My ice dying adventure
I’m going to keep this short and sweet because you can find all the info on my YouTube channel and Instagram highlights, but I figured I’d add it to the blog as well to store all the info in one place! But truly, Anna Joyce’s tutorial on Creative Bug is the best resource for a step-by-step tutorial on how to ice dye. My biggest takeaway from my ice dying adventures is that there are countless color combos, techniques, materials and more to try and there is practically no way you can go wrong - the ice does all the work and it makes magic! Below is my guide on how I completed my first ever ice dying experiment!
I used a 100% cropped cotton sweatshirt that I purchased at Target to try out this very first time, but I’m excited to go the route of Kristy Glass and support other sellers by purchasing clearance white garments that I wouldn’t normally wear! Originally I got the entire desire to ice dye from Kristy Glass’ video on it and have had the itch to try it ever since.
I actually don’t have the sweatshirt I ice dyed anymore because it was a secret santa gift for a family member. She says she loved it when she opened the gift so I’m relieved that I wasn’t the only one who was obsessed with it!
How to Ice Dye
Gather materials: You’ll need soda ash, 100% natural garment/material/shirt to dye, ice, fiber reactive dyes (I got mine from Dharma Trading), gloves, a plastic spoon, a grate or cooling rack, gloves, a mask - and I think that’s it!
For dyes, I used Dharma Trading fiber reactive dyes. You have to pay for shipping but you only need a very small amount of dye so I recommend the smallest size container and try a few colors. I’ve read only to use 1-3 colors per item to keep it as simple as possible and I think it’s great advice because the dyes really are full of color all on their own.
Research (if you want to): I loved Kristy Glass’ video on her ice dye experiments as well as Creative Bug’s tutorial with Anna Joyce
Wash and dry your garment/material that you will be dying, especially if it’s new to remove any chemicals/extra’s that companies add to their clothing
Combine one cup of soda ash with one gallon of water and mix: I used an old plastic garbage can that has barely been used to create this solution. It is reusable so if you have somewhere to keep it, you can keep the soda ash/water solution for as long as you like, according to Anna Joyce. I also used gloves and a plastic spoon (I think a ruler or long stick would also work wonderfully) to stir the solution together.
Soak your garment/materials in the solution. I soaked them for approximately 30 minutes, but you can soak it for even longer if you wish!
Now it’s time to get your area set up! First lay down a sheet if you are dying on the floor. Many people have simply set the materials over their kitchen sink as well. Next, place your drying rack over a bin/sink/sheet. Anna Joyce also recommended a colander which I figured out is a great idea because the ice won’t fall off since the colander has sides and you can just place your garment/material inside of it.
Place your garment/materials on the drying rack/colander. I just scrunched my sweatshirt up lightly, but you can spiral it or experiment with how much scrunching you like!
Time to add the ice. I used an entire ice maker full of ice, but next time maybe I’ll try a thinner layer of ice or only place ice in some places. Layer your ice over your entire garment/material or in any pattern you’d like.
9. Now add your dye - I used a plastic spoon and only used the very tip of the spoon (maybe a 1/2 teaspoon per dye). Another recommendation I read is only opening one dye at a time so as not to mix any particles. Also wear a mask when working with loose dye powder. I ended up covering almost all the dye with ice. I didn’t overlap the colors much, though. You can leave some ice without dye and be as strategic or offhand as you would like when applying the dye powder.
10. Now just wait! It only took a few hours for my ice to melt, but I actually went to work and let it sit for 6+ hours.
11. Rinse your garment/material until the water runs as clear as possible. The issue with cotton is that the dye will run a lot! I made sure to take a picture of the sweatshirt before and after I rinsed it. I actually rinsed it in my bathtub, but you could also rinse in the kitchen sink. Rinse your garment thoroughly until the water runs clear.
12. Machine wash. Finally, it’s time to wash your garment/material one more time to make sure the dye is locked.
13. Once the garment is dry, it’s finally time to wear and enjoy!
In my first ice dying experiment, I focused on using neutral colors. It turned out beautifully and the recipient loved it! Overall, the project was incredibly simple and I can't wait to try it again. In the future, I want to try ice dying with only one color and also use coordinating, brighter colors for more of a fade/ombre effect ideally! I have so many ideas and can’t wait to ice dye again! I forgot to take photos before I sent off the sweatshirt I dyed as a Christmas gift, but you can see if in my YouTube video!
Dyes: Fiber Reactive Dye by Dharma Trading Co Dye colors: Pewter, Wedgewood blue, Khaki
…Hmm I said I was going to keep this short and I think I failed, but I had a ton of fun ice dying and highly recommend anyone who wants to, to try it for themselves!
“Color is a power which directly influences the soul.”