How to Dye Cross Stitch Fabric Using Rit Dye

Today, we’re sharing the steps to dye cross stitch fabric with Rit Dye. Follow along and learn with Kimberly as Priscilla and Chelsea of Stitching with the Housewives teach her! Rit Dye is an all-purpose dye that works for all cross stitch fabrics. Thanks to the tutorial below, there are endless possibilities for customizing your cross stitch cloth.

Fabric Dyeing Supplies

• Cross Stitch Cloth
• All-Purpose Rit Dye
  • You’ll use about 1-2 capfuls of dye per cloth. You can also double the amount of dye for a bolder color.
• Rubber Gloves
• Covering for Workspace (to avoid stains)
• *Glass pan or dish
• *Microwavable Mixing Cup
• *Spoon
• Kosher Salt
• Parchment Paper
• Baking Sheet

*You will need one specifically for this. Can’t use for cooking after dyeing!

Mottled Fabric Dyeing Tutorial

In the video below, follow along as Priscilla and Chelsea of Stitching with the Housewives teach Kimberly how to Rit Dye cross stitch fabric for Vintage Christmas and Roundabout. This technique gives the fabric a mottled effect.

Fabric Dyeing Steps

1. Preheat your oven to 250°F
2. Cover the work area with plastic or something you don’t mind staining to protect surfaces from the dye, and wear gloves to protect your hands as well.
3. Wet your cross stitch fabric with clear water and ring it out so it’s still damp, and then place it in your glass baking dish.
4. Then start by heating some water to a boil. You’ll need enough water to saturate the fabric you’re dying, about 1 – 1.5 cups of water.
5. Next, add about a half teaspoon of salt to your water and stir to dissolve.
6. Shake your Rit Dye bottle thoroughly, then add about a capful of Rit Dye into salted water and mix well (we used 1 cup water to 1 cap dye).
7. Pour the hot dye mixture onto your fabric in the glass baking dish (see how this works at 08:17 in the video).
8. Dump out any excess liquid from your glass baking dish back into your measuring cup.
9. Repeat steps 7 and 8 until you get the desired result. Keep in mind that the fabric will dry a few shades lighter than what you see in the bowl when it’s wet.
10. Rinse your fabric with lukewarm water until the water runs clear.
11. Ring out excess liquid from your fabric and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
12. Place the damp fabric on a parchment paper, keep scrunched like you did above for mottling effect, and place in oven for about 30 min, then you’re all done!

You can find more information about How to Use Rit All-Purpose Dye on their website.

You can check out Priscilla and Chelsea of Stitching with the Housewives Patterns to see more Rit Dyed fabric. For example, their Bee Mine and A Merry Little Christmas patterns were made with Evening Blue Rit Dye.

Remember to check out all the tutorials and videos on our Fat Quarter Shop Flosstube Channel, including how to dye cross stitch fabric with coffee and tea! In the comments below, let us know if you’ve tried your hand at dyeing cloth or would like to try it!

Happy Stitching!

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