Take an old white shirt suffering from the "dingies" and turn it into a rainbow masterpiece! I'll show you how.
Step 1: The shirt, fit to be dyed!
The shirts that work best are 100% cotton, although you can use 50% cotton/50% polyester (although the results will not be so vibrant. I once tried to dye a 100% polyester garment and when it was unwrapped - all the dye washed off! The dyes only bond well with natural fabrics, like cotton, silk and rayon - but we're talking cotton here....
Step 2: Presenting your choice of dyes
You can buy dye kits very easily in the craft stores, which come with everything you need. They include rubber gloves, rubber bands, soda ash,urea and complete easy to follow instructions. The dyes are already in the squeeze bottles, all you have to add is warm water (not hot) Other alternatives include buying single packages of dyes. These also come with the necessary urea and soda ash and instructions for mixing. However you would need to purchase some squeeze bottles separately if you don't have any.
However, although I have used kits, I prefer to use the Procion dyes as supplied by Dharma Dye. They have a great website where you can buy all you need. http://www.dharmatrading.com/dyes/ Procion dyes are the best and brightest dyes, I thoroughly recommend them. However, if you mix the dye powder yourself, always wear a mask so that you don't inhale the powder into your lungs.
However, although I have used kits, I prefer to use the Procion dyes as supplied by Dharma Dye. They have a great website where you can buy all you need. http://www.dharmatrading.com/dyes/ Procion dyes are the best and brightest dyes, I thoroughly recommend them. However, if you mix the dye powder yourself, always wear a mask so that you don't inhale the powder into your lungs.
Step 3: The tools you will need for success
If you are like me and not using a pre-packaged kit, you will need the following; Procion dye, rubber bands, rubber gloves, squeeze bottles for the dye, urea and soda ash. Oh yes, don't forget to have paper towels and old rags to mop up the spills. Tie-dying does not have to be messy!
Step 4: Soaking the shirt
To enable the Procion dyes to bond with the shirt, you need to soak it in a solution of WARM water and soda ash for about 10 minutes. Follow the instructions given with the soda ash so that you have the right mix. Do not use water that is too hot or too cold - and add a couple of table spoonfuls of common salt to the mix too!! Make sure the mixture is thorougly dissolved before adding the shirt. The temperature of the water should be about about the same as a baby's bath! As the soda ash is slightly caustic you may want to wear rubber gloves at this point, especially if you have a cut on your finger - it will sting! After soaking, wring the shirt out thoroughly. The more liquid that you can squeeze out, the more dye will be able to get in! I usually spin my shirts on the spin cycle of the washing machine. (note if you use a brand new shirt, wash it first to remove the newness, which I think they call "size", This "sizing" will prevent dye from bonding properly, and you may get a streaky effect.)
Step 5: Tying a rainbow swirl pattern!
After you have soaked and wrung out the shirt (by the way if you don't do it in the washing machine, try wringing it out with a friend!)place the shirt on a flat surface. Place it right side down, as you will then get a sharper pattern on the front of the shirt. Of course if you want the sharper pattern on the back - well, you know!
Place the dowel rod, (or your finger, or a wooden clothes pin) in the centre of the shirt and start turning clockwise until you have a nice flat pie shape. You can also turn counter-clockwise if you prefer, it makes no difference really.
Place the dowel rod, (or your finger, or a wooden clothes pin) in the centre of the shirt and start turning clockwise until you have a nice flat pie shape. You can also turn counter-clockwise if you prefer, it makes no difference really.
Step 6: Achieving Pie!
This what your shirt should look like at this stage. Do not allow the shirt to creep up the dowel rod, make it behave with the hand not turning the dowel rod! You are now ready to remove the dowel and put on the rubber bands. The trick is to place the bands, without disturbing the shirt! It can be done! However, be careful removing the dowel. You do not want to pull the shirt up in the middle - thus unachieving pie! This part of the process is the most important step of all, believe me if you do a sloppy "tie" you will achieve a sloppy and messy "dye" and live to regret it.
Step 7: Join the band!
With your lovely pie shape achieved, you can now put on the rubber bands. Slip several bands on(see the picture) then turn the shirt over and put on some more. This keeps its shape. Keep the whole thing as flat as you can. Your are now ready to dye!
Step 8: To dye for
When doing the actually dying bit, you will need to cover your working surface with plastic. Something like a plastic table cloth will work fine. You also need to wear old clothes, old shoes, etc. The dyes will stain your clothes, the floor, the walls, the ceiling, etc. So if you are not working outside please be careful. The dyes are harmless to your skin, but if you don't wear rubber gloves you will achieve red, yellow or blue dyed hands, which won't wash off. (Wears off in a couple of days - but can be a amazingly embarassing!) Also be ready with the rags to mop up spills. When I mix the dyes, I make sure that the caps are on tight and I also wipe the screw top and bottle neck to avoid "capillary action". I have also purloined some of my husband and son's old white socks and cut them down to fit over the bottles, which helps stem accidental leaks!
Hint: there is a product called Reduran which can be purchased on line from Dharma, which removes dye from the skin instantly, so you don't have to suffer "raindbow hand" syndrome!
Hint: there is a product called Reduran which can be purchased on line from Dharma, which removes dye from the skin instantly, so you don't have to suffer "raindbow hand" syndrome!
Step 9: Actually using the dyes
Place your shirt "pie" on a couple of thicknesses of paper towels on top of a paper plate on your plastic protected working surface. It's less messy, and easy to flip the whole thing over when dying the other side. Wear rubber gloves!
