Find out how to Tie-Dye – Newbie’s Information

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

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 need to attempt: Shibori Tie-Dye, Resist Dye Fundamentals, and Find out how to 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 strategies present in varied cultures all over the world.

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

The fundamental 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 don’t seem to be 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 attempting out tie-dye for the primary time is that this: It is going to 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’d like 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 – Find out how to

One you will have gathered your provides (extra on this under), tie-dye has three fundamental steps: put together your cloth, dye it, after which as soon as achieved, 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 material to guard areas
• Clothes or gadgets to dye – white cotton is finest however different materials can work as properly. You may 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 stuff you already personal and have washed earlier than, you may 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 totally dry earlier than dyeing.

Dye

Scrunch up your merchandise as desired after which add rubber bands. See under for patterns you may attempt.

Then, combine your dyes in accordance with the bundle directions (the equipment 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 suggest carrying disposable gloves as you’re employed to guard your palms.

Add dye to the ready cloth and permit to soak for the beneficial time. The dye I used prompt 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 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 could not appear mandatory, however I do assume it’s finest to scrub newly dyed gadgets separate from different clothes the primary time. Even for those who rinse it properly, the dye might break different clothes you aren’t eager 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 here are 5 fundamental patterns to attempt.

Bullseye

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

You may add as many or as few rubber bands as you need. Once 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. Once 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 both sides, you may 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 for those who begin from, a facet or high/backside will create vertical, horizontal or diagonal strains.

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 type of resemble cow utters. Once you go to dye, add a colour to the small cone areas and a special colour for the remaining.

Swirl

Pinch a small part within the heart of your garment. Twist the material round this level. Preserve twisting, and the garment will grow 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. 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 basically the identical method however as a substitute of including colour to a garment, we need 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 material to guard your palms and surfaces.

Fold or scrunch your garment and add rubber bands as desired. Then, fastidiously add the bleach to the whole 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.

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 grow to be actually common in the previous few years. The method is barely totally different, and in my expertise creates a softer, extra refined tie-dye impact than basic tie-dye.

You’ll nonetheless want a white or mild coloured garment (cotton is finest), powder tie-dye (just 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 high of the cooling rack.

Then, cowl the garment in ice cubes and sprinkled with colours of powdered dye. Because the ice melts, it should dissolve the dye powders and saturates the material. Enable 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 have extra questions on tie-dye initiatives, tell us within the feedback and we are able to add to the FAQ part of this put up over time. Glad crafting!