Having heard a lot about dyeing with silk ties, I decided it was time to try it.
Ties need to be 100% silk, so labels need to be checked. Thrift stores are a great place to find these reasonably priced. Although there are a few different methods, I used the one outlined in the Quilting Arts magazine (October-November 2010) , and this method is also detailed in the Bloom Bake Create blog. (Bloombakecreate.com)
Using a piece of cotton as a base, you first lay down your silk scarf. Then cut the ties in pieces and lay them onto your silk scarf, filling half of the scarf. Fold the other half of the scarf over the first half. I found that when using this method, the ties tend to shift when you roll it up, so I decided to spray the scarf with water and vinegar to hold them in place. I then folded the scarf in 2-3 inch sections instead of rolling it. When you are close to the end, roll it and then tie it with ribbon. Once the scarf is tied tightly every couple of inches, you "cook" it in a pot filled with water and about 3 TBSP to 1 cup of vinegar. Let it boil at a rolling boil for 20 minutes. Rinse in cold water and undo your package to see the results.
I also used the ties to overdye a scarf found at a thrift store and a scarf I had dyed green. This certainly adds interest to an otherwise plain scarf.
