A Tie Dye Process
Tie dye. What kind of associations do you think of when you see it? Whatever you think of, tie dye is timeless. It’s an art that brings a splash of color to our lives when we see and/or wear it. As a tie dye artist, I like to think I’m doing my part to brighten up the world. In this post I will write about the process.
Starting plain.
Any tie dye creation starts as a plain, usually white, piece of cloth (cotton dyes best). The cloth could be a regular t-shirt, long-sleeve shirt, pants, shoes, a bed sheet, socks… There is almost no limit really as to what you can dye. The only limit is the imagination of the artist.
Time for soda ash and folding.
Once you decide what you want to dye, the next step is to soak whatever you plan to dye in soda ash. You can purchase soda ash at craft stores, or by ordering it online. Apparently you can even bake baking soda in the oven to make soda ash, but have never done so myself.
The common ratio of the soda ash mixture is one cup of ash to one gallon of water. I have an old milk jug I mix mine is. I funnel the ash into the jug, and begin to fill it with warm water. I’ll partially fill it at first, close it up, and shake it to mix the water and ash. If you fill the jug too much, it will be more difficult to mix.
When mixing soda ash, it is ideal to wear gloves and a mask, because soda ash is toxic.
Finish filling the jug, give it a few good shakes, and look through the bottom (if it’s clear) to see if the ash has been mixed. One you do that, fill a container with the mixture (I use a car wash bucket), and put the garment in for at least thirty minutes. You want to make sure the garment is completely soaked. The purpose of soaking in soda ash is that it allows the dye to better react to the fibers.
After you soak, you want to wring the garment out. You can dye dry, but it seems dying damp provides better results. Another option is to toss what you’re going to dye into a washing machine and set it to spin cycle.
The next step is folding what you’re going to dye. This is perhaps the most difficult part to really master. How the garment is folded makes a difference in how the final design is going to look. There are a multitude of different folds, each one provides a cool design. When you fold, have some rubber bands to hold the shape of the fold.
There is no set, or best way to dye. It’s always a good idea to experiment with dying dry and damp, and working on folds to see what works best with you.
Mixing dyes.
The next step is to mix the dyes you plan to use. The general rule is to use two tablespoons of dye powder to 8 ounces of warm water (around 100 degrees Fahrenheit) if you’re filling an 8 ounce bottle. Different colors may have different dye to water ratios. Sometimes the dye container may have the ideal ratio noted on it.
When mixing dyes, it is good practice to wear gloves and and mask. Not only because you’re working with chemicals, but if dye gets on your hands, it takes a while to remove. Wear clothes you don’t mind the chance of getting dye on as well.
Time for fun.
You have the piece you want to dye ready, as well as the mixed dyes. Now the real fun begins. Before you actually dye, it is a good idea to put whatever your dying on top of a wire rack, or cookie sheet. Doing so will help reduce the risk of having unwanted colors on one side due to sitting in excess dye.
Have fun here. Feel free to experiment with different color combinations and patterns. While this is going to be your vision, don’t be surprised if it ultimately provides some surprises as a finished product.
How much dye you apply depends on how much color you want. If you want some white to show, use less. If you want to minimize white space, liberally apply the dye. One you dye of few times you’ll begin to get an idea of how much you need to put down.
Once your finished applying the dye, put the piece in a tote, or something else that can enclose it, and let it sit for at least 24 hours. This allows the dye to absorb into the garment, and do its thing.
Washing out.
After you let the piece sit, give it a good wash out under hot water for at least several minutes. This will wash out any excess dyes, as well as soda ash. You’ll want to gradually move from hot water to cold was you wash out. As you wash out, remove the rubber bands. This is the exciting part, as you can get an idea of the finished product.
Once the water that runs through the garment is clear, the next step is to put it in the washing machine. You’ll want to use Synthrapol or similar rather than detergent at this point. Using this will remove excess dye, as well as protect whatever you put in the machine afterwards from getting in contact with excess dye inadvertently. You’ll want to set the machine to hot as well. You may want to wash the garment on cold after a couple hot cycles if you keep it for yourself to protect it from color fade.
You’re done.
Once you wash and dry the piece you’re dying, you’re finished. There’s something really cool about taking a blank shirt and creating a finished product that is colorful and fun!
