How to Dip Dye Napkins

Turn simple white napkins into an elegant statement piece for any table. Get my tips for how to dip dye napkins.

I’ve wanted to make napkins like these for quite some time. These were actually going to be part of my tablescape for the Scituate Education Foundation’s Rising Tide Gala which I was co-chairing with my friend Becky. Unfortunately, we’ve cancelled the event due to COVID-19. We’re very sad we can’t hold the event but I thought I’d still share this fun DIY with you. I got all the supplies from Amazon and it was fun to work on these napkins.

I actually did two different batches using two different techniques. So I thought it might be helpful to share my experience.

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How to Dip Dye Napkins

This can be very messy so I recommend doing this outside.

Materials

• Plain White Cotton Napkins
• Container for Dyeing
• RIT Dye – I used Navy Blue and Denim Blue
• Salt
• Hose
• Drying Rack
• Washer / Dryer
• Rubber gloves

Method

Step 1 – fill basin with warm water. Add a cup of salt to help the dye mix properly.

Step 2 – Mix 2 cups of boiling water with dye. I used two different dyes. For the first set I used Denim Blue and the second set I used Navy Blue.

Step 3 – Once dissolved, place napkins so they’re dipping into the dye bath. This was the first way I positioned the napkins.

Step 4 – Allow the napkins to sit into the dye for a minimum of 10 minutes.

Step 5 – Carefully remove the napkins from the dye.

Step 6 – using a hose and a bucket rinse the dyed napkins until they run clean.

Step 7 – Hang dry.

Step 8 – Wash and dry your napkins before use. Wash separately.

Alternative dye method –

I did a second dye method using the Navy Blue dye. You can see I can’t the napkins folded here which allowed for a sharper edge.

Some Helpful Tips

• Wet the napkins prior to dying to help the dye take to the napkins
• Be careful when opening the dye it can spray in the wind.
• Use gloves to prevent dye from getting on your hands.
• Wipe the edge of the dyeing bath before placing white napkins in.
• It’s helpful to dye the fabric in small batches.
• I used one package of powdered dye, if I was to do this again I think I’d use two packages to make the dye darker.
• The napkins look darker when they are wet. The dyed napkins will dry lighter.
• Make sure to rinse all the dye from the napkins before washing.

Tablescape Ideas for Dip Dyed Napkins

I did two tablescapes with these napkins. This dyeing style gives a very relaxed elganet look – perfect for coastal and farmhouse styles.

Relaxed Coastal Tablescape

These napkins are done with with the Denim Blue Dye. The color very much looks like an old denim shirt and is beautiful for a coastal or farmhouse look. This was the first dye method where I unfolded the napkins. For the tablescape I used blue tapers in vintage brass holders. The centerpiece is a faux maidenhair fern from HomeGoods and I scattered a few scallop shells.

Spring Tablescape

These napkins were the second set I did with the Navy Blue dye. I kept the napkins folded for dyeing. This method made it easier to get a sharper line. The dye did not penetrate all the way through to the center of the napkin.

This tablescape uses beautiful hyacinths in the center and is lovely for spring!

Other Dyeing Methods

If you liked this post you might also like this one on Shibori dyeing which is a different method. I dyed pillows, shirts, and linen runners and napkins a few years ago.

I hope you enjoyed these napkins as much as I did creating them. I’d love to see if you dye your own. You may want to pin this for later.