Cool Tie Dye Designs- How to Tie Dye

Editors Note: I have scoured the internet gathering up some great articles on some Cool Tie Dye Designs. Although, these are written instructions, I will be posting some of my personal video tutorials very soon. But for now, I hope these articles by various authors at Ezine Articles, should give you some insight to what the art of tie dye is all about. And how you can achieve some amazing results, and most importantly just have fun! after all that's what tie dye is all about, getting together with family & friends and throwing down a fun filled Tie Dye Party creating unique works of art.

How to Tie Dye
By Bettina Bairley

Are you looking for a creative project that's fun, easy and fairly quick? Tie dying is a great activity for the whole family! The wonderful thing about tie dye is that you can't really mess it up and anyone can do it. Here are the things you'll need to gather before getting started:


Fabric to dye. You can dye t-shirts, bandannas, shorts, socks, underwear...whatever you'd like, as long as your fabric is 100% cotton, rayon, or other natural fiber, otherwise the dye won't hold. Inexpensive cotton t-shirts are perfect for beginners. You should pre-wash them to remove any finishes on the cloth that might interfere with the dying process.
Dye to color your fabric. The three primary colors for tie dye are fuchsia, yellow and turquoise. Other colors can be achieved by mixing two or three of these together, for example, fuchsia and yellow will give you orange. You can buy individual supplies but if this is your first time dying, I recommend a tie dye kit. You can get them in most stores that offer craft supplies or order them online. I've used the Tulip Dye Kits for birthday parties and the shirts turned out beautifully. My dyes of choice however, are Procion MX dyes. You can order kits online through stores such as Dharma Trading Company. I do not recommend using RIT dyes. I've found them to be very messy and the colors run and fade quickly.
Soda ash to pre-soak your shirts in. Some kits have it included. If not, you can find soda ash, (aka sodium carbonate); at any store that sells pool supplies. It comes in powder form and might say 'Ph Increaser' on the bottle.
A bucket to soak your shirts in. Old cat litter buckets work great!
String or rubber bands to tie your fabric.
Rubber gloves are a must when working with dyes otherwise you'll end up with multi-colored hands for the next several days. You can use thin latex gloves or thicker rubber gloves, it's up to you.
Plastic bags or cover to protect your work table.
Plastic squirt bottles to hold the dye, one per color (usually included in kits).
Plastic wrap or plastic grocery bags to wrap your cloth in after dying.
Face mask or cloth to cover your face when mixing the powder dyes.
Synthrapol is an optional detergent you can use to wash your fabric in after it is dyed.


To begin, add one cup of soda ash to your bucket then slowly stir in one gallon of warm water. (If you have a lot of fabric, add a second cup of soda ash and another gallon of water). After the soda ash is dissolved, dunk your fabric into the bucket and saturate it. Don't overload your bucket. Make sure the cloth is loose enough to allow the water to soak throughout. You might need to stir it around a bit and get all the air bubbles out. Let it soak for 15-30 minutes then squeeze out as much water as you can, allowing the soda ash water to run back into the bucket so you can use it again. You can spin out the cloth in your washer (spin only, don't rinse or it will wash away the soda ash) or hang it for a while if you prefer slightly damp cloth. The soda ash water acts as a 'resist' so the wetter your shirt is, the less dye it is going to soak up. You can dry the fabric completely but dry cloth is often more difficult to apply the dye to.

While your shirts are soaking, it's a good time to mix up your dyes according to the instructions. Be sure to use a face mask when working with powders. Another tip...the dyes break down fairly quickly, so you'll want to mix them right before you're ready to apply the dye.

Now that the shirts are pre-soaked and dyes are mixed, let the fun begin! Take your cloth and lay it flat on your protected table. There are an infinite number of tie dye patterns and techniques you can use to tie up your fabric. You can crumple it up and rubber band or tie it together; you can fold it in an accordion fold and tie it; you can place a fork on your shirt and twirl the cotton around and around, into a spiral, remove the fork and rubber band it. Once you've decided on what tie dye design to go with, arrange the fabric and tie it fairly tight with string or rubber bands. If you choose the swirl, secure with 2-3 rubber bands evenly spaced and let them criss-cross in the center of the circle so they form little pie wedges. This will make applying the dye much easier. Let your imagination run wild! There's no right or wrong in tie dye. The key is to fold, crumple or swirl your shirt and tie it securely with string or rubber bands so it doesn't fall apart. The tighter your folds, the more likely you are to leave some white in your cloth.

