Playsilks are such awesome open-ended toys! They are robber's masks and head scarves and capes and picnic blankets and anything else your child (or inner child) can imagine! When you use Kool-aid to dye the scarves, it's a kid-friendly activity- perfect for a rainy day! Using the squirt bottles helps to direct the dye right where you want it to go. Allow the kids to help in all steps of this activity (except the oven part of course!!) Supplies:
Silk scarf blanks (any size) - you can get these at Dharma Trading.com or other such places.
saran wrap or glad wrap (must be brand name)
baking dish and foil
kool aid in various colors
vinegar
squeeze bottles (these are Wilton's brand and were found at Walmart for approx $1 apiece)
vinyl gloves
Step 1:
Wash your silks with a mild soap and rinse thoroughly
Allow them to soak 2 hours to overnight in a pot of water with 1/2 c vinegar added.

Preheat your oven to 200 degrees.

Make up your dyes. In a squeeze bottle, add 2 tbsp vinegar. Next add 2 packets kool aid in desired colors. Finally add warm water to fill. Put lid back on and shake to mix. Step 2:
Set up your dyeing area. I use a plastic shower curtain liner to cover my dyeing area. It works remarkably well and cost $1 at the $ store! I used 36 x 36 inch scarves. For these, I cut my Saran wrap in approx 12 inche lengths. For bigger silks, you will need longer lengths of Saran wrap.

Wring out (do not dry! you want them a little wet) and fold your scarves. Fold them any way you want- the different folds will result in different color patterns. The only requirement is that they need to fit on the Saran wrap. Allow a minimum of 2 inches on each side of the Saran Wrap. Put the folded scarves on the Saran Wrap. Step 3:
Now, use the squeeze bottles to put the dye on. It will bleed, so use colors that will mix well. I like to use primaries so they will mix and you can get purple from blue and red and etc.... Make different patterns and stripes. Use your hands to sort of pat the dye into the silks. Use enough dye to get the colors all they way through, but not too much. You don't want puddles everywhere- that will make your colors muddy.

If you like, when you are done with one side, you can flip it over and repeat the colors on the other side to make sure they get all the way in, but that is not always necessary. Step 4:
When you are done adding colors, fold the long edges of the Saran Wrap in toward the center. They don't have to touch. Now fold up one of the short ends, and then roll the Saran wrap and scarf toward the other end. Secure the end with tape, so it looks like a little jelly roll! Step 5:
In your baking dish, pour about 1/2 inch of water. Put in your jelly rolls, with the tape side up (so the dye won't spill out) and cover tightly with aluminum foil. Put the baking dish in the oven for about 1 hour. Do not open the foil, as it will let the steam out, and the steam is what is setting the colors. Step 6:
After 1 hour, pull the baking dish out and allow to cool. When cool, take the silks out of their plastic wrap and rinse them with cool water. Do this one at a time, so if there is any dye left, it won't splash onto other silks. Step 7:
Rinse the silks until the water runs clear, then wring out and hang to dry. Silks are very thin, so they only take a couple hours to dry. If desired- after they are dry, iron on the silk setting to remove wrinkles. Enjoy your new silks! They can be head scarves and neck scarves, or robber masks or for dancing or as skirts.... there are so many possibilities!