Just a note: When I tie dye I usually only use three colours, Fuschia red, turquoise and lemon yellow. With these three colours you can make any colour you like. To make the rainbow swirl shirt, imagine that your "pie" is an actual pie chart! Working from the centre of the shirt and holding the bottle low over the shirt, dye one third of the shirt lemon yellow. Do not wave the bottle around as you will make a mess! Dye the second third of the shirt fuschia red and the final third, turquoise. Do not leave any white spaces showing - the "white" is hiding within the folds! If you overlap the colours at the edges of each section you will get the other rainbow colours, ie. green, purple and orange! It's magic!
Hint: Always put yellow - (or other light coloured dyes) on first. Once you "lose" or cover it up by mistake - it is changed to something else (either orange or green)and you can't get it back.
Just a note: When I tie dye I usually only use three colours, Fuschia red, turquoise and lemon yellow. With these three colours you can make any colour you like. To make the rainbow swirl shirt, imagine that your "pie" is an actual pie chart! Working from the centre of the shirt and holding the bottle low over the shirt, dye one third of the shirt lemon yellow. Do not wave the bottle around as you will make a mess! Dye the second third of the shirt fuschia red and the final third, turquoise. Do not leave any white spaces showing - the "white" is hiding within the folds! If you overlap the colours at the edges of each section you will get the other rainbow colours, ie. green, purple and orange! It's magic!
Hint: Always put yellow - (or other light coloured dyes) on first. Once you "lose" or cover it up by mistake - it is changed to something else (either orange or green)and you can't get it back.
Step 10: Turn the pie over!
When you have finished putting the dye on the first side, turn the whole thing over. This will be easy to do, if you just flip the plate over onto another paper plate with clean paper towel all ready for you. Throw the first paper plate and towel away (clean up as you go along whenever possible) Apply the dye on this second side in a similar manner. If you are making the rainbow swirl, you need to be sure to put the three colours behind the same colours you used on the other side (i.e. red behind red, blue behind blue, etc.) If you don't do this, you will not get a rainbow spiral, but a sort of rainbow spider pattern (which is quite nice actually!)
Step 11: Now comes the hard part - waiting!
After you have completed putting the dye on the shirt, pop it into a zip lock bag and seal it up tight. Put the bag in a warm place and leave it for AT LEAST 24 HOURS! The dye needs this length of time to "prove" and allow the beautiful colours to really bond with the fabric. For you desperate "have-it-nows", you can unwrap after 8 hours - but..... You can also leave the shirt for as long as 36 hours if you are very patient. If you leave it much longer, I have found the colours go sort of fuzzy (don't know why). When you unwrap your shirt, wear rubber gloves and old clothes again. Don't make a mess!
Note: you have it nows should try the bleach tie method! http://www.instructables.com/id/Transforming-a-boring-old-black-t-shirt-using-blea/
Note: you have it nows should try the bleach tie method! http://www.instructables.com/id/Transforming-a-boring-old-black-t-shirt-using-blea/
Step 12: Unwrapping your masterpiece - wear rubber/latex gloves!
I love this part! This is the moment you have been waiting for. It's time to unwrap and discover your beautiful (we hope) creation for all to see. Take the shirt out of the bag! You can either take the bands off first, unwrap and start running the shirt under a cold water tap, or just run under the tap for a while and then take the bands off! BEWARE, if you have never tie dyed before you will be astonished at the amount of dye that pours out as you are rinsing. The water will turn black! Fear not, this is normal. All the dye you so lovingly applied will never bond with the fabric. Enough dye will remain, well and truly bonded. Keep rinsing until the water runs clear (it may take a while!) Hopefully, if you have done it right your pattern will be revealed in all its glory. It's like a butterfly emerging from a chrysallis! You may now wash your shirt in the normal way in a washing machine (on its own the first time). I usually wash my shirts two or three times on their own, before I trust them with other "coloureds".
Step 13: The moment of truth - It's gorgeous!
Here's my shirt hanging out to dry - I hope yours is as good - or even better! No more "dingies" - Enjoy!
Step 14: No white cotton garment will ever be safe again!
Once you have the tie dye bug, life will never be the same. Your family members may become paranoid and start hiding their cotton underwear. They may become "very afraid" if you to take any white cotton bed sheets and bath towels to be transformed! They don't call me the "Tie-dye Queen" for nothing!
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It was really easy to follow and now i want to tie dye everything!! :)
Thanks for using instructables!
http://www.instructables.com/community/I-Made-It-Challenge-Is-Back-Win-A-Pro-Membership/
Soda Ash isn't the same as baking soda. you can buy it from a dye store or get it at a pool and spa store. It is caustic so be sure to protect your hands and eyes.
As for banding. Once you twist your shirt into a bun. (I use a fork and twirl like its pasta) Just take your rubber band, hold it open and slide it under , and around the shirt while it's sitting flat. Do that 2 more times and you'll have your triangles. (almost looks like a pie chart at this point.)
Once you've allowed the garment to sit dyed for 24 hours, rinse, then wash with the hottest water for the garment in the machine...with Syntrapol or similar product. The shirt is amazingly color fast. I have one dress I bought about 5 years ago that the colors are still vibrant... the fabric is showing wear... but the colors are still awesome.
I'm not DIY Im WHOPDIF (WHatch Other People Do It First)
I am thinking about doing a tie dye party for about 25 children and wanted to know if you could tell me how much dye will a 2 oz bottle of procion fiber reactive dye make?
Do you have any suggestions for mixing them? How much dye to water?
Mahalo...
soda ash isnt necessary... i didnt use it
hatlover