• Rit Dye(s)
• Cooking pot or other deep container
• Gloves
• Empty and cleaned 1 gallon milk jug(s)
• Funnel

Recipe:

Pour contents of preferred dye(s) into the empty milk jug.  You may just add one dye or try some dye combinations of your own.  (I will go into detail later on dying for various skin tones.)  Next you will want to carefully add some very hot water and fill most of the way up.  Replace cap and shake thoroughly.

  I usually place the equivalent of one full bottle of dye into a jug--whether it is all one color or a combination of colors and then fill the rest of the gallon jug with hot water.  This may seam a little strong, but I only have the vinyl in contact with the dyes for a very short period and as I use the dye over and over again it becomes more diluted as I replace the lost water.

 I always use a Sharpie marker and write on the jug what the mixture is in parts.  That way if you are particularly fond of the results you can recreate the exact recipe. 

Dye interior only:                                        (see cautions below)

Use the kitchen sink.  You will need to have running water and towels handy.  Put on gloves to protect hands from "staining".  Keep your cooking pot near by.

Set the head down in the sink and carefully pour the dye moisture from the jug inside the head and fill to the top.  Do a quick count to 5 and dump dye into your pot and take a peek.

!*Note: You just want a slight change to be apparent--look closely at the creases and other details. 

The dye will take to the vinyl in various times and will depend on different conditions--such as the vinyl properties itself, dye mixture temperature, temperature of the vinyl, etc. 

Also, keep in mind that the color may darken some as the vinyl sits for a few days and "cures".  It is better to stop and come back to this step later if needed.

You will continue the process of pouring the dye into the head and dumping into the pot for quick counts of 5 until you are satisfied with the desired affect--again I stress that you read the cautions..

! IMMEDIATELY: Rinse out the head in clear hot water. Then very quickly hand dry the outside of the head with a towel to avoid any "water spots" or "birthmarks".  Set right-side up on a towel covered surface to dry...

(This particular batch of dye being used is 1/2 bottle of wine, 1/2 bottle of rose pink and then a gallon of hot water.)

Use the kitchen sink.  You will need to have running water and towels handy.  Put on gloves to protect hands from "staining".

Pour the dye mixture from the jug into a container.  I use a small but deep "popcorn" tin for most of my dying.  A cheap metal cooking pot would work as well--but do not use for food afterward.

When dunking the whole head you want to cover it completely in the dye mixture and keep it moving the whole time.  Don't let it rest on the bottom or touch the sides. Do a very quick count to 5 and pull out to take a peek.

!*Note: You just want a very slight change to be apparent--look closely at the creases and other details. 

The dye will take to the vinyl in various times and will depend on different conditions--such as the vinyl properties itself, dye mixture temperature, temperature of the vinyl, etc. 

Also, keep in mind that the color may darken some as the vinyl sits for a few days and "cures".  It is better to stop and come back to this step later if needed.

You will continue to dunk the head into the dye mixture for quick counts of 5 until you are satisfied with the desired affect.  It only takes a couple of dunks and that's it!

! IMMEDIATELY: Rinse or dunk the head in clear hot water.  I used some hot soapy water to rinse this particular head--but the soap is not necessary.  Then very quickly hand dry the outside of the head with a towel to avoid any "water spots" or "birthmarks". Set right-side up on a towel covered surface to dry.

Keep your cooking pot near by, but you will be pouring the dye mixture out of the jug.  You will need the funnel for the limbs. 

For the full vinyl limbs you will need to pull the plugs out of the base of the limbs if you haven't done so already and using an exacto knife cut out the small interior section where the plug was inserted.. 

Insert the funnel into the hole in one of the limbs and then hold it while you pour the dye mixture inside.  Fill it to the top and do a very quick count to 5 and then pour the dye out and into your cooking pot or container. 

! Be careful not to get ANY on the outside of the limbs.

! *Note: You just want a slight change to be apparent--look closely at the creases and other details. 

Check the results and refill the limbs with the dye from the jug if needed and repeat the steps above.

When you are satisfied with the color immediately rinse out with hot running water.  Keep rinsing until the water comes out clear. Hand dry the exterior and place on towel.

Keep track of the length of time it took as you will want your pieces to match.  But don't forget that you will still need to check each one frequently, as different elements can change the dyes effects on the vinyl. 

Pour all of the dye mixture back into the jug and start over with the next limb. 

When completed, take each limb and squeeze and shake out as much of the water from the interior as possible.  Use hemostats or other preferred  tool and insert a cotton ball into the opening--leaving a small section hanging out of the opening.  Place back on towel--opening side down and leave to dry.  You will need to change the cotton ball the next day.  After a couple of days remove the cotton permanently and allow to dry out the rest of the way. 

! You will not be able to assemble your doll until the interior of the limbs is completely dry. 

You will be dipping the limbs into the cooking pot filled with your dye mixture. Use the gloves and hold pieces at the very top and dip into container of dye mixture.  Be careful that you don't get any inside the limbs.  You will just need to do a quick count to 5 as before and check the color--continue as necessary. 

! When you are satisfied with the color immediately rinse out with hot running water.  Keep rinsing until the water comes out clear. Hand dry the exterior and place on towel.

Keep track of the length of time it took as you will want your pieces to match.  But don't forget that you will still need to check each one frequently, as different elements can change the dyes effects on the vinyl. 

Continue with the rest of the limbs. 

When completed, take each limb and squeeze and shake out as much of the water from the interior as possible.  Use hemostats or other preferred  tool and insert a cotton ball into the opening--leaving a small section hanging out of the opening.  Place back on towel--opening side down and leave to dry.  You will need to change the cotton ball the next day.  After a couple of days remove the cotton permanently and allow to dry out the rest of the way. 

When finished with the dye use a funnel and pour mixture into jug for future use.  I always write on the outside of the jug the dye(s) and amounts of each dye used.  You will be able to reuse this mixture several times before disposing. 

Rinse your funnel and container out well and set aside to dry. 

For the full vinyl limbs you will need to pull the plugs out of the base of the limbs if you haven't done so already and using an exacto knife cut out the small interior section where the plug was inserted..  (see pictures above)

You will be using the dye mixture in the pot. You insert the limb into the dye completely covered for a quick count to 5 then pull out and dump dye back into pot--check color and repeat as necessary. 

! When you are satisfied with the color immediately rinse out with hot running water.  Keep rinsing until the water comes out clear. Hand dry the exterior and place on towel.

Keep track of the length of time it took as you will want your pieces to match.  But don't forget that you will still need to check each one frequently, as different elements can change the dyes effects on the vinyl. 

Continue with the rest of the limbs. 

When completed, take each limb and squeeze and shake out as much of the water from the interior as possible.  Use hemostats or other preferred  tool and insert a cotton ball into the opening--leaving a small section hanging out of the opening.  Place back on towel--opening side down and leave to dry.  You will need to change the cotton ball the next day.  After a couple of days remove the cotton permanently and allow to dry out the rest of the way. 

! You will not be able to assemble your doll until the interior of the limbs is completely dry. 

When finished with the dye use a funnel and pour mixture into the milk jug for future use.  I always write on the outside of the jug the dye(s) and amounts of each dye used.  You will be able to reuse this mixture several times before disposing.