After you've secured your fabric it's time to add the dye. Choose the color you want to start with and apply it to part of the tied up shirt. If you're doing a swirl pattern, apply one color per wedge (duplicating colors is fine). Whatever tie dye technique you choose, when applying the dye, squirt enough dye to go about half way through the cloth. Occasionally lift your piece and check the underside. If you see the dye bleeding through, you're done so move on to another area/color. Once you've finished dying the top side, flip your cotton over and color the other side. Try to match the colors from side one, or not...it's your tie dye pattern. Again, don't over saturate the cloth or you'll end up with a muddy mess. Don't worry if your colors overlap, in fact I prefer it that way. It will create new colors.

Once you've finished applying the dye, take plastic wrap or plastic bag, wrap your cloth up and place it in a warm spot for at least 24 hours. This is what we call 'batching'. The cloth fibers will spend the next 24 hours reacting with the dyes and turning your white cloth into a tie dye masterpiece.

After a long 24 hours, it's finally time to untie your cloth and rinse it out. Rinse it in cold water until most of the excess dye is out. I partially fill my kitchen sink and agitate for a few minutes then drain the water and repeat until most of the dye is out. (Note that turquoise takes a little longer to rinse.) When the water is almost clear, put your fabric in the wash machine and wash in hot water (If you have more than one piece, you can wash them together). Set the machine for a second rinse if your machine allows. I prefer to wash my tie dye shirts in Synthrapol but it's your choice. If you get a kit from Dharma it or something comparable, is included.

After washing, you can dry in the dryer or hang dry and it's ready! Enjoy your new tie dye!

Bettina Bairley is a tie dye artist who combines a variety of tie dye techniques as well as shibori, and LWI to create one of a kind clothing. You can view her work at http://www.shopbstees.com. You're one of a kind, why shouldn't your clothing be?

Article Source: How to Tie Dye

Now go and create some of your very own unique and Cool Tie Dye Designs

Cool Tie Dye Designs- 5 Basic Techniques

Editors Note: I have scoured the internet gathering up some great articles on some Cool Tie Dye Designs. Although, these are written instructions, I will be posting some of my personal video tutorials very soon. But for now, I hope these articles by various authors at Ezine Articles, should give you some insight to what the art of tie dye is all about. And how you can achieve some amazing results, and most importantly just have fun! after all that's what tie dye is all about, getting together with family & friends and throwing down a fun filled Tie Dye Party creating unique works of art.

Tie Dye Tees - 5 Basic Techniques
By Riwan Mande

Tie dye tees are manufactured by the process of tying and dyeing fabrics at different places to give a unique effect. The main emphasis in creating an out-of-this-world look is on tying the cloth material in the right manner. There are mainly 5 prominent styles of doing so. Let's take a look at them

a) Knot tying: This is the most basic method of manufacturing tie dye tees. The fabric is held from both ends and squeezed like a rope. Following this, it is tightly knotted and fastened with rubber bands and strings. There is no upper limit to the number of places where the fabric can be tied, and thus, there is a lot of freedom to create varying designs using the same colors. This type of fold gives striking fine lines.

b) Spiral: The fabric is laid on a table, and a fork or thumb is used to identify the center of the spiral. Then, holding the center firmly, the tie dye tee is rotated and flattened simultaneously. The loose ends are also included in the spiral so as to ensure that the fabric remains flat, and without disturbing the design, some rubber bands are slid inside in a way that they meet in the middle.

c) Tie dye circles: This is probably the easiest technique of all the five mentioned here. The garment is picked from the place selected as the center of the circle, and using the other hand, pleats are evenly arranged around this center. Following this, the center is left and knots are tied with strings at different places. It is ensured that the ties are tied strongly. The more the portion of fabric tied, the bigger the circles.

d) Stripes: Stripes can be created on tie dye tees diagonally, horizontally, vertically and in an abstract/uneven pattern. The fabric is loosely rolled like a tube, and strings or rubber bands are tied at numerous places many times, depending on the thickness of the stripes that is desired.

e) Pleats: Another easy technique to create tie dye patterns, the fabric is laid flat and pinched from both sides. Following this, it is pinched at different places.

Riwan Mande is an ex-entrepreneur in the gift shop business. He has owned and managed a chain of gift stores in the USA. Presently, he is retired and writes on upcoming trends in the gifting industry. For more information, visit Tie dye tees.

