Play Silks an Easy DIY for half the cost.

Play silks are one of my favorite open ended toys for children of all ages, they last a long time, and can be used in place of gift wrap for holidays. The typical size is a 30” by 30” which you can purchase plain white un-dyed through Dharma Trading Co. for $5.23 each or if you purchase bulk (more than 12) they are only $4.90 each. I usually get a couple friends to purchase with me and that allows me to get the cheaper price without having to purchase 12 myself I usually do 6 to 8 at a time. I then dye them at home myself or with my friends. If this is your first time I would recommend you dye one silk of each color of the rainbow which will be a great start. My children use their silks as costumes, part of floor scenes with their blocks, as play food, as puppets, with their dolls, as a blanket, a tent, it is also a great quiet toy to let them take with them when you go out.

YOU WILL NEED:

• 8mm silk scarves in the size of your choice (ours are 30″ x 30″)

• liquid food color or Kool-aid

• distilled white vinegar

• a large pot & plastic/wood spoon (Not Metal) / Or large microwave safe glass bowl

PLAY SILK COLORS:

There are a few different ways to achieve colors for your silks, remember they may not come out looking exactly like you hope your children will love them regardless. It is normal for the colors to be uneven or imperfect.

Food Coloring Dyeing:

• Fuchsia | 50 drops red, 3 drops blue

• Dark Orange | 50 red, 10 yellow, 3 blue

• Orange | 25 yellow 5 red

• Yellow | 30 yellow 1 red

• Lime Green | 15 yellow, 3 green

• Light Green | 14 green, 6 yellow, 2 blue

• Green | 25 green, 25 blue

• Light Blue | 6 blue, 9 neon blue, 2 neon purple, 3 neon green

• Dark Blue | 18 neon blue, 9 neon purple, 2 neon green

• Purple | 15 blue, 3 neon purple

• Dark Purple | 18 neon purple, 6 neon blue

• Pink | 12 neon pink, 2 neon blue

Kool-aid Dye:

(Tip- use at least 3 packets and you can mix how you want)

• Pink | 3 pink lemonade pk

• Red | 2 cherry pk and 2 jamaica pk

• Maroon | 2 cherry pk and 1 berry blue pk

• Orange | 3 orange Pk

• Dark Orange | 3 orange pk and 1 cherry pk

• Yellow | 3 lemonade pk and 1 orange pk

• Light Green | 3 lemon lime pk

• Dark Green | 4 lemon lime pk and 1 berry blue pk

• Light Blue | 3 berry blue pk ( or cool blue raspberry lemonade)

• Dark Blue | 4 berry blue pk and 1 grape pk

• Dark purple | 4 grape pk

• Light Purple | 2 grape pk and 1 berry blue pk

DIRECTIONS:

1. Pre-wash your silks by hand in warm soapy water. Use a gentle laundry detergent or baby shampoo. Rinse well.

2. Soak the cleaned all silks in hot water with ½ cup vinegar for at least an hour so they will absorb the color well.

3. In a pot bring 3 cups or water and 1 cup of vinegar to boil remove from heat, (or to do it in the microwave place 2 cups of water to ¾ cups of vinegar in a glass bowl heat on high until boiling.)

4. Dissolve the dye (color chart is above) in the boiling water completely.

5. Place one silk into the pot, stirring constantly until the silk has absorbed most of the dye from the water. The time this takes will vary by color. It is fun to watch the water go clear.

6. Remove the silk from the dye bath, and rinse with cold water until the water runs clear.

7. Wring out the excess water and hang to dry (don’t use a dryer).

8. Dump the water from the pot and repeat with your next color.

9. When the silks are dry, try ironing on the silk setting to get rid of wrinkles on the play silk.

Play Silk Care:

If your silks get played with as much as ours do, they will need to be cleaned from time to time. Soak silks in a large bowl or pot of warm water with gentle laundry detergent or baby shampoo. Swish with your hands. Rinse with cold water and hang to dry, then iron. It is best to wash colors separately as some color will bleed each time you wash them. If after multiple washes they fade too much, you can simply dye them again using the same colors as the first time. (Write down your color combinations so you can match them exactly.)