The best way to Tie-Dye – Newbie’s Information

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 In truth, the primary time I tie dyed was at a slumber occasion in fifth grade (I used to be 12 years outdated).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

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

Tie-Dye Fundamentals

The historical past of tie-dye dates again hundreds of years, with proof of comparable strategies present in varied cultures around the globe.

Nonetheless, the fashionable 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 the US. I all the time consider the Grateful Useless once I consider tie-dye. 🙂

The fundamental thought 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 coloration, since they don’t seem to be uncovered to the dye.

There are various 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 need a wonderfully curated look, tie-dye is probably going not the best choice, because it’s meant to look messy, colourful, and enjoyable!

Traditional Tie-Dye – The best way to

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

Provides

• Dye – I really like Tulip one-step dyes and the tie-dye kit. No soda ash or presoaking required. That is really the best 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 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’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 beneath for patterns you’ll be able to strive.

Then, combine your dyes in keeping with 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 suggest carrying disposable gloves as you’re employed to guard your arms.

Add dye to the ready cloth and permit to soak for the beneficial time. The dye I used instructed 4-6 hours.

Wash

Earlier than throwing your tie-dye clothes within the washer, give them a great 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 essential, however I do assume it’s finest to scrub newly dyed objects separate from different clothes the primary time. Even in the event you rinse it properly, the dye may spoil different clothes you aren’t desirous to dye.

Tie-Dye Patterns

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

Bullseye

Pinch a bit of cloth of the garment. Pull the material up thus far, 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. Whenever you go to dye, add a unique coloration 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. Whenever you go to dye add coloration 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’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 the event you begin from, a facet or high/backside will create vertical, horizontal or diagonal strains.

Whenever you go to dye, add coloration 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. Whenever you go to dye, add a coloration to the small cone areas and a unique coloration for the remaining.

Swirl

Pinch a small part within the middle of your garment. Twist the material round this level. Preserve twisting, and the garment will turn 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 will likely be. Whenever you dye, add coloration to every completely 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 coloration to a garment, we want to take coloration away (by bleaching it off).

All you want is: a colored garment (once more, cotton is finest however different materials can work as properly), 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 all the garment or solely sections—as much as you.

It is possible for you to to see the garment change coloration so that you’ll seemingly 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 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 turn into actually well-liked in the previous couple of years. The method is barely completely different, and in my expertise creates a softer, extra delicate tie-dye impact than traditional 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 publish), 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 high of the cooling rack.

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

Similar 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 Tasks

When you have extra questions on tie-dye initiatives, tell us within the feedback and we will add to the FAQ part of this publish over time. Comfortable crafting!