Tie-Dye – Newbie’s Information

Tie-dye is a type of enjoyable and simple craft tasks anybody can have success with! In reality, the primary time I tie dyed was at a slumber get together in fifth grade (I used to be 12 years previous). And I nonetheless love tie-dye right now.

This class craft is simple to do, however you’ll have extra success with some fundamental info and a step-by-step newbie’s information.

Love tie dye? Then you might also wish to strive: Shibori Tie-Dye, Resist Dye Fundamentals, and Double Dip Dye (much like ombre).

Tie-Dye Fundamentals

The historical past of tie-dye dates again 1000’s of years, with proof of comparable methods present in numerous cultures world wide.

Nevertheless, the fashionable type of tie-dye that’s mostly related to colourful patterns and designs on clothes emerged within the Sixties through the counterculture motion in the USA. I at all times consider the Grateful Useless once I consider tie-dye. 🙂

The fundamental concept is you cowl areas of material by tying them off with rubber bands. Then, you dye the remainder of the material, presumably in a number of colours. The tied-off areas don’t get colour, since they aren’t uncovered to the dye.

There are lots of totally different patterns and variations of this fundamental method. However the primary piece of recommendation I might give to anybody who’s simply making an attempt out tie-dye for the primary time is that this: Will probably be imperfect.

Tie-dye, like many tasks, is about experimenting and having fun with the method whereas additionally at instances being stunned by the outcomes. If you need a superbly curated look, tie-dye is probably going not the best choice, because it’s meant to look messy, colourful, and enjoyable!

Basic Tie-Dye –

One you’ve gotten gathered your provides (extra on this under), tie-dye has three fundamental steps: put together your material, dye it, after which as soon as completed, wash it earlier than use.

Provides

• Dye – I like Tulip one-step dyes and the tie-dye equipment. No soda ash or presoaking required. That is actually the best choice for newbie’s IMO.
• Rubber bands
• Gloves & drop fabric to guard areas
• Clothes or gadgets to dye – white cotton is finest however different materials can work as properly. You’ll be able to tie dye so many alternative clothes like sweatshirts, T-shirts, socks, bandanas, overalls, and extra!
• Laundry detergent

Preparation

Start by washing the clothes you propose to dye. If they’re belongings you already personal and have washed earlier than, you’ll be able to skip this step. However something new or if you’re not sure (like an merchandise you thrifted), go forward and wash it as you usually would and absolutely dry earlier than dyeing.

Dye

Scrunch up your merchandise as desired after which add rubber bands. See under for patterns you’ll be able to strive.

Then, combine your dyes in line with the bundle directions (the equipment I used had me merely add water to the bottles and shake).

Cowl your space with a drop fabric to guard it from any dye spills. I additionally suggest sporting disposable gloves as you’re employed to guard your arms.

Add dye to the ready material and permit to soak for the really useful time. The dye I used steered 4-6 hours.

Wash

Earlier than throwing your tie-dye clothes within the washer, give them an excellent rinse within the bathtub or kitchen sink. I like to recommend sporting gloves once more for this step. Take away the rubber bands and rinse till the water runs clear. Then, wash them within the washer, or as you usually would.

I do know it might not appear vital, however I do assume it’s finest to scrub newly dyed gadgets separate from different clothes the primary time. Even in case you rinse it properly, the dye might wreck different clothes you aren’t desirous to dye.

Tie-Dye Patterns

Whereas I like to randomly bunch up my challenge and be stunned by the ultimate outcomes, it’s additionally actually enjoyable to create traditional tie-dye patterns. Listed below are 5 fundamental patterns to strive.

Bullseye

Pinch a bit of material of the garment. Pull the material up up to now, creating a material cone. Wrap rubber bands across the cone of material.

You’ll be able to add as many or as few rubber bands as you need. Once you go to dye, add a unique colour to every part (between the rubber bands).

Folded

Fold the garment right into a sq. or triangle, folding and condensing it down as a lot as you want. Once you go to dye add colour to the perimeters of the folds solely.

This tie-dye sample can use rubber bands or not—it’s as much as you. If you wish to add small items of cardboard within the form of the fold (a sq. or a triangle) on either side, you’ll be able to wrap the rubber bands round these earlier than dyeing.

Stripes

Lay the garment flat. Ranging from the underside or one facet, fold the shirt in a collection of small accordion-style folds. Wrap the folded shirt with rubber bands. Relying in case you begin from, a facet or prime/backside will create vertical, horizontal or diagonal traces.

Once you go to dye, add colour to every part (between rubber bands).

Sunbursts

Pinch a collection of small sections and pull them as much as create small, small cone shapes. Safe every with a few rubber bands. These form of resemble cow utters. Once you go to dye, add a colour to the small cone areas and a unique colour for the remaining.

Swirl

Pinch a small part within the heart of your garment. Twist the material round this level. Hold twisting, and the garment will develop into a disc. It assume it resembles a cinnamon roll.

Safe the shirt with three or 4 rubber bands, crisscrossing them over the middle of the disc. The tighter you bind the shirt, the extra white there might be. Once you dye, add colour to every totally different part on the disc created by the rubber bands.

Bleach Tie-Dye

Utilizing bleach to tie-dye is actually the identical method however as an alternative of including colour to a garment, we wish to take colour away (by bleaching it off).

All you want is: a coloured garment (once more, cotton is finest however different materials can work as properly), rubber bands, bleach, gloves, and a drop fabric to guard your arms and surfaces.

Fold or scrunch your garment and add rubber bands as desired. Then, fastidiously add the bleach to the complete garment or solely sections—as much as you.

It is possible for you to to see the garment change colour so that you’ll probably know when it’s prepared. I discovered that 1-2 hours is probably going sufficient, however longer can create an much more intense bleached look.

Identical to traditional tie-dye, rinse the garment (with gloves on) after which wash individually the primary time.

Ice Tie-Dye

Utilizing ice cubes to tie-dye has develop into actually widespread in the previous few years. The method is barely totally different, and in my expertise creates a softer, extra delicate tie-dye impact than traditional tie-dye.

You’ll nonetheless want a white or mild coloured garment (cotton is finest), powder tie-dye (like the equipment I used all through this put up), rubber bands, gloves, and ice cubes. I additionally assume a cooling rack is helpful.

Fold or scrunch your garment and add rubber bands. Place in your kitchen sink on prime of the cooling rack.

Then, cowl the garment in ice cubes and sprinkled with colours of powdered dye. Because the ice melts, it can dissolve the dye powders and saturates the material. Enable the ice cubes to totally soften.

Identical to traditional tie-dye, rinse with gloves on till the water runs clear. Then, wash individually the primary time, so it doesn’t stain different clothes.

Extra Craft Initiatives

In case you have extra questions on tie-dye tasks, tell us within the feedback and we are able to add to the FAQ part of this put up over time. Comfortable crafting!