Tutorial: Alternative silk dying using Kool-Aid, food color, and Easter egg dye

Rachael Rabbit experimented with alternative dyes for some play silks (long, colorful silk scarves for children’s pretend play), including Easter egg dye, food coloring, and Kool-Aid. Because the play silks would be handled by her young daughter, she wanted the dyes to be kid friendly and non toxic. She tells how she used each type of dye, and shows the results of her experiments. I was surpised at how vibrant the colors ended up! I think next year I’ll grab up a bunch of Easter egg dye on clearance after the holiday. Go to her blog for the instructions and the results.

[photo from Rachael Rabbit]

Looking for more Easter themed sewing patterns? Check out these fun Easter Sewing patterns we found on Etsy.

If you are looking for Easter print fabric visit Fatquartershop for some fun Easter fabric designs.

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I’m always tempted by the pretty velvets at the fabric store. So much texture! And the way the fibers catch the light! But sewing on velvet is trickier than you’d think. That nap that lends beautiful texture also likes to slip and crawl. That nap can also spell disaster if you cut a piece the wrong direction. That isn’t to say you shouldn’t use buy that velvet and sew it into something gorgeous, you just need to go into your velvet sewing project prepared. And Melissa at Melly Sews has a post that takes you step by step through sewing on velvet.

Velvet is such a luscious fabric, especially for winter sewing projects. Of course there are velvet Christmas sewing projects – stockings, tree skirts, santa hats – but velvet is beautiful for all winter. Think of all the gorgeous velvet dresses, evening bags, hair accessories, even pillows and other home décor that you see all winter long.

Melly Sews’ post gives you the tips and tricks you need to know in order for your velvet sewing project to end up a success. There are types of projects better suited for velvets, and kinds of projects to avoid. She describes the different types of velvet available. And she also tells the best way to lay out and cut your pattern pieces from velvet fabric. Her tutorial also covers marking, pressing, and of course sewing that beautiful fabric. There’s also a video included in case that’s your preferred method for learning.

Head over to Melly Sews to learn how to sew on velvet fabric.

And if you want to learn more about that lovely blue velvet dress shown, she has a post that tells more about it including 2 ways to style it depending on if you want to be more dressy or more casual.

[photo credit: Melly Sews]

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