Tie Dye

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Tie-dye is typically brightly colored, patterned clothing or fabric which is made from ordinary cellulose-based cloth through a process known as tie-dyeing. During tie-dyeing, a chemical reaction takes place which permanently bonds the colorful dye to the fabric, making tie-dye safe to wash amongst other, non-tie-dyed clothes once the excess dye has been removed. As the name suggests, the fabric is tied, usually with string or rubber bands, after being folded into a particular pattern. Some areas, where the fabric is tied and in inner parts of folds, do not absorb dye as readily, forming a pattern. This is known as a resist technique (the areas that are tied and the inner parts of folds resist dyeing). Patterns are also formed by applying different color dyes to different sections of the fabric. Next, the folded and tied fabric is may be submerged in a bath of soda ash solution for 5-30 minutes. Submerging the fabric in a solution of soda ash, which has a high pH, prepares the cellulose fibers of the cloth for permanent chemical bonding with the acidic fiber-reactive dye used in tie-dyeing. Dye is then applied, either by submerging the cloth bundle in a bath of dye or by squirting dyes onto specific areas of the fabric. Alternatively, the soda ash may be added directly to the dye solution rather than soaking the fabric in a solution of soda ash. After 12-48 hours, depending temperature, dye, and the desired brightness of the final product, the fabric can be rinsed and unwrapped. After working out the excess dye under running water, tie-dye should be washed in a washing machine. A detergent called Synthrapol is preferred by many dyers, although any neutral detergent may be used. Excessively alkaline detergents may cause back staining.

Dyes

Although many different kinds of dyes may be used, most tie-dyers now dye with Procion MX fiber reactive dyes. This class of dyes works at warm room temperatures and the molecules bind with cellulose based fibers (cotton, rayon, hemp, linen) permanently when the pH is raised. Soda ash (sodium carbonate) is generally used to raise the pH and is either added directly to the dye, or in a solution of water in which garments are soaked before dyeing. They do not fade with washing, but sunlight will cause the colors to fade over time.

Folds and patterns

Below is a list of common modern tie-dying folds and patterns.

Bullseye

Bullseyes involve a central point which is bound, as though poking the fabric with a finger or stick then binding the protusion every 1-2 inches. Usually different color dyes are applied to each bound section to create rings of color.

Stripes

Horizontal or vertical stripes are created by pleating the fabric into several small folds, causing the dye to spread laterally. tish ts

Spiral

Spiral patterns involve pleats of fabric arranged in swirls around a central point, bundled into a round bun often resembling a cinnamon bun or a snail’s shell. Different wedges of the circular bun are dyed different colors.

V

The ‘V’ shape achieved by folding a shirt in half vertically, then a line is drawn diagonally from the shoulder area down to the center fold of the shirt. The fabric is then accordion folded along the line and bound into one or more areas to which the dye is applied.

Random

This category can hold several different patterns, the majority of which have nothing to do with each other; they can be combinations or they can be as chaotic as bundling the item to be dyed to resemble a plucked chicken.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

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