Learn to make vibrant tie-dye shirts, and much more, in this step-by-step tutorial designed for beginners. I’ll provide all the necessary strategies and techniques you must know to create various tie-dye patterns, such as the perfect spiral of rainbows, from the comfort of your home. How to Tie Dye?
Tie-dye is a dyeing technique, which typically employs bright, intense shades and vibrant designs. To tie-dye first, you must fold or crumple the fabric, and then tie the fabric with strings or bands of rubber. Next, you need to dip the fabric in buckets filled with dye or spray the dye using squirt bottles.
The pleats and ties function as a barrier, stopping the dye from covering the fabric in a uniform way. The areas where the paint isn’t able to reach remain white, making the design.
Tie Dye Tutorial
This tutorial will cover the basics of tie-dye: how to prep, tie, dye, and wash tie-dyed garments. I’ll share the best and brightest types of dye to buy, as well as all the other supplies you’ll need.
In the next section, I’ll teach you how to tie the most well-known tie-dye patterns like the scrunch, rainbow swirl, the bullseye sunbursts, as well as shibori-inspired designs. Make sure you keep checking back for designs that tie-dye that are easy to follow instructions.
Then, I’ll address all of your most frequently asked questions regarding how to tie-dye. Learn all of my strategies and techniques, so you’ll have a successful outcome every time. Each time you tie-dye, you will get a great result.
Types of Tie Dye
There are several types of tie-dye methods.
Traditional Tie Dye
The first one is the most popular style of tie-dye that is distinguished by bright colors and striking designs. The style gained popularity in the late 60s and 70s and continues to be fashionable even today. The process begins with a simple white shirt. It is then tied and colored by using one or many colors of dye liquid.
In the remaining portion of this post, I’ll show you the traditional tie-dye process step-by-step.
Ice Dye
The process of dying with ice is very similar to traditional tie-dye, but the method is distinct. It begins similarly in the process, using a white or light-colored fabric that is tied or secured using rubber bands. Then, the clothing is covered with cubes of ice and dotted with powdered colors. The ice-melting process will dissolve the dye powders, and then saturate the fabric.
This kind of tie-dye is able to create eye-catching natural designs. If you’re interested in learning more, you can refer to my guide on how to tie dye with ice.
Tie Dye with Bleach
Bleach tie-dye also known as reverse tie-dye has been gaining popularity in the past year or so. The tie-dye process begins by using a dark or black shirt. It is tied and then lightened by bleach. The bleach lightens the color of the fabric being exposed and creates a tie-dye pattern. If you’re looking to learn more about this, make sure to check out my video tutorial on how you can tie-dye using bleach.
How to Tie Dye
In brief, here’s how to tie-dye.
- Prep your supplies, and set up your work area.
- Mix your dyes. Pre-soak your garment, if necessary.
- Fold and tie your garment. (more on that below)
- Apply the dye.
- Let it sit. (The hardest part is waiting!)
- Rinse, wash, and wear your garment.
Tie-dye is a pretty simple process, but there are a few tricks you need to know to get the best results. Don’t worry; I’ll walk you through the process in more detail below.
Tie Dye Supplies
Before you start dyeing, make sure you have the right items and supplies. The first thing you’ll need is to require the dye and an item of fabric that you can dye. In addition, you’ll have to gather some tools and security equipment.
What you’ll need to complete this endeavor.
- Colors of fiber-reactive dyes
- fabrics, such as socks, shirts, or sweatshirts
- soda and ash (you could or might not require it, based on the kind of dye you buy)
- Synthrapol, or any other laundry detergent
- Rubber bands or strong strings
- buckets, to dip items in dye
- squeeze bottles, and apply the dye
- plastic tablecloths or huge trash bags for protection of your working surface
- Wire racks to lift the fabric off the work surface or, if desired
- Dust mask and gloves
- Zip-top bags, plastic wrap or zip-top bags
We have compiled a checklist of suggested tie-dye kits that include everything you require to begin.
Best Dye for Tie Dying
The most efficient method for tie-dye dyeing is the use of a fiber-reactive dye. This type of dye offers a greater brightness, with a longer time frame, and is much more flexible than other dyes, for a variety of needs.
