Colouring Silk Ribbon*
©2008 Suzanne Cannon

*links go to www.quietfiredesign.ca
each product link will open a new window. When you are finished looking at the new page, just close it and you will return here!

This article first appeared in the November 2005 byhand Newsletter

Items you will need White Silk Ribbon Dye Ink Stamp Pad (such as Distress Inks) Spatula Craft Iron (if desired)

I love the look of hand-dyed silk ribbon, but can't always find the colour I want to compliment my artwork. In this Altoid tin I made for a byhandartists swap, necessity became the mother of invention.

I picked up some white silk ribbon at my supplier's thinking I would dye it with Procion dyes.

Well, sometimes I just can't wait for something to dry or I'm too lazy to mix up dyes, so I grabbed a dye ink stamp pad (in this case it was a Memories pad) and ran the silk ribbon across the surface. Well, lo and behold, it worked just fine. I held the ribbon against the stamp pad using that all purpose tool, the spatula, to keep my fingers clean.

And by pressing the ribbon into another colour in just a few places, I could get the varigated look I was after.

If you need a quick dry, you can iron the dyed ribbon with a Craft Iron.

Good thing it won't be getting washed in the washing machine! Ah, what we alterlings and book artists can get away with...... Happy dying!