It's no secret that Chevrons & zig-zags are popular. They can be described as "restrained chaos" and are both classical and fresh. We've featured a DIY tutorial in the past, but this time around I've found one that involves Rit Dye…and you know how much I like to get messy, huzzah!
Sarah over at Leaf House took on this bold and daring project by first taping off the pattern with painter's tape. Each section was then sprayed with dye and blotted with towels (lots of towels) to help ensure even coverage. We think it looks great and cost a small fraction of what one from a retail establishment would be.
This idea would work out splendidly on those short pile rugs, or even wool and natural fiber rugs that you so often find on Craigslist. To get the full step by step scoop on how this rug was made, hop on over to Leaf House | Hand Dyed Chevron Rug Tutorial to see how it's done!
Thanks Sarah!
Via: Censational Girl
Image: Leaf House
Before & After: Emily Henderson Transforms a Senior's Studio Space
Danielle's Charming, Classic Walk-Up
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
White Enamel Four-P...
On Saying No to Paleo: Why Eating Isn't One Size Fits All
Perfect Summer Cocktail Recipe: Honey Bourbon Lemonade
Cute, but use a decent dye. RIT sucks. I love procion dyes for cotton. Also, give consideration to the fiber type of material and select the proper dye for the fiber. Making sure the dye is properly set is important too or a spill might ruin more than just the rug. If possible, do a test patch first to see how the dye will take.
tried a diy tutorial involving spraying a rug with dye from a post a few months back. NOT RECOMMENDED!
tried numerous spray bottles and types of dye and it kept getting clogged in the spray nozzle. turned out to be extremely messy, ruined the rug and wasted money.
this is genius. i painted a black rug with white chevron stripes but now it feels painted and it took three coats to cover the black. plus, a black rug always looks dirty. dumb. i would do it like this for sure next time. love it. maybe I'd replace the spray bottle with just a sponge though.
huh. never thought of it. kinda cool. wouldnt try it on an expensive rug, but for a remnant it's bloody brilliant!
Yes, I think for a remnant, and modified with a sponge rather than a spray bottle, this could really go well. When I think of the possibilities... This could even be used to effect the look of a herringbone rug, with the right amount of patience.
Make sure you're using a natural fiber to do it, though, too.
Polyester is dyed before it's turned into carpet or thread or fabric, and cannot take color. Dye just sits on top of it and can't soak in.
One of my friends mothers used to do this with furniture!
Is it really possible to dye a wool rug without needing to "cook" it afterward to set the dye? I have a large ugly wool hand-me-down that could use a facelift- but at 8x10, a "cook set" is out of the question..