How do you dye a kiddle so she looks African American?
I usually use 2/3 to one third ratio in about 2 cups of recently boiled water. For the African American Kiddles, this is 2 tablespoons of dry RIT cocoa brown dye, and 1 tablespoon of tan RIT dye (this is Paris’ recipe). I dye the heads and the bodies separately, but in the same dye bath (so their color is matching). You should be able to determine the time by looking at them. Usually it’s not more than a few seconds. Be sure to dissolve the dye completely. Sometimes it is helpful to pour it into another container before putting the doll in, so the cruddy stuff at the bottom, doesn’t make spots on the dolls. Only 2-3 Kiddles should be dyed in the same dye bath, and the water should be as close to boiling as possible (and still be able to handle it without 3rd degree burns). I make a fresh batch for every two dolls; just to be sure the color stays fresh. Remember that the color does not change much after it is dry, so it is pretty easy to see what it will look like, even while it is wet.