Article Source: Tie Dye Tees - 5 Basic Techniques

Now go and create some of your very own unique and Cool Tie Dye Designs

Cool Tie Dye Designs- Tie Dye Crash Course

Editors Note: I have scoured the internet gathering up some great articles on some Cool Tie Dye Designs. Although, these are written instructions, I will be posting some of my personal video tutorials very soon. But for now, I hope these articles by various authors at Ezine Articles, should give you some insight to what the art of tie dye is all about. And how you can achieve some amazing results, and most importantly just have fun! after all that's what tie dye is all about, getting together with family & friends and throwing down a fun filled Tie Dye Party creating unique works of art.

Tie Dye Crash Course
By Brad Garrett

The Tie-Dye Crash Course presents to you the following:



Chemicals - You will learn about Soda Ash, Procion MX, and Urea. Other chemicals discussed are Synthrapol, Ludigol, Sodium Alginate, & Milsoft


Tools - You will find out which tools you will need.


Cotton Preparation - You will learn how to prepare the Soda Ash and prepare the cotton.


Folding - You will learn about symmetrical and fan folding.


Tying - You will learn why and how to secure the folds.


Dye Preparation - You will learn 3 different methods for preparing the Procion MX.


Appling the Dye - You will see 6 different coloring techniques.


Finishing the Process - You will learn how to clean the finished tie-dyes once they are done.
Swirls

Learn how to make tie-dye swirl patterns. There are 3 patterns I show here. The first is the standard swirl pattern with the rainbow colors. The second is another swirl with black lines spiraling outward. The third pattern is a spider swirl. This pattern also uses the rainbow pattern. At the end of the video I show you some more examples of different types of swirls. The chapter ends by showing you numerous examples of modified swirl patterns.

Crinkles

In this video you will learn how to create crinkle folds for a tie-dye. Brad shows you techniques for creating the folds, holding them together, and then describes how to layer colors. The section ends by showing you examples of using crinkle folds as filler.


Stripes

I show you how to create a symmetrical diagonal stripe on a shirt. Then I show you how to created the fanfolds and secure them with the string. Then I show you how to color the folded cotton into a brightly colored tie-dye. This section ends with more examples of straight line tie-dye patterns.

Wavy Lines

I show you how to create a wavy line tie-dye pattern. I walk you through creating the pattern, gathering the folds and securing them. Then I demonstrate how to apply the dye using unique layering patterns. This section also has examples at the end of different wavy line designs.

Hearts

In this chapter I show you how to create and color a heart pattern tie-dye. At the end of this chapter I show you different heart pattern tie-dyes that I have made to help give you ideas. You will see another heart pattern being made in the last chapter.

Peace Signs

In this chapter you will learn how to design a peace sign tie-dye. You will see how to fold the symmetrical folds, create the fan folds, secure the folds, and color the peace sign. You will see another peace sign being made in the last chapter called Multi-Pattern. The examples for the peace sign mainly demonstrate different color designs.

Clovers

In this second to last chapter you will learn how to create a clover design on the front of the shirt. Then create a stripe or v pattern on the back of the shirt.

Multi-Patterns

In this last chapter you will learn how to create a peace sign on the front of a shirt and a heart on the back. I also show you how to use crinkles as filler to finish the pattern. These techniques teach you the details of manipulating the cotton so there is twice as much room to create tie-dye patterns.

rel=nofollow www.phatdyes.com


My name is Brad Garrett and I grew up in Dayton Ohio. I started making tie-dyes in 1990 with a couple of friends. Since then I have made hundreds of tie-dye shirts and tapestries which I’ve sold to people all around the US, and some other countries around the world.

Over the years many people have asked me, “How do you do that?” It’s never an easy question to answer, because of all the steps involved. I usually say something like, “I treat the cotton with a chemical, then fold it into a certain pattern, tie it up, and then color it with a special dye.”

Well, I decided that wasn’t enough anymore, and that I wanted to share my knowledge and experience with people who really want to know how to make great looking tie-dyes.

My techniques are unique, because I’m self taught. I never used any books, videos, or other sources of information to learn how to make any patterns.

I decided to open my own tie-dye store and take my tie-dyes online with an ecommerce website. During my campaign process I noticed more people trying to find out how to tie-dye rather than looking

Article Source: Tie Dye Crash Course

Now go and create some of your very own unique and Cool Tie Dye Designs

Cool Tie Dye Designs- Not Just for Grandmas Anymore

Editors Note: I have scoured the internet gathering up some great articles on some Cool Tie Dye Designs. Although, these are written instructions, I will be posting some of my personal video tutorials very soon. But for now, I hope these articles by various authors at Ezine Articles, should give you some insight to what the art of tie dye is all about. And how you can achieve some amazing results, and most importantly just have fun! after all that's what tie dye is all about, getting together with family & friends and throwing down a fun filled Tie Dye Party creating unique works of art.

