Making tie
dyes can be very fun, but you need to take precautions when
working with the chemicals. Make sure to wear a dust mask
and use some kind of gloves to prevent the chemicals from getting
on your hands.
Choose a
good work environment where an accident won’t destroy
something. Spilling one jar of dye can leave permanent
splash stains many feet away.
Tie dye
instructions for a basic V pattern begin by soaking your 100% cotton into
the soda ash solution that comes with your tie dye kit.
Wring out the cotton and reserve the soda ash solution for
other garments.
Lay the
shirt on the folding surface with the tag facing you. Fold
the shirt in half, so the sleeves are together. Use a
washable marker to draw a slow arching line from the
shoulder area to the navel area.
Create
pleats or fan folds by pinching the cotton between your
fingers along the line. To do this, place your thumbs on
either side of the line where the shirt starts. Each thumb
should be about 1 inch away from the line. Your thumbs will
hold the cotton down, use your index fingers, at the same
time, to "pinch an inch" of the cotton.
Don't let
go of the cotton you just pinched. Push your index finger
tips into the cotton so it will not slide. Now use your
middle fingers, at the same time, to "pinch another inch" of
cotton.
The
technique
for holding the folds is to use your thumbs and index fingers to
hold the folds you have already created. Use the fingernail
side of your index finger and your middle fingers to "pinch"
in the new cotton.
The pleats
can be any size, but typically they are around 3/4 to 1 inch
tall. The smaller the pleats the more folds and "tie dye"
effect you will get.
Continue to
create the fan folds along the line you drew on the shirt.
When you are done folding along the line you should have a
bunch of fan folds and a straight line going down the
middle.
Use two or
three rubber bands to hold the folds together. Place the
rubber bands 2 to 3 inches apart. Make sure to use rubber
bands that are large enough, so they won’t make the fan folds
collapse under the pressure.
So far you
would have a series of fan folds in the middle of the shirt,
and the rest of the shirt is not folded or organized in any
way.
You can
finish the tie dye in any number of ways. You could dip the
remaining cotton, which would give a solid color. Or you
could fan fold the remaining cotton and secure it with
rubber bands. I have many different styles and techniques I
use at this point when I tie shirts.
Mix your
dyes according to the distributer’s instructions. You can
make the dyes in buckets, jars, squirt bottles, or what ever
meets your needs. Knowing how you're going to apply the dyes
can help you determine the best way to make the dyes.
You can
apply the dyes to the cotton in many different ways. Turkey
basters, eye droppers, squirt bottles, sponge brushes,
dipping or what ever meets your needs.
You can
place your cotton over some kind of grate the dyes can drip
through or just flat on the table. Be careful if you go with
on the table because you might look down and see the dyes
running off the table.
Apply the
first color along the line that runs down the middle of the
fan folds that you drew. Make the color stripe about 1/2 to
1 inch wide. This is the direction all of the dyes will be
applied in. Apply the next color to either the left or the
right of the first color. You will continue this technique
until the entire shirt, on this side, has color on it.
Flip the
shirt over and repeat this technique. You can place the exact
same colors in the exact same location or you can mix it up
and change the color pattern and placement.
Once the
entire shirt has been colored, let it set for a while. The
dyes will bond better with the cotton the longer they have
to set. If the dyes rub off on your gloves you might want to
wait a while longer.
Fill your
washer up with warm or hot water. Use 1 tablespoon of
detergent for each shirt. Use at least 2 tablespoons. The
dyes will continue to wash out for at least a couple more
washes, so make sure to separate with like colors.
For more detailed tie dye techniques, I have created
videos to quickly teach you about tie dye. I have structured
the tie dye videos so
you will learn exactly what you need to know, and I have
made it simple for you.
Especially if you are selling or going to sell tie dyes, you can buy
all these video instructions. If you sell your tie dyes for $10 each,
and I hope you sell them for more, for the price of selling 2 shirts you
can learn how to make 10. If you sell those 10 tie dyes for $10 each,
you will have $100 minus your expenses.
Now lets think about the advanced tie dye instructions I have made
available. You spend $50 on the advanced instructions and learn the
advanced techniques by making 1 of each of the advanced patterns I teach
you and sell them for below a reasonable price, will will have paid for
the video and your expenses in full.
Plus you will always be able to make these advanced designs, and all
the ones the advanced techniques enable you to do. So you will always be
making more money when you sell advanced tie dye patterns.
Now I sell these men's men's t shirts for no less than $20. Usually
they are $25 and sometimes I feel like I'm giving them away. I would
sell the Phoenix Bird Tapestry for no less than $50. I think I could get
$100 for it.
