How to Dye the Frost Sweater (in real life)

The table below shows the results when I test dyed the winter sweater with RitDye All Purpose and RitDyeMore Synthetic.

Instructions on how I dyed the sweater follows the table:

Dye Used	RitDye All Purpose Only	RitDye All Purpose w/ Salt Added	RitDyeMore Synthetic
Material	60% Cotton, 40% Acrylic	60% Cotton, 40% Acrylic	60% Cotton, 40% Acrylic
Before Dyeing
Method	Stove Top	Stove Top	Stove Top
Enhancer	None - Water Only	1 cup salt added	None - Water Only
Results	Faded black but with small specks of undyed acrylic.	Best color overall but with small specks of undyed acrylic.	Even dyeing with no specks of acrylic. It looked looked more like a very dark gray. Use additional dye bottles for darker color.
Pros	The cotton took the dye fine. RitDye All Purpose comes in more colors.	The cotton took the dye fine. Color is vibrant. RitDye All Purpose comes in more colors.	Even dyeing, no small specks of undyed fabric.
Cons	The color was a faded black. The acrylic did not take the dye, leaving small specks throughout.	The acrylic did not take the dye, leaving small specks throughout.	The color was not as dark as the all purpose black. Two bottles would be needed to make it darker. Less color options than RitDye All Purpose.
Final Notes	If you're going for a more faded color, this method would work. The acrylic will leave the fabric speckled, but it can be aesthetically pleasing if you like that look.	If you're looking for a vibrant color this would be best. The acrylic will leave the fabric speckled, but it can be aesthetically pleasing if you like that look.	If you want even dyeing throughout, RitDyeMore will be the best option. Use one bottle for a lighter color, two bottles for a darker color.
Dye Used	RitDye All Purpose Only	RitDye All Purpose w/ Salt Added	RitDyeMore Synthetic

HOW TO DYE:

Method: Stove Top

Materials:
RitDye All Purpose Dye 1 bottle
OR
RitDyemore Synthetic 1 bottle (2 bottles recommended)
Stainless steel pot 12 - 16 quart (large enough for the garment to move freely)
1 cup salt
1 teaspoon mild dish detergent
Metal spoon or tongs
Rubber gloves
Paper towels

Notes:
- I used the stove top method to ensure even dyeing. If using the synthetic dye, you MUST use the stove top method.
- Wear rubber gloves to avoid staining your hands. It will take a looong time to wash it off skin.
- Dyeing can get messy. Be patient and be careful to not get dye anywhere as it will be permanent. Use paper towels to clean up as you go.
- Don't use a stainless steel pot that you would use for cooking (don't end up consuming dye!). I bought a cheap one. (Quick math: 1 gallon = 4 quarts)
- Please note, RitDye's water to dye ratios are different than what I used. Please adjust and test as you see fit!

Instructions:

1. Before dyeing, pre-wash the garment in cold or warm water. I machine washed it in warm water with mild detergent, and tumbled dry low.  
2. Fill a stainless steel pot with enough water for the garment to move freely around (I used about 3 - 4 gallons).
3. Add 1 teaspoon dish detergent and 1 cup of salt to the pot. If using DyeMore Synthetic, omit the salt.  
4. Heat pot to just below boiling. When you start to see bubbles form and gently break the surface, the pot is ready. Turn the heat down if it starts boiling rapidly.  
5. Shake the bottle of dye and add it to the pot. Stir to mix. RitDye suggests to test it by using a paper towel (if it's too dark, add more water; if it's too light, add more dye).
6. Wet the garment (it helps with even dyeing), and squeeze the excess water.
7. Wear the gloves (if you have not started wearing them yet). Add the damp garment into the pot, and stir slowly and continuously for 30 minutes. The first 10 minutes are important to ensure an even dye, keep an eye on it and keep stirring and make sure there are no folds or twists in the garment. Maintain the water temperature at a simmer. If the water is too dark to tell, check the bubbles: if you see bubbles boiling rapidly and not a gentle simmer, turn the heat down.
8. After 30 minutes, remove the garment from the pot, squeeze excess dye. Fabric will look darker when it is wet.
9. Rinse with warm water until water runs clear then gradually to cold water to help set the dye. I rinsed the sweater in a stainless steel sink, make sure your sink will not stain!
10. Lay it flat and allow it to air dry. If you hang it, the weight will pull on the shoulders and stretch it a bit.
11. CLEANING: Machine wash in cold or warm water with matching or darker colors for at least the first few washings to avoid color run. Use color catch sheets to help with excess dye running.

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