The dyes that react with fibers are absorbed by the fabric once they’re set in cold water and establish a long-lasting bond – which means. There is no need to worry about the tie-dye designs fading from the first time you toss them into the wash.
Pros and cons of the Procion dyes
The process of tie-dye uses tiny acid dyes. This dye can be used for textiles like proteins-based fibers and synthetic polyamide fiber, as well as Nylon.
Silk or wool. Feathers—Fibers derived from protein.
The indigo and vat dyes can be additionally used to dye silk and cellulose fibers. Vat dye is slightly insoluble in water. Thus, lye, or caustic soda, is utilized to remove vat dye prior to coloring fabrics chemically. The high PH fibers react with the caustic soda of procion dye, forming permanent bonds. Thus, the fabric is soaked for just a few minutes in a solution containing sodium carbonate or soda ash before tie-dyeing. Alternatively, the soda ash is applied directly to the dye.
Acid dyes have a lower pH value. They create an ionic bond with the fibers.
How to Tie Dye step-by-step
This article provides a concise overview of “how do you tie-dye”. There are a variety of Tie-dye methods, and you can choose to tie your fabric into various shapes such as squares, linear, circular, etc. Also, you are able to create the design of your choice according to your ideas.
There are some fundamental aspects to consider when the process of Tie Dyeing.
There are a variety of things you could use for tie-dyeing, including Socks, T-shirts, shoes and shirts, bedding pillows, fabrics, and more. The fabric you use for this should be one that is Cotton, Silk, or Rayon composed of natural fiber. If you have something (t-shirts, …) to tie-dye ) you will not require putting soda ash on the fabric. However, if you’re using the new material, make sure you put the fabric in the bowl of water dissolving in soda Ash. You must get your fabrics or items wet for tie-dying.
Prepare dye
It is possible to purchase Tie-dye bottles that are used to tie-dye. The bottles contain dye powder. All you need to break open the tie-dye bottle and pour in water to create the dye. After that, shake the bottle until the dye is well dissolving. Make sure you shake the bottle regularly every now and again during the process as well as when designing, as dye powder may settle in the inside of the bottle.
- If you don’t own an appropriate tie-dye container, you can make your own dye.
- You can keep the dye for a period duration of 3 days (72 hours.) Since the amount of dye present within this solution diminishes. When the design is completed within 3 weeks, the design may appear less bright.
Bind the Fabric
We will discuss the best way to tie fabrics or other items to the tie-dye Spiral method, as this tie-dye spiral method is one of the simplest tie-dye pattern. (easy tie-dye)
Then, place an acrylic or polythene cover onto the working surface (to stop the dye from leaking and to protect against stains).
It is now time to unfold the damp fabric or other fabric over the working surface. (This guide explains how to tie dye to a shirt). After that, grab the cloth between (Center Point) and turn it in the direction of the other side. Make sure to secure the straps by using rubber bands or ropes that are waterproof in order that the design is not altered.
Apply dye
Now place the binding cloth on a dye-non-absorbent surface and pour the dyes through the dye bottles in any number of colors you like. (pour the paints over the entire item). Turn backside the bound item over and apply the dye as before.
Tie-dye kit (Tools for tie-dye)
Tie Dye kits are now available in the market in a variety of sizes and different purposes, and be sure to get a tie dye kit that fits your project out of these. If you are a beginner, there are even made starter kits available.
The following necessary tie-dye tools and equipment are essential before making a tie-dye.
- PPE (Personal protection equipment)
- Easy-squeeze plastic bottle
- Dye powder (if there are no tie-dye bottles)
- Soda ash
- Cords that do not absorb water (Rubber bands, twine. Nylon)
- Natural fiber fabrics or items (Cotton, Silk, or Rayon)
- Polythene surface cover (to laying on a table)
- A Sealable polythene bag. Or plastic bag or polythene wrap.
- Washable marker (When needed to draw in different shapes, tie-dyeing)
- Suppose the dye will make separately, A small bucket or bowl to dissolve it.
- A cup or teaspoon to measure
- Instructional notes