How To Tie-Dye

What You'll Need:

gloves
squeeze bottles, spray bottles
funnel
Pyrex measuring cup
dyes (Procion MX - mixed color recipes & amounts)
water
soda ash (sodium carbonate)
urea
non-iodized salt
Synthrapol

string, elastic, twine
rubber bands
clothespins
twist ties
plastic bins/trays

rack
cardboard box
newspapers, crumpled
Hefty bag

ziplock baggies

100% cotton fabric

Instructions Per Jacquard

1.) Prewash 100% cotton t-shirt in the washing machine with regular laundry detergent or with Synthrapol. [See label instructions for amount.]

2.) Thoroughly dissolve 5 tablespoons of sodium carbonate and 2 cups salt (optional) in 4 liters of hot water. [Alternative recipe: 1 cup soda ash per 1 gallon of water.] Soak the fabric for 20 minutes. Wring out excess solution back into the container very well; the fabric should be just damp. Keep the remaining for future use.

3.) Secure with rubber bands, clothespins, twist ties, etc..

4.) In 1 cup of tap water, mix 2 or more teaspoons of dye. [Alternative recipe: Dissolve the required amounts of dye and urea (2-5 teaspoons Procion MX dye, 3 teaspoons urea) in one cup (250mL) of hot water. Solution will last two days, but the color is strongest in the first four hours.] Apply the dye to the fabric using a squirt bottle, paint brush, or sponge. Apply as many colors as you like. Do not over-saturate the fabric with dye or all your colors will run together.

5.) Cover fabric with plastic wrap or in a plastic bag and let stand for at least 12 hours, but preferably 24-48.

6.) Rinse in cool water until clear, then put through the washing machine a couple of times to get excess dye out.


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Instructions Per Made By Hippies

Preparing the fabric for dipping:

1.) Prewash 100% cotton t-shirt in the washing machine with regular laundry detergent or with Synthrapol. [See label instructions for amount.]

2.) Lay wet t-shirt flat on a table.

3.) Twist according to the pattern you've chosen. [See photo illustrations.]

4.) Secure with rubber bands, clothespins, twist ties, etc..


Dipping Instructions:

5.) Dip twisted and secured fabric into the bucket of the soda ash and water solution (1/2 cup of soda ash per gallon of water).

6.) Put fabric on a shelf to dry for a few days before dyeing.


Preparing Procion Dye for Dyeing:

7.) Add powdered dye to Pyrex measuring cup, add water, use funnel to pour into squeeze bottle. [Recipe: One tablespoon of dye per 16 ounces of water]. Shake vigorously to mix dye, when there are no dry dye particles floating.

8.) Set dry-dipped tied fabric onto a rack inside a plastic container or over a cardboard box lined with a Hefty bag lined with crumpled newspapers.

9.) Apply dyes to fabric according to design chosen.


10.) Place fabric in ziplock bag and leave for dyes to set for 12-48 hours, one of the following methods:

• Microwave on high for 4-5 minutes. Remove ziplocked fabric from microwave and leave in ziplocked baggie, at room temperature, for a few hours. [CAUTION: Make sure the fabric is fully damp and in a sealed microwave safe bag or dish covered with plastic wrap, or the fabric could burn.]

OR,

• Leave covered or bagged for 12-48 hours (ideally 24 hours) at room temperature.

Instructions for washing excess dye out of fabric:

11.) Cut rubber bands off.

12.) Rinse in cool water until clear, then put through the washing machine a couple of times to get excess dye out.

13.) Fill washing machine with super hot water and 1/2 cup of Synthrapol. Fully submerse fabric under the water. [Anywhere from 1-15 t-shirts can be washed at a time, in one washing machine load.]

14.) Once the washing machine has finished, add another 1/2 cup of Synthrapol and run the washing machine empty for a second time.

15.) Machine dry.


fork spiral, concentric circles, spiral - one color per quadrant

fork spiral

concentric circles