Tie-Dye (Tie and Dye)

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Tie dye is a popular technique used to create colorful designs and patterns on clothing. Various techniques have been used to tie dye clothing for more than 6000 years. Today,  tie dye is a great way to jazz up plain t-shirts and other garments using colorfast dyes and creative folding techniques. What's more the techniques and these free instructions are so simple, that even kids can have fun tie dyeing!

Learning how to tie dye is very easy. All you have to do is follow these instructions for tie dye to create unique patterns on your clothes that will last for years...or until you want to tie dye the garment again!

The first thing you need to do when learning how to tie dye is to obtain the right materials. You will need to buy clothing that is suitable for tie dye as well as the dyes themselves and other materials that make the tie dye process effective. Here is a list of items you will need to tie dye clothing.

Step-1 - Your Requirements

• Dyes - Most dyes from reputable manufacturers are suitable for tie dying.
• T-Shirts - We have a selection of items that are ideal for tie dyeing.
• Gloves - To keep your hands clean and free from dye.
• Large container or bowl - To tie dye the clothing in.
• Elastic bands or string - To create the tie dye effect.
• Sodium Carbonate - To fix the dye onto the clothing.

(For use with certain dyestuffs. Please check dyestuff manufacturers instructions)

Step-2 Dyeing Method:

Tie Dye Stage 1 - Wash the garment (t-shirts, vests, sweatshirts) that you are to going 
to tie dye. To remove any chemicals which may react with the dyes.

Tie Dye Stage 2 - When the garments are dry, they should be tied using elastic bands or
string. There are many different ways to tie the garments to to achieve different effects.

Sample-2
Lay the T-shirt on a flat surface
Fold the T-shirt from the side edge and pleat the fabric in opposite directions
to form a concertina effect.
Secure the length of the folds at regular with string or rubber bands.

Sample-3
Lay the T-shirt on a flat surface.
Fold the T-shirt down the middle in half.
Lightly draw a freehand half heart on the chest of the t-shirt.
Fold the fabric in small finger pleats along the drawn heart shape line.
Hold in place and tie along the folded line.

To achieve more white lines, repeat folding and tying.
Tie Dye Stage 3 Optional - The next process is to place the tied garment in a bowl
of hot water into which sodium carbonate is dissolved. Immersion should be for around
20 minutes. The sodium carbonate solution will help the dye take more readily to the
garment. (Please check the instructions on the dyestuff to see if this stage is necessary)

Tie Dye Stage 4 - Apply the dye to the water as per the dye manufacturer's instructions.

Tie Dye Stage 5 - The next stage in tie dye process is to remove the garment from the
dye and leave to dry for 24 hours. The garment should then be washed thoroughly before
wearing or before application of a new dye pattern to superimpose over the existing dye
pattern.

Tips on Tie-Dye >> Read