Step by Step - How to Tie Dye!!
1. Buy or find a white T-shirt, the best type to use would be 100% Cotton, or you could use 50% Cotton, 50% Polyester. Other fabrics do not bond so well with the dye, furthermore reducing the brightness and accuracy of the patterns!
2. Soak the T-shirt in warm water and Soda Ash for about 10 minutes, to ensure the best bond between the dye and the shirt.
3. Pinch the T-shirt in the middle and twist in a clockwise motion, making sure that it is very tight the whole way round. Carry on doing this all the way to the outsides, so the whole T-shirt is twisted. When you've finished it should appear like a flat pie shape!
4. Now its time to apply the rubber bands! However you have to attempt to do this without ruining the shape of the shirt. The best pattern would be to cross the bands over one another to make a star shape (just with more than 5 edges).
5. Before we get messy, make sure you cover your working surface with plastic bags OR (if its sunny) work outside! The dye will stain anything in its path, so ensure you're wearing old clothes, shoes and rubber gloves just to be safe!
6. Working from the centire of the spiraled shirt outwards, start to apply the dye over the different sections that have been made by the elastic bands. Make sure the T-shirt is FULL of colour, NO WHITE! Once the top has been filled, turn the pie/T-shirt over and cover the bottom sections in dye too.
7. Once you have covered your shirt in dye, place it carefully into a plastic bag and leave it in a warm place for at least 24 hours. If you are inpatient like I am, you can leave it for less however the results may not be as good. However, in order to get a more faded pastel look on your shirt (which is all the rage this season) leaving the T-shirt for a lesser amount of time should create this look.
8. Once you have waited for the dye to settle in, undo the elastic bands and run it under cold water. Dye WILL come out so wear gloves, but don't panic, this is normal! Keep running the top under cold water until it runs clear!
NOTE: You should probably put your shirt through the wash ON ITS OWN at least once before trusting it with other coloureds.
9. Enjoy wearing your new top!!
Depending on how you twist your top, depends what patterns will arise!! The same with which colours you use :)
If you want to mix it up a bit, then branch out by dying:
Leggins
Scarfs
Jumpers
Socks (VERY CUTE)
Undies
Dresses
Shorts (even on jean material)
Onesies
Skirts
Bags
Jackets
It's all the rage at the moment so get going all ready for the summer season! You could even give it a shot on your bikini's!
ANDD... If you like the idea but can't be bothered with the mess, check out my interview with Sophie Davis - Evans http://walkinwardrobeupandcoming.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/sophie-davis-evans-indie-tie-dye.html and check out her items that are ready to buy t-shirts and socks here:
(all images on this post were found VIA google images)
Love Livy x