Tie Dye Clothing Is Not Just For Grandmas Anymore
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jacob_S_Simon]Jacob S Simon

The history behind tie dye clothing is something every good hippie clothes loving bohemian should know a little bit about. It is one of the many resist dying arts where fabric is dyed and not dyed in certain patterns with bright colors on knit or woven fabric usually made of cotton. Though Americans typically associate this fabric with the 60s and the hippie movement, many different cultures throughout the world use this type of dying in modern days.


Tie dye fashion became all the rage beginning in the late 1960s and early 1970s out West where the counter culture movement was underway. Places like the Haight were filled to the brim with this swirling fabric which became dresses, shirts, tapestries and so much more! I have even seen vehicles that looked tie dyed!

Many of the 60s musicians like Janis Joplin, The Grateful Dead and Joe Cocker wore tie dyed t shirts, skirts, dresses and more.

Tie dye clothing is dyed by folding material into various patterns, tying the cloth to hold that shape with string or rubber bands. Then dye is used on only certain parts of the fabric. Because the ties keep the rest of the clothing from getting dye on it, patterns of various shades and white or non-dyed sections result. You can form different tie dye clothing designs using various colors as well as different tying patterns. This is typically done on wet cloth because it takes the dye easier. This is what makes the colors look like they fade into one another. Once the dye has done its job the fabric is rinsed.

Sometimes soda (sodium carbonate) is added to the process to raise the pH. This helps to keep the design from fading. This is done by either soaking the wet clothing in soda and water, or it's added directly to the dye itself.

The tie dying supplies therefore include soda, water, dye and the garment itself. You will also need either string or rubber bands, a bucket or something to soak and dye in as well as rinse. Other than that you will want a place to dry and store your fabric.

Tie dyed clothing is one of the earliest surviving Peruvian arts which date from 500 to 800 A.D. The Japanese also did a form of tie dye called Shibori. They have done it since at least the 8th century. In this form they stitched elaborate patterns and then tightly gathered the material before dying. This made very intricate designs which they used for kimonos. West Africa also employs a type of tie dye clothing. Many think this style in particular was what inspired the hippie clothes we now consider tie dye clothes. Indonesia also has a kind of tie dye women's clothing where they dye the warp or weft before a cloth is woven.

Believe it or not, tie dying was known in the United States as early as 1909, but of course was not popularize until the hippie movement swept the nation.

Quality tie dyed clothing does not fade or run when washed and uses various patterns which are esthetically pleasing to the wearer. For some the more simple the better. For others there are random spirals, V shapes, circles and more. Each effect can be accomplished by different tying patterns and colors.

In recent years you can find tie dye on just about anything. Tie dye hoodies to underwear are available in mainstream shops where anyone can pick them up without having to actually get their fingers stained with dye. Additionally the types of fabric now extend past the traditional cotton and t shirts, woven tapestries and such to include tie dye clothing made from hemp! Who would have thought?

Jacob S. Simon is an expert in hippie clothes. He writes about tie dye clothing, hippie interests, and other hippie stuff on his site.

Article Source: Tie Dye Clothing Is Not Just For Grandmas Anymore

Now go and create some of your very own unique and Cool Tie Dye Designs

Cool Tie Dye Designs- 5 Folding Techniques to Make Patterns

Editors Note: I have scoured the internet gathering up some great articles on some Cool Tie Dye Designs. Although, these are written instructions, I will be posting some of my personal video tutorials very soon. But for now, I hope these articles by various authors at Ezine Articles, should give you some insight to what the art of tie dye is all about. And how you can achieve some amazing results, and most importantly just have fun! after all that's what tie dye is all about, getting together with family & friends and throwing down a fun filled Tie Dye Party creating unique works of art.

Tie Dye Techniques - 5 Folding Techniques to Make Patterns
By G. Smitty

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.

G. Smitty is a writer who loves to discuss many topics ranging from [http://www.howtotiedye.org/tie-dye-kits/]tie dye kits to professional basketball. Thanks for reading!

Article Source:  Tie Dye Techniques - 5 Folding Techniques to Make Patterns

Cool Tie Dye Designs-How to Create 6 Different Designs

Editors Note: I have scoured the internet gathering up some great articles on some Cool Tie Dye Designs. Although, these are written instructions, I will be posting some of my personal video tutorials very soon. But for now, I hope these articles by various authors at Ezine Articles, should give you some insight to what the art of tie dye is all about. And how you can achieve some amazing results, and most importantly just have fun! after all that's what tie dye is all about, getting together with family & friends and throwing down a fun filled Tie Dye Party creating unique works of art.

