Here at Cottage Hill we love Christmas parties. From quiet dinner parties with friends and family to formal affairs we just can't help but get butterflies! So today we are pairing up with Silver Cup Artist Leah of Watson and Payne and Gibson Events to share how we can show our gratitude to all those amazing hostesses out there. A basket full of thoughtful treats for your hostess to enjoy after the party such as a bottle of wine and fresh flowers is pretty perfect but add a naturally hand dyed throw blanket and we are swooning! Read on for the full tutorial for hand dying a throw and basket suggestions for the hostess of your next Christmas party!

Supplies :

2 large pots

Vinegar

Yellow or red onion skins

Natural fabric

Preparation :

1. Go to your local fabric store and pick out your favorite natural fabric – stick to cotton fabric as synthetic fabrics will not hold the dye.

2. Place your fabric in a large pot and fill it with water and vinegar using a 4:1 ratio until the fabric is completely covered.

3. Bring water and vinegar mix to a boil. Then simmer for 1 hour. ‘

4. Remove fabric from the pot and rinse with cold water. Once completely rinsed the fabric is now ready to be dyed!

Instructions :

1. Go to your local grocery store and choose your natural dye product. You can use anything from strawberries and blackberries to beets and cabbage! For this experiment we chose to use onion skins.

2. Place your natural dye product and fabric in a pot and fill it with enough water to cover the fabric. Bring the water to a boil then simmer for one hour.

3. After 1 hour, check your fabric. If you like the color then go ahead and take it out of the water. If you want a deeper, darker color then leave it in for longer. Make sure to keep checking on it until it’s the color you desire!

4. Take the fabric out of the pot and rinse it under cold water to wash out any extra dye.

5. Wash your newly dyed fabric in your washer on COLD cycle, then dry on low.

Baskets assembly :

Try putting together a basket of thoughtful items your hostess would love to relax to after their party such as wine, chocolates, a hand poured candle, coffee beans from a local roaster, artisan marshmallows and drinking chocolate, and fresh flowers. Try simply adorning the items and hand dyed throw blanket with a silk ribbon and adding them to a basket that your hostess can reuse. To add a personal touch handwrite a thank you note to attach to the basket! Enjoy!