RIT Dyed Clothespins How To
Learn how to easily make RIT dyed clothespins with this Simple DIY. Plus ideas for how to use your colorful clothespins to organize and in home decor.
Clothespins have been a staple of the home forever. Their function and usefulness goes way beyond hanging laundry on the clothesline. I’ve found they can be just as handy in my home decor. I like to enjoy them in all kinds of colors that coordinate with my home. Here’s a great way to create your own colors of clothespins, so you can use them for everything from chip clips to hanging printables! For an easy, fun and useful project to do by yourself or with your kids, here’s a RIT Dyed Clothespin How To.
RIT Dyed Clothespins How To
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Materials Needed:
Old plastic pail (like an ice cream gallon bucket)
Paint stir stick
Paper grocery bags for drying
First, Find some Wood Clothespins
Wood clothespins are getting harder to find, now that everything is going plastic. Sometimes I have luck finding them at estate sales and church sales, but you need to make sure they’re not stinky or mildewy. Do the sniff test before buying, or just purchase online. I do think the older versions soak up the color better, though.
Dissolve RIT Dye in a Plastic Bucket
To get started, you’ll need a plastic bucket (I use an ice cream bucket), a package of RIT dye in your desired color (powder or liquid), about 2 dozen wood clothespins, brown kraft grocery bag, paint stirrer or metal spoon.
This dye can stain, so be careful where you’re mixing it up! Fill a plastic bucket 1/2 to 2/3 full of hot water from the tap and dissolve the package of RIT into it, stirring to dissolve granules. Place clothespins in, pushing them down. You’ll need to stir them every so often to equalize the color. I just leave the bucket out in the grass for several hours & stir as I’m going about my day. When the color gets to your desired shade, drain the water and dry clothespins on a brown kraft grocery bag (cut open). If you dry them in the sun, it will bake the color in nicely.
Rit dye comes in so many colors, you can choose whatever color works into your decorating scheme!
How to Use RIT Dyed Clothespins for Crafts and Organization
For organization I use the colorful clothespins on all my snack bags, baking items, etc. Call me weird, but I don’t like the feel of metal or plastic clips. These classic clothespins feel homespun;)
RIT Dyed Clothespins are also handy for decorating. I used them to hang all types of memory items for Happy Girl’s grad party {see “Junk Beautiful Photo and Memory Displays”}. You can color coordinate your clothespins to your decorating scheme. They work great in combination with a vintage bedspring!
For fun, they can be used to make quick and easy garland or pennants for a party. Grab some ribbon, some rope or twine, some paper, quilt squares, bandanas etc. The clothespins keep each piece perfectly in place.
Keep Your RIT Dyed Clothespins Handy & Accessible
These colorful workhorses should be kept handy, because you’ll want to use them often. If you store them in clear canning jars, you’ll have a mini art display as well!
RIT-dyed clothespins are an easy project to make for yourself and with kids. They can be used for craft projects, home organization and home decor. Once you get started, you’ll want a whole rainbow-full! Hope you enjoyed this RIT Dyed Clothespins How To.
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How long do they take to dry?
Um, maybe an hour on each side in the hot sun? Good luck!
Love these! I do have a question: /Once dried, can you use them to hang wet/damp clothing or will the color bleed onto the garment? Thanks! -Christy
Good question, Christy, but I honestly don’t know because I never use a clothesline! Maybe try on a junky towel 1st? It was suggested in one of the other comments that you could soak them in vinegar after?? I only use them decoratively & for chip/food bags.
What a great & festive idea!
Thanks, Laura!
Very cute idea! Love the colors of the clothes pins.
Thanks, Carol! RIT has so many fun colors now, I want jars of them in every color of the rainbow!
Hi Lora, I just think your clothespins are the cutest and they will be featured at SYC later today.
hugs,
Jann
Awesome, Jann! Thanks!
The cleverest and simplest idea. Why have I not thought of it? lol! I love how they look in the bottles!! It’s a must do for me. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Wonderful, Jann! I was just thinking I need to whip up a new colored batch!
I honestly use them for everything but drying clothes on the line, Tania! Christmas cards clipped onto a bedspring or even on a rustic rope is a great use of them also!
I use the wood clothes pins for snack bags also. I have had them for years and didn’t realize they are getting scarce. I did see small ones in the craft section at Walmart. Maybe I should start buying them when I see them. They look so pretty in the jars.
Have you dyed yours, Debra? I’ve seen those mini ones too, but haven’t dyed any. They would be fun for crafting & parties!
I put my clothespins in vinegar after the dying process to set the color so they don’t bleed onto anything if they get wet. Sometimes a light coat of spray poly is also part of my regimen.
Good to know. I haven’t taken that step & haven’t had any bleed issues, but if using on something really valuable, might be a good idea. Guess most of my stuff is junky;)