migration. A loose weave like linen will not.

    Reply
  19. Lynda Heines says

    November 27, 2015 at 6:04 pm

    I have been ice dyeing since early 2011 and wrote the first article on the technique in Quilting Arts August/Sept 2011 issue. In order to get beautiful colors you need to use fiber reactive dyes and they are best used dry (although you can add water to the dyes for a different look). Just for fun I tried using Tulip Dyes since a lot of my blog readers are nervous about using fiber reactive dyes, and the dyes were way too weak because the mordant (what makes the dye stick to the fabric) is already in the dyes so you get less dye. If you are interested in knowing more about ice dyeing, I have several tutorials on my blog:http://www.bloombakecreate.com. I also have a webinar in the Interweave shop on sale today!

    Reply
  20. Olga says

    December 10, 2015 at 11:24 am

    This is a great tutorial! thank you for sharing 🙂
    I own a small art business and recently started the Hippie Baby line of clothing and decor for babies and kids… I am considering incorporating some tie dyes into my outfits and fabrics.. this is a great technique I will definitely try it 🙂

    Hippiehappybaby.etsy.com

    Peace,
    Olga

    Reply
  21. Milagros says

    December 13, 2015 at 8:51 pm

    Muy linda técnica, voy a intentar hacerla pronto. Gracias.

    Reply
  22. Adrienne says

    March 26, 2016 at 3:11 am

    So pretty, I tried something similar. You can check out my tutorial here: http://www.craftylittlegnome.com/2016/01/15/how-to-ice-dye/

    Reply

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Hello, it’s me.

When I was a young girl, my nickname was Jessica Rabbit. Fast forward 20 years, and I am married to the love of my life who, as fate would have it, has the last name Abbott. That's me! Jessica R Abbott - aka, Jess Rabbit. Read More…

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