Jumpsuit socks are fun and easy to make. While the whole family can enjoy this activity, some of the dyes used can cause skin irritation, so adult supervision is highly recommended. Here are a few steps you should follow to be able to create this uniquely stylish piece at home.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Preparing the Dye
Step 1. Protect yourself and your work area
Wear rubber gloves and clothing that can be stained. Line your work area with a large mat and newsprint.
- Fabric dyes can stain your clothes, your skin, and any surface.
- Rubber gloves will protect your hands from staining the dye, as well as protect your hands from stinging soda ash later when you prepare socks.
- You can also wear protective clothing or an apron to protect yourself from the dye. Making jumpsuits can be a messy process, and it's very likely that you'll get dyed on your clothes in the process.
- Another alternative is to do it outdoors to avoid staining indoor tables and floors.
Step 2. Mix the fabric dye with warm water
Dissolve your non-toxic fabric dye in hot water following the directions on the dye package.
- Although instructions for using dye vary depending on the manufacturer and the chemical used in the dye, as a general rule, you should mix 2 tsp (10 ml) standard fabric dye with 1 tbsp (15 ml) salt and 1 cup (250 ml) warm water. or heat. Mix thoroughly to make a concentrated dye.
- Repeat this step with as many colors as you want to include. Color schemes with one to four colors are usually best. Anything more than that can make your socks look too crowded and messy.
Step 3. Pour your dye into the bottles
Transfer each concentrated dye solution into an empty squeezable bottle.
- Use a squeeze bottle, such as an old mustard bottle, instead of a spray bottle. You will need to use your dye in a solid form, not in a dew form.
- You can also transfer your dye to a small bowl or bucket and dip your socks instead of spraying them. This method works best if you only plan to use one or two colors.
Step 4. Add as much hot water as needed
Pour enough hot water into the bottle to fill it to the brim.
If you're going to be dipping your socks, add enough hot water to each bowl to cover enough to completely submerge a pair of socks
Part 2 of 3: Preparing the Socks
Step 1. Choose cotton socks that are white and clean
Wash your socks before dyeing them.
- Cotton is the most effective at absorbing dye, so the socks you choose should be 80 percent cotton. Spandex and polyester materials cannot be dyed.
- You should use white socks for the most intense and pure coloring.
Step 2. Mix soda ash and water
Mix about 3/4 cup (180 ml) of soda ash and 4 liters of warm water in a large bucket.
- Soda ash can irritate your skin, so it's a good idea to wear rubber gloves when using it. You should also keep small children and pets away from the soda ash solution.
- Stir the solution with a long-handled wooden spoon.
- Soda ash, or sodium carbonate, is a color barrier. It ensures an effective chemical dye bond between the dye and the fabric. Not all fabric dyes require the use of soda ash to be effective, but most do.
Step 3. Soak your socks
Soak your socks in this solution for at least 5 minutes.
- You can soak your socks in the soda ash solution for about 30 minutes. Soaking it more than that may or may not make a difference in how effectively the dye will bond to the cotton fibers, but at the very least, you should be doing more than just dipping it in the solution.
- Stir the socks into the solution using the same long-handled wooden spoon.
- When finished, remove the sock from the solution and wring it dry.
Step 4. Tie your socks
Use a rubber band to secure the parts of your sock so your dye can create a pattern on the sock.
- Make a striped pattern by tying three to four rubber bands around the toe and ankle of the sock.
- Make a round pattern by pinching in half and tying it with a 2.5 cm elastic band. This is especially useful for the heel.
- Make small round patterns by tucking buttons or coins into the sock. Tie with rubber bands around the parts that wrap around buttons or coins.
Part 3 of 3: Coloring Socks
Step 1. Apply the dye
Place the socks you tied on the surface of your workbench. Spray the dye on your socks using a squeeze bottle.
- To create a jumpsuit pattern, dye must be applied to the untied area. You can use the small nose of the bottle to tuck it into the folds of the fabric.
- When you apply dye, try to avoid leaving any white spots between the colors you use.
- If you dyed it by dipping, place the sock in a bowl of dye and let it soak for 1 to 20 minutes. You can create colorful socks by dipping each piece in a different color.
Step 2. Put the socks in a plastic bag
Seal your socks in a sealed bag and leave them in a warm place for 24 hours.
- The dye must be left in a warm, damp room for 24 hours to get a strong color.
- When you take your socks out of the bag the next day, the bag should be dewy and warm inside.
- If the weather is warm and sunny, you can put your socks in direct sunlight to let the dye set. In the cooler seasons, you should leave your socks in a warm room. Socks that have been dyed should be placed in an area of at least 21 degrees Celsius.
Step 3. Rinse your socks in warm water
Once the dye has settled, remove the sock from the plastic bag and untie the rubber band, buttons, and coins. Place your socks under warm running water until the rinse water is clear.
If you have a traditional washing machine, you can also wash your socks with a warm rinse cycle. If you have an energy efficient washing machine that uses less running water, washing your socks by hand is a better option
Step 4. Wash in hot water
After rinsing your socks, wash them separately in your washing machine with hot water and regular laundry detergent.
Tips
If chemical dye solutions don't work for you, you can create organic dyes using special foods and spices such as plum peels, turmeric, spinach, roselle, beets, coffee, and tea
Warning
- Always wear gloves when using dyes and soda ash. Dyes can easily stain and soda ash can irritate the skin.
- It is recommended that you wash your jumpsuits without mixing them with other clothes for the first few washes. It will take a while for the dye to wear off, and if you wash your socks with other clothes, you run the risk of other clothes fading.
