📋 Get the Wedding Quick Start Guide!

Sponsored Content

DIY Project: Dip-Dyed Ombré Table Linens by Stockroom Vintage

When you shop via links on our site, we may earn a small commission if you make a purchase. Learn more.
DIY Project: Dip-Dyed Ombré Table Linens by Stockroom Vintage
elizabeth ulrich
DIY Dip-Dyed Ombré Table Linens by Stockroom Vintage Event Rentals, Nashville, TN

Happy Holidays, lovelies! It’s Elizabeth from Stockroom Vintage event rentals here to share a holiday DIY that’s sure to make your tablescapes worthy of all sorts of ohs and ahs! It’s no secret that I’m obsessed with ombré, but I’ve found that it’s so difficult to track down gorgeous ombré fabric and table linens for the photoshoots and events I style. So I picked up a bottle of merlot-colored Rit Dye and a bolt of cream-colored utility canvas fabric at the craft store and decided to make this fabric for the rustic harvest dinner party I designed and styled for the November Epicurean + Entertaining issue of Nfocus Magazine. I love the graphic pop of color it brought to this fall tablescape–the jewel-toned hues are such an unexpected and lovely color palette for the holidays! Thanks to Nfocus Magazine and Bunchtown Weddings for sharing the images from the shoot with me!

DIY Dip-Dyed Ombré Table Linens by Stockroom Vintage Event Rentals, Nashville, TN

Here’s what you’ll need:

DIY Dip-Dyed Ombré Table Linens by Stockroom Vintage Event Rentals, Nashville, TN

How to Make Dip Dyed Linens

  1. Start by cutting your fabric to size. I cut my dinner napkins to 20 in. square and cut my table runner to fit an 8-foot table. Sew the edges if you like, but I cheated with an iron-on fabric fusing tape.
  2. Put on your rubber gloves and prepare your dye solution. I got this recipe from the Rit Dye website and was really happy with the effect: Shake liquid dye bottle and measure ½ cup liquid dye into your bucket. Add 1 cup salt and 4 cups very hot water and stir well. If water is not hot enough (140º F), heat water in the microwave beforehand.
  3. Add 2 gallons very hot tap water and a squirt of liquid detergent. Then stir well again.
  4. Now you’re ready to start dip dying your textiles. I folded my napkins in half to ensure that both the top and bottom of the fabric had the same ombré effect.
  5. Dip 1/3 of the  folded napkin into the dye for 1 minute. Gently swish it back and forth (no splashing!) to immerse all of the fabric in the dye.
  6. Pull the fabric up so that only the middle section is in the dye for 5 minutes, gently moving it back and forth again.
  7. Pull the fabric up again so that only the very end of the fabric is in the dye for 9 minutes (or until you reach the desired shade–this will be the darkest shade in your fabric).
  8. Remove the fabric from the dye and wring out excess liquid. Making sure the lightest part of the fabric is up top, rinse fabric under cool running water. Rinse until water runs clear and hang fabric to dry.
DIY Dip-Dyed Ombré Table Linens by Stockroom Vintage Event Rentals, Nashville, TN

What do you think? Will you be whipping up a few custom ombré table linens for your holiday tablescapes this season? Even if you’re not hosting a dinner party, I think this dip-dyed DIY would make for a lovely ombré effect on curtains, bedding, shower curtains–so many possibilities!


elizabeth ulrich

is the owner, curator and stylist of Stockroom Vintage, as event rental company that provides vintage props and goodies to brides, photographers, stylists and the like. When I'm not scouring estate sales and flea markets and styling my favorite finds, I'm hanging with my guys: my supportive (and handsome!) husband Will and adopted dogs, Nigel, Mumford, and Topher.