I'm pretty excited about today's DIY post, because not only was this super easy to do, but the totes are the perfect catch-all size for everyday messes. Whether you need a bag for carrying produce or your favorite beach reads this will be your new favorite summer staple. Today I'm going to show you how to make a dip-dyed ombre tote bag. Are you ready?
First you'll need to collect your supplies. You'll need: rubber gloves (or latex)//medium sized tote(s)//dye, I used Dylon but RIT also works//salt//water//stainless steel sink or bucket//measuring cup//plastic spoon or spatula//timer
To complete two totes it took 2 hours, but I had to dye each separately. If you can do two at a time it will only take 1hour. I just followed the instructions on the back of the dye pouch, with the exception of the amount of stirring they recommend, but I'll let you know when I'm steering away from their suggested steps.
The first step is to dissolve the dye in four cups of warm water, you don't want to use the sink yet, so grab a bucket or a stainless steel bowl to use. Next you'll want to fill the sink with warm water until the tote floats freely in the water. Submerge the tote and then wring it out so that it's only damp and not dripping. Next you'll scoop 4 tbsp of salt into the sink water and stir to dissolve, add the dissolved dye and stir again until everything is combined in the sink.
At this point, if you haven't already, put on your rubber gloves and pick up your tote bag. This is where my instructions veer a little away from what the dye pouch suggested; instead of continuously mixing for the first fifteen minutes I just let the dye do its thing. I dipped my tote until about half of it was covered in dye, bobbing up and down and then I let it sit for fifteen minutes. I used the measuring cup to hold the tote out of the dye mixture slightly.
After fifteen minutes I stirred the dye a little more and pulled the bag out of the dye letting it drip out. I then replaced the bottom 1/4 of the bag in the dye and again used the measuring cup to hold it out of the sink. Set the timer again, this time for 45 minutes. Stir occasionally. By not mixing the dye continuously it helped create a more subtle ombre effect, with the edges being slightly bluer than the bottom portions of the bag.
After your 45 minutes are up, pick the bag up out of the dye and let it drip out, carry the tote to your tub or another sink to rinse. You'll rinse first in cold water and then wash the entire thing in warm water. I did all of this by hand but you could definitely use a washing machine for the second part.
Once you've washed your totes hang them to dry, away from any light. I used my pantry and turned the lights off. It took about 24 hours for the bags to dry completely, and the dye should be permanently set at this point. For clean up I suggest washing everything separate from your normal dishes in case there is any excess dye lingering around. I drained my sink, rinsed it out and then used a little cleaner and steel wool to clean it thoroughly. It sounds like a lot of clean up but it only took about 5 minutes.
I decided to create two versions of the ombre tote, one from the top down and the other from the bottom up. I loved how they both turned out and I'm already using them for grocery shopping. I hope you enjoyed today's DIY as much as I enjoyed creating it. Please let me know if you have any questions, I'm happy to help. Have a merry Wednesday friends. big kiss, bekuh
