Methods to Tie-Dye – Newbie’s Information

Tie-dye is a type of enjoyable and simple craft initiatives anybody can have success with! In actual fact, the primary time I tie dyed was at a slumber social gathering in fifth grade (I used to be 12 years previous). And I nonetheless love tie-dye at the moment.

This class craft is simple to do, however you’ll have extra success with some primary 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 Methods to Double Dip Dye (just like ombre).

Tie-Dye Fundamentals

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

Nonetheless, the trendy type of tie-dye that’s mostly related to colourful patterns and designs on clothes emerged within the Sixties throughout the counterculture motion in america. I all the time consider the Grateful Lifeless once I consider tie-dye. 🙂

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

There are a lot of completely different patterns and variations of this primary method. However the primary piece of recommendation I might give to anybody who’s simply attempting out tie-dye for the primary time is that this: Will probably be imperfect.

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

Basic Tie-Dye – Methods to

One you have got gathered your provides (extra on this under), tie-dye has three primary steps: put together your material, dye it, after which as soon as accomplished, wash it earlier than use.

Provides

• Dye – I like Tulip one-step dyes and the tie-dye kit. No soda ash or presoaking required. That is really the most suitable choice for newbie’s IMO.
• Rubber bands
• Gloves & drop material to guard areas
• Clothes or objects to dye – white cotton is finest however different materials can work as nicely. You may tie dye so many various 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 possibly can skip this step. However something new or in case you are uncertain (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 possibly can strive.

Then, combine your dyes based on the package deal directions (the kit I used had me merely add water to the bottles and shake).

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

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

Wash

Earlier than throwing your tie-dye clothes within the washer, give them rinse within the bathtub or kitchen sink. I like to recommend carrying 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 crucial, however I do assume it’s finest to scrub newly dyed objects separate from different clothes the primary time. Even when you rinse it nicely, the dye might smash different clothes you aren’t desirous to dye.

Tie-Dye Patterns

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

Bullseye

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

You may add as many or as few rubber bands as you need. If you go to dye, add a special 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. If you go to dye add colour to the sides 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 possibly can 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 when you begin from, a facet or prime/backside will create vertical, horizontal or diagonal strains.

If 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. If you go to dye, add a colour to the small cone areas and a special colour for the remainder.

Swirl

Pinch a small part within the middle of your garment. Twist the material round this level. Preserve twisting, and the garment will turn out to be 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. If you dye, add colour to every completely different part on the disc created by the rubber bands.

Bleach Tie-Dye

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

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

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

It is possible for you to to see the garment change colour so that you’ll possible 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.

Similar to basic 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 turn out to be actually widespread in the previous couple of years. The method is barely completely different, and in my expertise creates a softer, extra refined tie-dye impact than basic tie-dye.

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

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 would dissolve the dye powders and saturates the material. Permit the ice cubes to completely soften.

Similar to basic 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

When you’ve got extra questions on tie-dye initiatives, tell us within the feedback and we will add to the FAQ part of this put up over time. Blissful crafting!