Best Tie Dyeing Guide For Beginners

With the increasing trend of wearing tie dyeing clothes in the fashion industry, we see that various techniques are being followed to produce the clothes made using the tie dyeing techniques. Previously over the centuries, when dyes were not so common, people had developed methods that were used with natural materials to express colors for the expression of culture, clothing, and arts. If we look at history, we see that there have been natural sources of dyes that were in the form of mountain alder, bloodroot, black walnut, and other natural sources that were used to imbibe color. 

 

However, with an increase in the demand for tie and dyeing fashions, we get to see that there has been an increase in the demand for the dye that was being used in the process. This gave rise to the idea of producing synthetic dyes used in industries to fulfill the need of the fashion industry. Although these tie dyeing techniques could be practiced with some natural fruits and vegetables, introducing synthetic colors allowed us to create more exciting and attractive designs and patterns that people prefer. These dues could be used for various types of materials that are of clothing to dye them in the ideal patterns and colors, whether it is a pant, a shirt, a skirt, a scarf, or any other type of piece of clothing that the people use, we can dye them to create various types of fashion looks.   

 

To practice tie dyeing, there are certain things that you need to know. These are in the form of specific steps that are as follows:

 

1. Choosing the Right Fabric 

 

When we talk about natural dyes, we see that not all types of fabrics are equal, as synthetic and natural fabrics are being used. Some of the natural fabrics are in the form of fabrics like cotton, wool, hemp, and linen. These fabrics are more likely to develop the color of the dyes compared to the other synthetic fabrics in the form of polyester or other synthetics. This is because they all differ from one another at the microscopic level. Fabrics that result from animals and insects spun fibers in the form of wool, and silk is the type of fabric that is more porous and can easily catch dyes. When it comes to plant-based fibers are the types of fibers that are a bit slicker, and they are famous because they can hold the stain of the dyes better than synthetic fabrics. However, one should still look for the type of fabric that is already available with them. 

 

2. Scouring the Fabric

 

This is the step that needs to be performed before the process of dyeing is performed. Scouring one means to was or scouring the type of fabric you plan to use. This is because certain types of fibers are resistant to dyes, especially when we talk about plant-based fibers, as they have a wax coating that makes it challenging for the pigment of dyes to fix themselves with the clothes. 

 

3. Application of Mordant 

 

Once the scouring process is performed and the fabric is thoroughly cleaned, this is the time to apply the mordant. When we talk about mordant, it is a fixative that is used to bond a dye to the fabric, it is used to brighten up the colors, and it can also prevent fading of dyes over time. To determine how to use the mordant, one needs to know the weight of the fabric they use it for. 

 

4. Choosing the Right Color

 

A variety of colors are available in the market and can be used to create some outstanding designs using the tie-dyeing techniques. These are available in the form of soft dying tools that are easy to use and available in a variety of colors. 

 

Tie Dyeing Techniques 

 

Specific patterns must be followed to create various designs using the tie dyeing technique. These are in the form:

 

1. Accordion

 

This way, one can create stripes by folding the garments in a particular style, just like one would do a piece of paper by wrapping up with the rubber band at specific intervals. 

 

2. Spirals 

 

Fabric is twisted in a circle by pinching a spot creating a close circle shape that could be secured using the rubber band.

 

3. Sunburst 

 

This is the technique in which we bunch up small pieces of fabric secured at the base using rubber bands. 

 

4. Crumple

 

A fabric is scrunched up randomly into a ball-like structure to stretch the rubber bands across it, creating a unique pattern.