DIY Boheme Bed Linens 

We love a quick and easy flip and dyeing these sheets was just that! 

Here's how I turned old, white and stained bed linens into gorgeous, warm toned luxury:

What you'll need:

-Textile of choice 

I selected a set of queen sheets, an old blanket throw from Ikea, and two shams. Egyptian Cotton. 

-Rit Dye of choice 

(we'll chat colors in a second)

-Salt

-Water/Water Basin/Washing machine 

Picking a color: 

Rit Dye has been around for AGES and they have truly mastered all things textile dyeing. Their website is full of helpful information, instruction, and yes... Color Formulas

no really, every color combination you could think of, they have a formula! Simply select the base color you're looking for and find all the different color swatches available in that color hue. 

Rit Color Formulas 

*I used "All Purpose" dye because I was dyeing Cotton/Linen*

Now I was originally wanting something more in the Terra-cotta family (more on the orange side) but I'm assuming due to the state of the world, most dye colors are out of stock! I could only find Yellows at my local Hobby Lobby, so I improvised and had to make do with what I had. 

I mixed

2 bottles of Golden Yellow 

1 bottle Tan

1/2 bottle of Cocoa Brown

and ended up with something close to their version of "Golden Chai Latte" "Honey Mustard Yellow" and "Buttered Rum"

How To Dye:

So obviously this is all in relation to what you're dyeing and the weight of the fabric but for a project this large I decided it would be best to dye straight in my washing machine! Yep, you heard me right! 

Washing Machine Dyeing

"A note about dye and washing machines: If you have never used dye in a washing machine, we get why you would be nervous! Who wants a purple washing machine? Well, maybe us. Nonetheless, we can promise you Rit won’t permanently stain any metal component on your machine. Rit has been used in washing machines for decades, dating back to the time when the electric washing machine was invented in the 1950s. We coined the phrase “Push Button Color!” in the early 60s to promote the marriage between Rit and washing machines. We even launched liquid dye just so that it would be easier to use Rit in your machine. With that much history, you can feel confident that your washing machine will stay dye free for decades to come."

+ I set my top loading washer to "Oversize Cycle" and "Hot Water"

+ I started the washer and let it fill up with water till I had enough in there so the fabric could flow freely

+ I then added my dye

+ I tested the color by dip dyeing one of the shams to see if that was about the right color I wanted (I did this a couple of times to make sure) 

+ Next I added all of my linens

+ Because I was dyeing natural fibers I added 1 cup of salt to the Dyebath

+ I gave my bath a stir and started the load- I timed it to make sure the linens had enough time to sit before the rinse cycle began (about 30 min). The longer they soak the darker the color. 

+ After the load was completed I ran another quick cycle and washed the linens with my non-toxic laundry detergent and dried as normal.

*Rit encourages users to set their fabrics with their Dye Fixative to create long lasting color but I hadn't purchased any therefor I couldn't set the color. However I have noticed no bleeding and don't mind if the color fades over time (given this was my first try at DIY dyeing). *

To clean the washing machine: 

Wipe around the inside of the lid and pour a little bleach through the internal dispenser (if there is one) as dyes can get into these areas. Then, fill washer to the highest water level there is and select the hottest water temperature setting. Add detergent with 2 cups of chlorine bleach and run a full wash cycle with 3 old towels. 

Before

After

TA-DA! 

You did it! 

Be sure to comment or tag me over on Instagram if you try this out! I would love to see how creative we all get this Fall Season!