Tie Dye is such a big trend right now even though it has been around for years. It became popular in the 1960’s in the United States, with the hippie culture. I admit I was a kid in the 60’s but still loved all the color and pattern. I remember using bleach on one of me shirts and it made some holes where it ate through the fabric, but I was hooked way back then.
Shibori
Some of the earliest records of this technique was first recorded in ancient Japan and China. Known as Shibori it involves very intricate techniques of wrapping, stitching and tying fabrics to create beautiful detailed patterns. Indigo dye is the most recognized color.
I have practiced and studied dyeing and printing on fabric all my life, and just wanted to add a few of the tips I have learned along the way, I hope this will give everyone a little inspiration to add a little color to their lifestyle
Natural Fabrics work best. Cotton and Linen take the dye well, but silk it really beautiful. If you are just dyeing tee shirts you just need to keep them in the dye longer and use warm/hot water.
Colors. Color theory/mixing is a big deal and can make or break your finished look. I tend to like softer more natural colors as opposed to the old bright colors most associated with the hippie type tie dye. I find it best to limit one or two colors for a more refined look especially if you are going to want them to blend together. If you too many colors at once it turns into “mud.” Which could work, its all about what the look you are going for.
Over dye. If you have some fabric or clothing that is just not the right color. We have all bought something that we thought looked great at the shop, then realized it was never going to come out of the closet when we got it home. If it is a natural fabric or a large percent natural material, you can tie it up or just dip it in another color. It does work best using a neutral to dye over another color and to understand a little about color mixing. Please let me know if you would like more ideas/information about color and print mixing.
Layered Dyeing. To make a more upscale look you can tie and dye in one color, then tie in a different pattern and dye again in a second color. This can create a subtle overlap of color and pattern that is so interesting.
There are many types of commercial dyes available. I get the best results with Fiber Reactive dyes for the most permanent long lasting color. They form a covalent bond with the cellulose fibers in the fabric when dyed following the directions that come with the dyes. These dyes are set by heat and soda ash used during or after the color.
Natural or Eco dyeing are also very popular, it can take a couple of forms. One way is the extract the color from plant/food parts and then dye accordingly. Another form is the actually take leaves and plant parts and place them directly on the fabric and simmering them in water and a mordant to impart the color.
Take care of the fabric or garment after you do the color work. Leave the items to cure for around a week before washing. When you wash shirts or other clothing, turn it inside out to protect the color. Also do not leave the currently dyed items setting in the washing machine for very long time because it will have a more bigger chance of bleeding.
I hope this helps, a part of learning and finding out what works for you is talking with experienced dyers and instructors, as well as reading books about it. I will have a class coming up online soon so please sign up for my news letter to keep up to date.
