I am "dyeing" to tell you something.....

I have been on a dropcloth kick since running into Miss Mustard Seed (http://www.missmustardseed.com/). Go look for yourself....that girl is amazingly talented!  I hope to recreate what she has already done. *sigh*
Dropcloth, you say?  Yes, as in "the covering used to protect my floor and furniture while I am painting." I know what you are thinking......"That Rhonda....she sure is one classy chic!" ( I wonder, is that chic or chick?) LOL 
Actually, drop cloths are quite the rage in the decor world these days.  Who would have thunk it?  They are used for curtains, tablecloths, bags, pillows and, most popularly right now, as slipcovers. They are really a great choice because they are rather inexpensive, they wear well, launder well and have a good weight to cover most upholstery prints.  They also go with almost any decor....they can be dressed up or left plain.  LOVE it!
You see, I am working on a multitude of various slipcovers (again, Miss Mustard Seed's fault inspiration).  I have 8 dining chairs that are getting "miniskirts", a swivel rocker that needs a complete coverup, 2 of the ugliest wing chairs EVER that will be slipcovered and finally 2 club chairs in my bedroom that are screaming for help!  I am in "slipcover,......ummmmmmm bliss." 

Alert, the photos below may upset your stomach.....not for the queazy....you have been warned.

Now you see what I am up against and why I need to make slipcovers.  (The chair located just above was actually my husband's grandmother's chair and then his father's chair.  I tried to get rid of it and even exile it to the garage....alas, there "she" sits in all her glory in my living room......"she" shall be first!)

So I sent an email over to Marian (aka Miss Mustard Seed) asking her if I could dye the dropcloths to different colors.  I figured that she would have the answer and was quite surprised when she responded that she had been asked that before but had not tried it.   *pause.....idea*

I ran right out (immediately if you know me) to Hobby Lobby and spent atleast 45 minutes picking out the perfect "test color".

Rit powdered dye in "Pearl Grey".

I grabbed 2 boxes and ran home, read the directions and then waited.......I waited for 2 days because I wasn't sure how well I could dye fabric (or attempt to) in my front loading washing machine.  After 2 days I could wait no longer and so I dove right in.  Here is how it worked.....and worked well, I might add!

First, I washed the dropcloths in hot water on a quick wash because your fabric needs to be wet before you start.  Once the washing was done I took the fabric out and shook them to make sure they were not knotted up in the machine.  I placed them back in and went to predissolve the dye.

I  boiled 4 cups of water and added 2 packets of dye and stirred well. (Use a glass container to avoid dyeing your Tupperware.....and be careful as anything that you happen to splatter will be dyed also!) 

I placed 1 cup of iodized Morton Salt in the cup dispenser (where you place the laundry detergent) and I added about a tablespoon of liquid detergent.  I set my machine to "hot wash" and began the load. 

When I heard the water beginnning to fill I slowly pulled out the dispenser and added the pre-dissolved dye as the washer was filling.....I followed by rinsing the holder with another 2 cups of hot water.  

That's it!  I just let the machine do the job!

Imagine how excited I was when I opened my machine to see two beautifully grey dropcloths!  Surprise!  They dyed completely even....no blotches or uneven areas. 

SWEET!

Not a great picture....not even a good picture...but it is a very grey dropcloth!

Now I just have to decide if they should be used in my living room or my bedroom......such dilemma.

Please keep checking back!  One day soon I will actually show you a completed project....I promise.....

Blessings Abundant!