Winter is very much still here in Michigan, though I’m counting down the days where I can be outside working on my garden. We recently got a few rounds of snow, so I thought I would try my hand learning how to ice dye, but using snow instead!
What is Ice Dyeing?
Ice dyeing is a craft technique similar to tie dye. The main difference is that snow and ice dyeing lean more into unexpected results. The melting of the snow/ice changes where the dye meets the fabric, because you can’t control the melting as much as you can with direct application of dye to the fabric.
Colors tend to be softer and much more blended when working with one or more colors.
Different shaped ice cubes will give you varied results. And snow will give you different end results as well (there’s more air in snow, so it won’t melt the same as ice). There’s a lot to play around with and it’s worth experimenting with if this is your first time!
Watch my latest YouTube video How to Ice Dye with Snow over on my channel now! I share an in-depth look at the application process and even A/B test two different dye methods.
Materials For Ice Dyeing
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- Cotton clothing or fabric
- Powder Dye
- Baker’s cooling rack
- Tray or bin
- Gloves
- Snow
- ColorStay (optional)
- Plastic wrap (optional)
I used Rit Dye for this project because I already had it in on hand. There are other brands who make powder dye that you’re welcome to explore:
Picking a Color Palette
When working with dye and incorporating more than one color, it helps to follow basic color theory laws in order to get the brightest outcome possible.
While blue and orange make a great color combo, dyeing with them can be complicated. When combined, complimentary colors will most likely muddle and become brown where they meet.
Stick to colors that are side by side on the color wheel for a brighter look.
For more color theory tips, check out my book Colorful Living!
How to Snow Dye
Now that you’ve learned all about the technique, you’ve picked out your color palette, and you have your fabric, it’s time to put it all together! Here’s how to snow dye:
1. Place your drying racks on top of a bin. This will ensure that the snow and dye mixture will melt into the bin instead of on your surface.
2. Wet your fabric. You can rise in the sink or wash it and take it out before tossing in the dryer. Place on top of your drying racks and take outside.
3. Cover your fabric with snow! Try to pack as much as possible. Snow has more air than ice, so you want to ensure there will be a longer melt period so the colors have longer to blend into the fabric.
4. Using a spoon, cover your snow with dye. The more dye you add, the more intense the color will be.
5. Bring inside to let melt. Once all of the snow has melted you can follow your dye brand’s instructions for locking in the color.
Sealing in the Color
To get the most out of your dye, it’s important to seal in your color. This process may vary brand to brand, so be sure to research yours before starting (you may or may not need to use soda ash).
For Rit Dye (again, what I used for this project), they suggest applying Color Stay. Then to really set the colors, wrap in plastic wrap and heat in the microwave for two minutes. This is because the dye needs to be heat activated which doesn’t happen when working with snow and ice.
After that, I rinsed in cold water then tossed in the dryer.
So that’s how you ice dye with snow! Let me know if you have any questions in the comments below!
Related:
Check out my the DIY archives for more dye projects!