To make one 18″ square cushion we recommend using 3/4 yard of velvet and keep in mind your 100% cotton velvet should be light in colour, to get the most out of the dye! Use the following steps to optimize your final product:

1. Pre-wash the fabric to remove any finishing, hang to dry.
2. Cut a 20″ high strip across the width of the fabric, the remainder is your test piece.
3. Carefully mix the dyes as per the instructions in the squeeze bottle. Wear gloves while doing this step, and consider mixing them in a stainless steel sink, large stainless steel saucepan, bucket or plastic bin.
4. Protect your surface with a plastic dropcloth, and follow the steps below with your test fabric first, so you can figure out how best to make the process and pattern work for you before you move onto your actual cushion fabric.
5. Briefly soak the fabric in warm water, wring out until damp.
6. On your protected surface, fold the fabric in half, velvet side out and then slowly scrunch your fabric to make it as wrinkled as possible.
7. Using lots of elastic bands, secure the fabric into a flat wrinkled bundle
8. Set the fabric on top of a stainless steel drying rack on your protected surface. Wearing gloves, start to squirt the dye across the surface, soaking each area bit by bit with different colours, but leaving some white in between.
9. Once you’re finished on one side, flip over and repeat the process on the reverse side.
10. Once both sides are as colourful as you’d like, allow the bundle to sit for 15 minutes.
11. Next, while wearing gloves carefully unwrap the bundle, carefully shake it out and hang to dry.
12. Your fabric should still be damp, and not wet. If your fabric is too wet, please cover any floor surfaces while the fabric dries above.
13. Once completely dry, iron both sides thoroughly on a dry ‘low cotton’ iron setting, 3-5 minutes per side. Or, put the fabric in the dryer and run on high heat for 20 minutes.
14. Next, choose your favourite part of the design and cut out the 18″ square. The remainder will be used to create the envelope back of the cushion (simple sewing skill), or you can sew in a zipper (advanced sewing skill).