This Halloween, give your little one a look that’s playful, vibrant, and totally unique. We dyed a cotton jumpsuit in our newest shade, Canyon, and used the shibori itajime technique with diamond blocks from the craft store to create the iconic pattern that instantly recognizable. Add a few pompoms and a ruffle collar for jester vibes — then simply remove the embellishments after Halloween for a cool, everyday look they can keep wearing long after trick-or-treating.
Supplies:
- Cotton Jumpsuit
- Rit All-Purpose Liquid Dye in Canyon
- Rit ColorStay Dye Fixative
- Two 3-4" Diamond Wood Shape or Desired Wood Shape
- Rubber Bands or Large Clamps
- Three 3" pompoms
- Paper Cone Hat
- Hot Glue Gun and Sticks
- Safety Pins
- Large Plastic Container
- Measuring Cup
- Salt
- Plastic Gloves
- Plastic Table Cover
- Paper Towels
Time: 1 hour
Difficulty: Intermediate
- Cover work area with plastic table cover and have paper towels handy to protect against any possible spills. Gather supplies.
- For best results, prewash fabric to remove any finishes that may interfere with dye absorption. Leave damp.
- We used the Itajime Shibori technique to create this pattern. You can watch our video on how to create this pattern here.
- Accordion fold or ‘fan fold’ the fabric in 4” wide folds down the length of the fabric.
- Repeat accordion fold or ‘fan fold’ length of folded fabric into a 4” square.
- Sandwich folded fabric square between 3.5″ diamond wood shapes and secure with rubber bands or clamps
- Wearing rubber gloves, fill a large container or stainless steel sink with 3 gallons of very hot water. The water should ideally be 140ºF. If tap water is not hot enough, heat water on the stove and add to the dyebath.
- Pour 1/2 cup of Rit Dye All Purpose Canyon Liquid Dye into dyebath.
- To enhance the color: add one cup of salt. Add 1 teaspoon of dish detergent to help promote level dyeing.
- Test color by dipping a paper towel into the dyebath. If color is too light, add more dye. If color is too dark, add more water.
- Immerse sandwiched fabric into dyebath. Stir slowly and continuously. The first 10 minutes are the most critical. Stirring helps to ensure an even color with no splotches.
- When desired color is achieved, remove from dyebath. Fabric will look darker when wet and will dry lighter. Squeeze out excess dye.
- We recommend using Rit ColorStay Fixative immediately after dyeing and before washing to enhance color, increase color retention and prevent dye from bleeding into white areas. Follow these instructions.
- Rinse in cool water until water runs clear.
- Wash in warm water with mild detergent, rinse and dry.
- Apply two pompoms onto front center and secure with safety pins. Pompoms can be removed to wear as a normal jumpsuit long after Halloween.
- Adhere one pompom to the top of the cone hat using hot glue.
