As seen on my Hanukkah 2020 table…it’s the TIE-DYE RUNNER!!!!!!!
(Sorry. You know I love screaming the titles of these projects at you before diving on in.)
Okay, so…this was way too fun. And a little bit dangerous. Which made it even more fun. It was also my first-ever experience with tie-dye! (Yes, I did go to camp, thank you very much, but it was this very old-fashioned, girls-only camp in Vermont with strict rules and a uniform. We weren’t allowed to eat sugar or talk to boys or, like, slouch. So it goes without saying that tie-dye was OUT of the question.)
(Let it be known that I actually adored this camp—ADORED!!!!—and I even dutifully counted down the days every year until I got to head back to the sparkling shores of Lake Fairlee once again.)
(Lochearn Lassie FOREVER.)
Where was I.
RIGHT.
Tie-dye.
So the thing about tie-dye is, if it’s your first time trying it out, you end up going through this extreme roller coaster of high-stress, anticipatory emotions: fear, worry, regret, shame, sorrow, hunger, remorse, heartache, despair, awe, jubilation, etc.. Not necessarily in that order. But then, before you know it, you’re DONE…and you realize that the whole thing was actually very simple and straightforward all along.
It’s thrilling.
Here’s what you need to experience all of the above:
- A one-step tie-dye kit (blue is preferable for Hanukkah, but you do you)
- An inexpensive linen or cotton runner
That’s it.
Simply follow the directions in your particular kit. I highly recommend the one I’ve linked above because it comes with everything you’ll need—no vinegar or buckets of dye required. You’ll just need to tie off the fabric with the included rubber bands at various intervals, then carefully spray it with the included dye (it comes in a convenient squeezy bottle!) before leaving it to set. As you can see in the photo below, I folded my runner a few times length-wise, then folded it again, accordion-style. But there are tons of different folds you can experiment with. See here.
Oh, and for the love of all that is good and pleasant and not-covered-in-splatters-of-permanent-blue-dye in this world, WEAR THE INCLUDED GLOVES. And protect your workspace, too (I placed a towel on top of a few trash bags for double coverage). This stuff does not wash out—don’t say you weren’t warned.
After you’ve dyed the thing, let it set for 8 hours or so, and then washed and dryed it according to the instructions, you’ll have yourself a fun table decoration you can reuse year after year.
Easy.
Have I mentioned it doesn’t wash out, though? Be careful, peeps.
I hope this idea makes you super happy. And I hope it comes in handy for this year’s Hanukkah celebrations! It’s such a fun nod to 2020’s biggest trend. I just love it.
As always, let me know if you end up making your own by dropping me a line on Instagram!
Happy hanukah