Tie Dye Patterns - How to Create 6 Different Designs
By G. Smitty

Tie Dye, as the name suggests is a process of dyeing fabrics after you tie them in a manner that gives beautiful designs on the material. This can be done by anyone and it is a great hobby activity. You can create beautiful t-shirts, bed sheets, scarves, skirts, and pants. If creativity is your virtue, you can create endless tie dye patterns that give beautiful designs on the fabric. All you need to do is stretch your imagination completely.

The patterns you create depend on how you fold your material. The process of tie dye involves folding the material and then tying at various portions using strings. Then, the dye is applied to the fabric. The dye does not reach the areas that are tied with rubber bands or strings. So here, folding the material is the key. Basically, how you fold your fabric and the colors you use will determine the design on the final product. So, you must first fix up what kind of designs you wish to create. Designs can be circular, stripes and random designs. Random designs include items like butterfly, flower, leaves, diamonds, rosettes, squares, and ovals. Let us discuss some patters you can create:

1. Knot Tying: This pattern is ideal to work on light materials and long sleeves. You have to carefully twist the fabric first from both ends like a rope and tighten it. Then, you can fasten using strings. You can tie many even knots you need on the fabric, depending on your design. This pattern will give you fine lines.

2. Pleats: Lay the garment flat and using your hands pinches it to get folds on the material. Continue creating these folds on the entire fabric. You could change the size of the folds on both hands or on one hand to get the required design. Fasten the folds several times tightly and knot the strings. This is one of the basic tie dye patterns that can be used for making diamonds, squares, ovals or any symmetrical design.

3. Spirals: You create spiral pattern by gathering a section of the fabric using your thumb or a fork rotating it to create pleats in swirls all around the center. Get the loose ends within the circle and flatten the fabric using your palm. It will resemble a pancake. Take rubber bands and slide them over the cloth without disturbing the design. Let the rubber bands meet at the center. You can use various colors and the spiral created on the material looks stunning.

4. Electric Bunching: Bring together the ends of the fabric in bunches and shape it in the form of a ball. Fasten it well with rubber bands and try and retain the shape. Then dye it. This gives the pattern of electric light or lightening-like design.

5. Rosettes: Make dots on the fabric as the center of the rosette. Pick the dots together and at the base of the circles tie them up with strings. Wrap very well to the tip.

6. Stripes: To make stripes you must roll the garment loosely and get it together like a tube. You will get vertical stripes on the tube. Tie them at various intervals depending on how close you want the stripes. Using strings, tie several times very tightly. Apply dye by either immersing the garment or squirting colors on it.

Listed above are only a few basic rel=nofollow [http://www.howtotiedye.org/tie-dye-patterns/]tie dye patterns. You can create countless designs depending on the patterns you select.

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

Article Source: Tie Dye Patterns - How to Create 6 Different Designs

Cool Tie Dye Designs-Bringing Out your Inner Hippie

Looking to create some of your very own cool tie dye designs? I warn you, once you get started it's a tough hobby to let go. Especially when you can almost tie dye just about anything under the sun. Such as: shirts, bed sheets, socks, skirts, tapestries, curtains the list just keeps growing. You are only lmited by your own imagination, when it comes to creating such wonderful and cool tie dye designs.

But before figuring out the patterns. You must first know exactly all the materials your going to need for your cool tie dye designs, so they come out looking as bright and dynamic as you have envisioned them to be. Materials needed: procion mx fiber reactive dyes, squeeze bottles, your garment, rubber bands or sinew cord, a good bin with a lid so your cool tie dye designs have a proper resting place, free from any type of cross contamination.

So once you have gathered up all the materials needed, you obviously have to learn how to use these materials. That's where this site comes in handy for you in creating some of your most treasured and very cool tie dye designs. You will be guided by my totally free tie dye instructional videos, as I make them.

As an added bonus...I will be teaching you a various amount of cool tie dye designs that you see are quite popular nowadays.You'll learn how to tie peace signs, pot leafs, hearts, aliens and a whole bunch more advanced stuff after a while, so be patient.

But for the time being, here are a few pics of some very awesomely cool tie dye designs you can ponder at to give you some of that needed inspiration to help guide you in making some of your first killer tie dye garments.