How to dye the tie?

The art of tie-dye. The tie is just what it sounds like when you fold an item into a pattern and use string or garters to hold it in place. Dye in simplest terms is applying various colors to the surface of a fabric. It can be a shirt, pants, hat or any other fabric suitable for the adherence of dyes. Combine these two together and you have tie dye. This art form is quite inexpensive and the payoff can be quite impressive.

The fabrics to be used are a large part of the tie dye process. Dyes do not adhere to all types of fabrics. You should start with a woven fabric that is 70-80% cellulose (cellulose is the structural component of the primary cell wall of green plants), these can include cotton, rayon, linen, and some people have even used hemp .

This may sound strange considering you are about to dye your garment, but it is a good idea to wash a new garment first before beginning the tie dye process. This helps shrink the items and remove any oil that may interfere with the process.

Now comes the first part of the creative process of tying the fabric. The art is not about getting the die to spread evenly over the fabric. This allows some parts of the fabric to remain white or a lighter shade. There are many ways to tie fabric, including squares, pleats, stripes, and even a peace sign. Or you can let your imagination run wild and see what you can create on your own. This is the fun part.

Here comes the messy part mixing and applying the dye. Make sure to do this in a place that allows accidents. You don’t want to die your cute carpet or your pet! Mixing proportions will vary as much as possible to read the manufacturer’s recommendations. Make sure you buy fiber reactive dyes, the dye from the supermarket will give you an unfavorable result and a mess. Be sure to wear eye protection and rubber gloves when applying the dyes.

Before starting the dyeing process, be sure to soak each garment in a sodium carbonate mixture. This helps with the application of the dyes and keeps the fabric moist. The mixture is about one cup of soda ash to one gallon of fresh water, make sure the sodium is completely dissolved before soaking. Soak times can vary, but 20 minutes to an hour is a good rule of thumb.

Now the part we’ve been waiting for is the time to get colorful. You can apply the dies in different ways, some use brushes and others choose spray bottles. Experiment and see what works best for you. Remember to always wear hand and face protection when working with any type of chemical. After you’ve made your masterpiece, let it sit for 8-24 hours.

The last step is to wash the finished garment. Make sure to do this carefully and use only cold water. Don’t throw your new creation into the washing machine with your other clothes until you are sure they won’t bleed. As before, if washing by hand, be sure to wear hand and face protection.

Tie dyeing can be fun for all ages.