Make Your Own Waldorf Play Silks ~ A Tutorial Using Kool-Aid!
on Jun 21, 2019, Updated Mar 28, 2023
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If you’re looking for reasonably priced Waldorf toys, how about making your own DIY Waldorf Play Silks! They aren’t hard to make and your kids will love these Waldorf rainbow play silks. So get your crafty on and make your own Waldorf toys instead of buying them!
Homemade Play Silks Make Beautiful & Inexpensive Waldorf Toys
If you’ve ever looking online for waldorf toys, you know that they are expensive! We love high quality toys a lot, but not the big price-tag that goes We all got together on a rainy spring day and worked together to craft the most beautiful play silks. These silks were used in my house for years and we still have some!
How to make your Waldorf play silks
First, you will need to source silk. Our group found a killer deal for bulk silk on-line. I highly recommend that you go in with a group to keep the cost down. We got our silk from Dharma Trading Company for a reasonable price. You’ll need to 10 yards of silk per scarf so it doesn’t take that many people to end up with a bulk order.
Once your silk arrives, cut to the right size. Again, you’ll need 1 yard of silk per scarf, so measure and cut the bolt into 1 yard pieces. Please note, we did NOT hem the edges of the silk. We just cut it and kept on going. It probably goes without saying that an adult should cut the silk, but just in case, it’s probably a good idea that young children do not do this step. 🙂
How to make the Kool-Aid Dye
- Mix 3 packets Kool-Aid with
- 2 cups hot water
- 2 cups vinegar
The color should be pretty and vibrant. Then, line up bowls of color and start soaking! You’ll want to soak the silks in the dye/vinegar mix for at least 2 minutes, but probably more like 5 minutes. You’ll want to do this on a covered table or even outside to avoid getting kool-aid dye all over the place. If your kids are little, you’ll probably want an adult to supervise.
Want to make rainbow Waldorf play silks?
Make Your Own Waldorf Play Silks ~ A Tutorial Using Kool-Aid!
Lovely DIY Waldorf Play Silks for a fraction of the cost to buy.
Materials
- 1 yard silk
- 3 packets of kool-aid
- 2 cups vinegar
- 2 cups hot water
Tools
- bowls, silk, spoon, sink, line to dry
Instructions
- Cut silk into 10 yard pieces
- Mix 3 cups vinegar with hot water to cover and soak for 10 minutes.
- Mix kool-aid, vinegar, and water well in a large bowl.
- Soak silk in the kool-aid mixture for at least 2 minutes.
- Rinse until the water runs clear.
- Hang on a line to dry.
- Wash cold at home (alone to prevent colors from bleeding on any clothing).
- Line dry.
- Enjoy!
Want more Waldorf homeschooling inspiration? Read these posts:
How to Host a Waldorf Solstice Spiral
How to Make a Waldorf Wheat Grass Basket to Welcome Spring
If you make your own DIY Waldof Play Silks or Rainbow Waldorf Play Silks, let me know how it turns out!
Michelle, I love your blog! We are going to do this! Where did you get the silk? Because I know you did not pay the $10 a yard that JoAnn Fabrics wants for it.
Thanks for post!could you’re write instructions from board?I’m having trouble seeing exact measurements of step 3 and 4. Did you hem edges for raveling?
Hi Justine, Thanks for your comment. I edited the post to make the instructions more clear. They were written out in the post, but I bolded them so hopefully you can see them better now. I did not hem the edges and they did not fray much at all.
Oops, never mind. I saw it on Melanie's blog. (Love your blog too, Melanie.) Your Waldorf Homeschool group sometimes makes me wish I lived close enough to have fun with all of you!
So cool! I think I'm leaning towards Waldorf homeschooling…wish I lived closer to your group!
It's a great group. We have a lot of fun. Larae, glad you found the link. Melanie bought an entire bolt of silk which made it much cheaper for us – around $3 a yd I think. A lot of people went together for the purchase. Actually, she got 2 bolts!
I like the Waldorf philosophy for younger kids a lot. I think we are going with a little more formal academic work for A next year (2nd) grade.
I loved reading this. Your photographs are beautiful! Thank you for being a part of our group.
As far as Waldorf education goes, there are curriculae available for more formal work. I use Oak Meadow and Live Ed! But really, I figure if you're homeschooling your children will grow up awesome no matter what curriculum you use.
Did you hem the edges of the silk? Where did you purchase it? I’m also wishing I lived near you to join your group!
Hi Frieda, We did not hem the edges of the silk. I’m not sure where it came from as my friend was in charge of the ordering. I’ll ask her and comment again! 🙂
Hi,
I would like to know if these were natural dyes? I bought some but it asks for using alum and cream of tartar 🙁
no vinegar..
Well, it was Kool-aid. So not very natural at all. 😀
Thanks for this! How did you finish the edges of the cut silk to keep it from fraying? That’s the part I’m struggling with.
We didn’t actually do anything to prevent fraying and they honestly didn’t fray too badly. We’ve been playing with the same silks for many years now and they are still pretty good. Good luck to you!
I’m a bit confused it takes 10 yards (as in 30 feet) of fabric to make 1 silk?! I haven’t seen any sills this size and I’m a bit confused on how the kids would be able to play with a silk that size. Please advise if I’m interpreting this correctly and give the dimensions of you finished product. Thanks!
Yeah, 30 feet is not right! The finished silks are 3 feet long! So, It’s off by a factor of 10. I will correct!
Hi,
I would love to try to make a rainbow color play silk for my kiddos.
Which silk did you use?
There are so many and I have no idea….
I am going to try this! Quick question first- once the silks have been dyed, rinsed and dried, do they bleed if they get wet again? Thanks!
Hi Lisa, After it’s been dyed, rinsed, and line dried, you will want to machine wash and dry it alone to set the color. Then you should be good! 🙂
Could you link the actual 100% silk you bought? There’s so many choices on the Website you linked. Thank you!!
What kind of silk did you use?
100% silk. I think I linked to it in the post. 🙂
Hi there,
Just jumping in the discussion to say that when we click on the link for the fabric silk. There are many options like silk gauze, raw silk, etc. And just wondering the one you chose? I wouldnt want to order a silk that feels heavy like the raw silk. Thank you
Hi there love your group and all your great ideas you share thanks so much I have 8 grandkids and would like to make them for Easter but there is so many silk at the site I know it was 100% silk but do you know witch one thank you so much for your time
Hi, silk looks great. Im gonna try it…but just a quick question, is kool aid the punch drink in a sachet or sth else?
I cant see anything called kool aid dye an uk amazon
Hi! Yes, it’s a drink powder, not a dye. 🙂 Here’s a link so you can see: https://www.koolaid.com/en/products/powders Good luck!