100% white socks
Nontoxic fabric dye such as Rit®
Salt (if your dye instructions require it)
Elastics (various widths of thick and thin work best if you can find them.)
Plastic cups for each colour dye you’re using (large enough to submerge your socks in if you’re using only one colour)
Plastic sheets or garbage bags to protect your work surface
Rubber or plastic gloves to protect your hands
Bounty® paper towels to clean up spills and blot between "dips"
Pennies or buttons (optional)
Plastic bags
Prepare your work surface so it’s covered in plastic and paper towels are close at hand.
Mix the dye solution according to package directions. Use a separate cup for each colour.
Begin crumpling, folding, bunching, or twisting the socks into various designs, and bind each section tightly with an elastic. Alternating thick and thin elastics will give you more interesting patterns. Placing three or four elastics about 1 cm apart will produce stripes. For small circles, bunch pennies or buttons into the fabric and bind them tightly with an elastic. Dye will not penetrate bound areas of the fabric, so the more areas you "tie," the more intricate your design will be.
Once you’re satisfied with your design, put on your gloves and begin dyeing your socks. If you’re using only one colour, immerse both socks in the dye solution. Leave the socks in the dye solution about 20 to 30 minutes, depending on how dark you want the socks. Stir them occasionally with the plastic spoon. Remember that the colour will lighten when washed, so if you want a deep, dark colour, don’t be afraid to leave the socks in longer. Once the socks are dark enough, rinse them under cool water, squeezing them until the water runs clear.
If you’re working with more than one colour, use small plastic cups (or eye droppers or squeeze bottles) to slowly pour the dye solution directly on the fabric. Start with the lightest colour and end with the darkest. Work directly over the container in which you mixed that colour so the extra dye solution spills back into it. Squeeze out the sock after each application of the colour. Continue pouring the dye solution onto that section until the colour is as dark as you want it. Rinse the section with cool water until the water runs clear. Then blot the section with a paper towel.
If you don’t want two colours to bleed together, cover the dyed sections with a plastic bag bound with a rubber band. Move on to the next section and colour. Repeat this process until you’ve covered the entire sock with colour. Do the same for the other sock.
When you’re finished dyeing the socks, squeeze out any moisture still left in the socks to prevent colours from bleeding or dripping into each other. Remove the elastics and lay out the socks to dry (or hang them up, if you prefer). Let the socks dry overnight.
When the socks are completely dry, wash them separately in cold water, or follow the washing instructions suggested by the dye manufacturer.
