- Level
- Intermediate
- Time
- 3 hours plus drying
- Rough budget
- $20-$40
Ombre means a color that fades from dark to light, and you can get it on fabric by lowering a napkin into a dye bath a little at a time. You will dye a set of four napkins, each one dipped to a different depth, so the finished napkins show the same hue in stepped strengths.
This is a hands-on lesson in tints and shades. A tint is a color lightened with white, and in dyeing you get it by letting the fabric soak less, so less dye reaches the fibers. One bath produces a whole range of values.
Project palette
Explore in Palette Builder Compare these colors
Materials
- 4 to 8 prewashed 100% cotton napkins, 18 inches square
- Fiber-reactive or all-purpose fabric dye in blue, 1 packet or 1 bottle
- Large plastic bucket or bin, 3 gallons
- Measuring cups and a long spoon reserved for dyeing
- Salt or soda ash, as the dye instructions call for
- Rubber gloves, apron, and a dust mask
- Clothesline and clothespins
- Mild laundry detergent
- Plastic sheeting or a drop cloth
Steps
Wash the napkins
Machine wash the napkins with detergent and no softener to remove finishes. Leave them damp, because damp fabric takes dye evenly.
Mix the dye bath
Wearing gloves and a mask, dissolve the dye in warm water in the bucket following the packet. Add the fixative the packet calls for.
Hang a line over the bath
Set the bucket on plastic and string a line above it so you can lower and lift napkins without dripping on the floor.
First dip, full length
Lower one napkin by a corner so half its length enters the bath. Hold for about 15 minutes, moving it gently.
Step up the gradient
Lift the napkin about 3 inches every 10 minutes to leave a lighter portion, then take it out at the end. The part that spent the longest in the bath is darkest.
Rinse
Rinse in cool water until the water runs clear, then wash separately in warm water with detergent.
Dry and set
Hang the napkins to dry in the shade. Press with a warm iron to set the fold lines flat.
Dye the next set
For paler napkins, reuse the same bath, which has weaker dye now, and note the lighter result.
Why these colors work
Every stripe on a napkin is the same hue at a different value, which is the definition of a monochromatic scheme. Indigo is a shade, medium blue is closer to the pure hue, and periwinkle is a tint. Because the hue never changes, the stepping looks smooth and deliberate rather than patchy.
Editorial suggestion: Keep the fade limited to three clear steps and finish with a bit of undyed cotton so the napkin has a clean resting edge. Pick a table cloth in a warm neutral, because blue and warm beige sit near opposite sides of the wheel and flatter each other.
Mistakes to avoid
Dyeing synthetic fabric
Polyester resists most cotton dyes and stays pale. Check the label for 100 percent cotton or linen.
Skipping the prewash
Factory finishes block dye in patches. Always wash before dyeing.
Dipping too fast
Rapid dips make hard lines rather than gradual fades. Raise the fabric in small, patient steps.
Mixing dye in a food pot
Dye tools should never go back to the kitchen. Use a dedicated bucket and spoon.
Palette variations
- Blush: deep rose #A8456B, soft pink #E39AB4, pale petal #F5D5E0.
- Sage: forest green #3D5A45, sage #8BA888, mist #CFDDD0.
- Sunset: burnt orange #C4531E, apricot #EFA262, cream #F9E4C8.
Safety
Wear gloves, an apron, and a dust mask while handling powdered dye, and keep dye tools out of the kitchen. Never use dyed napkins to hold hot food until the color is thoroughly rinsed and washed out.