Name: kimberly
Message: Hello
Your website is amazing!  I really want to tie dye duvet covers for my two boys.  My vision is for them to be rainbow colored, bright and fun.  Can this be done and do I start with a white duvet cover?  IF yes, what kind of fabric should it be made of?

Yes, this can be done. A white one would be best. The most important thing is to select a 100% cotton duvet cover, with no stain-resistant treatments. Stain-resistant treatments prevent the dye from reaching the fiber.

Equally important is to buy the right dye. Do NOT try to use all-purpose dye for this project. All-purpose dye performs poorly on cotton, requires boiling water to apply, and then washes out in the laundry every time it's washed. What you need to do is get some fiber reactive dye. You can mail-order Procion MX dyes from PRO Chemical & Dye or most of the other dye suppliers listed on my page of Sources for Dye Supplies around the World. You will also need soda ash, plastic quirt bottles, plastic gloves, and a dust mask to wear when mixing the dye powder with water. I recommend that you start with a tie-dye kit. (At ProChem, look under "MX Reactive Dyes" for their "MX Dye Sampler Kits".) You'll need a good-sized kit; a "Tie Dye Party Pack" designed for 25 shirts ought to do it. Or, you could buy three or four Jacquard tie-dye kits from Amazon or your local crafts store. (Avoid Rit brand tie-dye kits, as the dye bleeds in the laundry.)

It would be a good idea to practice a little on some t-shirts before you tackle the large duvet covers. Your boys would probably love to have the shirts, and this way you can be sure you master the steps required before you have to face dyeing such large pieces of fabric.

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