Tie Dye

Tie Dye

Tie Dye Techniques - 5 Folding Techniques to Make Patterns

Tie dye is a process involving dyeing of fabrics after tying them in various patterns to create designs on the material. The pattern in which you tie the fabric and the colors you choose are responsible for the final design. This is a superb way to turn your old t-shirts, skirts or pants into new garments. Once you learn tie-dye techniques, you can create various designs on fabric and have fun with colors.

The most common designs created include spirals, stripes and starbursts. However, if you practice further you will be able to make even hearts, ovals, rosettes and a variety of other items. It's like the more and more you practice, you will be able to create better designs. Basically the knots, rubber band/string positions and the twists of the fabric create the various patterns. The way you fold the fabric determines the patterns you will get on it. There are several folding techniques that will each give a different design. Here are some folding techniques: 1) Knot Tying: This is the basic method. You need to hold the garment from both ends and squeeze it like a rope. Then, you need to knot it tightly and fasten with strings or rubber bands. You can knot at several places depending on the design you wish to have. This fold will give you beautiful fine lines.

2) Spirals: Lay the material on a flat table. Using your thumb or a fork, press the place where you want the center of the spiral. Then, holding it firmly, rotate the garment and keep flattening the fabric. Get the loose ends within so that the garment becomes flat. Without disturbing the design, slide a few rubber bands such that they meet in the middle. 3) Tie Dye Circles: This is a very simple technique yet quite a dramatic one. Pick the fabric from where you want the centre of the circle. Using the other hand arrange even pleats around the centre. Leave the centre and tie the knots with strings at several places starting from the base. Ensure that the ties are very tight. If you tie more fabric, you get bigger circles. You can make several circles on the fabric.

4) Stripes: You can create stripes on the fabric horizontally, vertically, diagonally and uneven stripes. Mainly, you have to loosely roll the fabric like a tube. Then, you must tie with strings or rubber bands tightly at various intervals many times. This depends on how thick you want your stripes. You can even tie stripes of different measurements to get an uneven pattern. 5) Pleats: Among the various tie dye techniques this is perhaps the simplest one. The fabric has to be laid flat. Then using both your hands you must pinch it from both sides all the way up. After that you have to tie at different lengths. You can even move your hands unevenly or alternatively pinch more material from each hand to create different designs.

If possible, you should practice tie dye techniques on small swatches of fabric before getting into proper garments. This way you will not waste any fabric and you can experiment as much as you wish on the swatches.

About the Author

G. Smitty is a writer who loves to discuss many topics ranging from tie-dye kits to professional basketball. Thanks for reading!

What happens if you let tie dye sit too long?

I dyed two 60% cotton pillowcases YESTERDAY at 2pm. My tie dye is still sitting and I don't plan on washing it until a few more hrs. So what happens if you let it set too long?

Ok....I don't answer this with any real authority but when my daughter tie dyes...she never rinses the dye out. She wraps/bands up the material, Puts the dye on, and then just squeezes out any really excess liquid and then takes off the bands and hangs them out to dry...with all the dye still in...perhaps that's why when I DO get around to washing her shirts after a couple wearings, they bleed a lot!
So...what I'm getting at for you is that I don't think it should be any problem. I do think I would rinse them WELL, and then wash them in cold with a mild or no detergent before using them. You'll probably get more vivid colors this way!

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