Learn how to Tie-Dye – Newbie’s Information

Tie-dye is a kind of enjoyable and simple craft initiatives anybody can have success with! In reality, the primary time I tie dyed was at a slumber occasion in fifth grade (I used to be 12 years outdated).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 this time.

This class craft is straightforward 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 attempt: Shibori Tie-Dye, Resist Dye Fundamentals, and Learn how 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 numerous cultures world wide.

Nonetheless, the fashionable type of tie-dye that’s mostly related to colourful patterns and designs on clothes emerged within the Nineteen 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 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 shade, since they don’t seem to be uncovered to the dye.

There are lots of totally different patterns and variations of this primary approach. However the primary piece of recommendation I’d 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 stunned by the outcomes. If you’d like a wonderfully curated look, tie-dye is probably going not the most suitable choice, because it’s meant to look messy, colourful, and enjoyable!

Traditional Tie-Dye – Learn how to

One you’ve gathered your provides (extra on this under), 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 actually the most suitable choice for newbie’s IMO.
• Rubber bands
• Gloves & drop material to guard areas
• Clothes or gadgets to dye – white cotton is greatest 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 intend to dye. If they’re stuff 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 totally dry earlier than dyeing.

Dye

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

Then, combine your dyes in keeping with the bundle 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 cloth and permit to soak for the really helpful time. The dye I used steered 4-6 hours.

Wash

Earlier than throwing your tie-dye clothes within the washer, give them a superb 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 obligatory, however I do suppose it’s greatest to clean newly dyed gadgets separate from different clothes the primary time. Even in the event you rinse it nicely, the dye might break different clothes you aren’t eager to dye.

Tie-Dye Patterns

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

Bullseye

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

You may add as many or as few rubber bands as you need. While you go to dye, add a distinct shade 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. While you go to dye add shade 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 all sides, you possibly can wrap the rubber bands round these earlier than dyeing.

Stripes

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

While you go to dye, add shade to every part (between rubber bands).

Sunbursts

Pinch a sequence 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. While you go to dye, add a shade to the small cone areas and a distinct shade 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 change into a disc. It suppose 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. While you dye, add shade 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 approach however as an alternative of including shade to a garment, we want to take shade away (by bleaching it off).

All you want is: a colored garment (once more, cotton is greatest 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 all the garment or solely sections—as much as you.

It is possible for you to to see the garment change shade 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 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 change into actually widespread in the previous couple of years. The method is barely totally different, and in my expertise creates a softer, extra delicate tie-dye impact than basic tie-dye.

You’ll nonetheless want a white or light colored garment (cotton is greatest), powder tie-dye (like the kit I used all through this publish), rubber bands, gloves, and ice cubes. I additionally suppose 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 can dissolve the dye powders and saturates the material. Permit the ice cubes to completely soften.

Identical 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

If in case 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. Completely satisfied crafting!