Indigo Dyed Pillow Shams

Recently I dyed my pillow shams a stunning indigo colour and in this tutorial I will show you exactly how I did it!

Indigo Dyed Pillow Shams - So Much Better With Age

Recently, I’ve shared My Master Bedroom Style with Floor Plan and today I’m going to show you how I dyed those shams I was talking about.

As long as you use a natural fabric (i.e. not polyester), you can dye almost anything!

Indigo dyed pillow shams / before picture of sham - So Much Better With Age

Indigo Dyed Pillow Shams

So I bought these beautiful pick-stitch shams in taupe along with a beautiful king-size quilt from Pottery Barn about two years ago. Then when we bought our upholstered bed it didn’t match 🙁   The shams were too close in color to the new bed and didn’t look good.

Indigo Dyed Pillow Shams / Pottery Barn bedding - So Much Better With Age

So I bought a bottle of Rit dye in Denim Blue and went to their website and chose which way I was going to dye the shams. I chose the sink method.

Indigo Dyed Pillow Shams / Rit dye - So Much Better With Age

 First, rinse/soak your fabric (shams) in hot water, wring out, and set aside.

Indigo dyed pillow shams / soaking the sham in water - So Much Better With Age

Then pour the bottle of liquid dye in the sink and fill up it about halfway with hot water.

{There are measurements on their website but honestly I just eyeballed it}

Uncrumple and add them to the dye bath.

Indigo Dyed Pillow Shams / dye in sink - So Much Better With Age

Stir back and forth and all around for about 10 minutes using kitchen tongs (that’s what I used) and dish gloves. Longer if you want a darker color.

Rinse with warm water then cold water and wring out. According to the website, you can just stick the fabric in the dryer at this point but I went a step further and put them in the washer first as I was worried that the dye would still come out.

Indigo Dyed Pillow Shams / sham in sink - So Much Better With Age

 The dye took to the fabric immediately and I think I could have either left them in the sink longer or not washed them in the washer if I wanted a darker color but I LOVE the color they turned.

Indigo dyed pillow shams / after picture of shams - So Much Better With Age

 So pretty stacked up too when not in use.

Indigo dyed pillow shams / stacked pillow shams - So Much Better With Age

What do you think?

I love the indigo color against all the neutrals and gold bees.

Indigo Dyed Pillow Shams / pillows on bed - So Much Better With Age

 And the best part that I LOVE is that the pick-stitch thread must have been a polyester blend as it didn’t take to the dye and now it really pops against the indigo blue.

Indigo dyed pillow shams / up close picture of indigo blue pillow sham - So Much Better With Age

Indigo dyed pillow shams / picture of bedroom with lamps - So Much Better With Age

Indigo dyed pillow shams / picture of bed with pillow and blanket - So Much Better With Age

 What do you think? Nice pop of color to the room, wouldn’t you say?

You might like to see:

My BEE-utiful Stencilled Wall

Bee-utiful stencilled wall - So Much Better With Age

My Master Bedroom Style

My bedroom style with floor plan - So Much Better With Age

Linking up to these parties &

A Stroll Thru Life | Between Naps on the Porch | City Farmhouse | Common Ground | Coastal Charm | Finding Silver Pennies | From My Front Porch To Yours | Glamorous, Affordable Life | Jennifer Rizzo | Mod Vintage Life | My Repurposed Life | My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia | Remodelaholic | Savvy Southern Style | The Dedicated House | The Scoop | The Shabby Nest

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8 Comments

  1. Oh my gosh Jamie!!! They came out great!! The whole room did!! I’m actually getting ready to dye a blanket indigo that I have, but my hesitation has been that it might bleed onto my other bedding (rub off) or bleed onto other colors in the wash? I think I will def. wash mine after I dye it like you did, but have you noticed any blue rubbing off your shams since you’ve washed them?

    1. HI Bre, I haven’t noticed any bleeding at all and I have a white duvet cover! Thanks for your sweet comment, I simply adore your blog!!

      I would soak it longer in the dye bath before you wash it because I noticed some of the dye did come out when I did that first wash.

      Hugs,
      Jamie

  2. Your Tip Me Tuesday link is incredible this week! In fact, my readers would love to bookmark it in their craft rooms. Did you know that if you upload this blog post into your Tip Junkie craft room using at least 2 images, 2 steps, and blog post URL then Tip Junkie readers can favorite it which instantly bookmarks it so they can find it later? {Whoohoo!} ~ Laurie {a.k.a. the Tip Junkie}
    http://www.tipjunkie.com/post/how-to-add-a-craft-room-project-on-tip-junkie/

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