DIY Ombre

Every where I  look the past few seasons Ombre keeps popping up from linen napkins ,to bedding to Rachel Bilsons hair..... Some of you may be thinking what the hell is Ombre...well the simple answer is Ombre is a fashionista term for shading. Ombre is the sophisticated big sister of tie dyed which means anyone can do it at home. That is exactly what I did. Drawing inspiration from a back issue of West Elm I was flipping through at the Mani Pedi place I decided to ombre dye my new white shower curtains. Here are the easy instruction,.Ombre is also a great way to re-purpose lightly stained items.
.For a 1/2 Pound of Fabric

1 1/2 cups noniodized salt
1 1/2 gallons warm water
1 1/2 teaspoons dye
1/6 cup (2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons) soda ash fixer

For 1 Pound of Fabric
3 cups noniodized salt
3 gallons warm water
1 tablespoon dye
1/3 cup soda ash fixer

3. Cover work surface and floor with drop cloths. Saturate fabric with water; wring it until no longer dripping. Smooth fabric. Decide how far dye will extend, and mark limit with straight pins on right and left sides of fabric. Divide area to be dyed into 5 even segments, and mark intervals with pins. (For specific folding and pinning instructions, see Project Variations, below.)

4. Position bin for dye solution near basin or tub. Dissolve salt in warm water in bin, according to formula. (Note: You'll want the liquid to reach a minimum depth of 4 inches.) Wearing gloves and mask (some dyes can be toxic), measure dye, and place it in a bowl. Add 1 or 2 teaspoons warm water, stirring with a nonreactive utensil to make a paste. Slowly add 1 cup warm water, and stir until dye dissolves completely and mixture forms a slurry. Add the slurry to bin, stirring until mixed. Measure soda ash fixer, and place it in second bowl; add about 2 cups hot water slowly, stirring until dissolved. (Avoid splashing, as fixer is caustic.)

5. Add the soda ash fixer mixture to the dye solution, mixing well for about 30 seconds. The solution will remain potent for about 1 hour and cannot be reused.

6. Place prepared fabric in dye solution, immersing it to the topmost pins; hold in place for 30 seconds. (The damp fabric will draw dye up, creating blurred gradations.) Raise fabric until solution's surface aligns with second set of pins; hold for 1 minute. Raise fabric to third set of pins; hold for 5 minutes. Repeat at remaining 2 pinned levels, holding for 5 minutes each.

7. Carefully transfer dyed fabric to basin or tub. Fill with cold running water, swishing gently to rinse. Drain. Repeat until liquid remains clear.

8. Machine-wash fabric in hot water with professional textile detergent. Machine- or air-dry.