| Even if you're not a child of the 60s,
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| | But, before you start dying, you need to
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| you've probably had the pleasure of
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| | soak your fabric in soda ash. Tie dye
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| owning and wearing tie dye clothing. If
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| | artisans use a few other chemicals as
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| you've ever been to an event with a craft
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| | well, which you can learn about on an
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| fair, chances are that you've noticed
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| | instructional DVD or video.
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| those eye-catching booths full of
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| | The Fun Part: Patterns
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| colorful tie-dye clothing and home decor.
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| | Tie-dye is all about colors and patterns.
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| You may even have marveled at how they
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| | Learning how to make swirls, crinkles,
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| manage to incorporate those intricate,
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| | stripes, wavy lines, hearts, clovers, and
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| vibrant designs onto a plain cotton
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| | - yes - even peace signs is a great way
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| T-shirt.
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| | to engage the creativity of everyone in
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| While intricate tie dying is truly an
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| | the family. You can learn to tye knots;
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| art, you and your family can have loads
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| | twist fabric into pancake shapes secured
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| of fun at home making your own tie dye
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| | by rubber bands; roll a shirts to form
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| (or tye dye) creations. Hands down, the
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| | tubes, which you then tie; and pleat the
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| best way to learn how to tie-dye is
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| | fabric to make symmetrical patterns.
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| through instructions demonstrated on a
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| | Applying the Dye
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| video or DVD. Seeing how it's done, as
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| | There are at least six different
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| opposed to reading about it, makes all
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| | techniques you can use to apply the dye
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| the difference in the world. Still, tie
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| | to your fabric, from dipping and soaking
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| dye is a process of trial and error, so
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| | to using squeeze bottles and spray
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| why not give it a whirl (or a swirl)?
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| | bottles. Again, someone with years of
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| It's All About the Fabric
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| | experience can best teach you how to
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| When it comes to tie dye, the right
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| | apply dyes to get the results you want.
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| fabric is critical. Natural fibers - like
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| | Making it Stick
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| cotton or linen, pick up the dye well. If
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| | After tie dying your shirts or decor,
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| you stick with 100 percent cotton, you
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| | it's important to follow the steps
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| can't go wrong. To start with, why not
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| | necessary to make sure the dye reacts
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| pick up some inexpensive T-shirts at your
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| | with the fiber. Then you need to
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| local mass merchandiser? Get one for each
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| | repeatedly wash the fabric in a special
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| family member, and make it a party!
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| | solution so that the dyes don't
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| Remember, though, that you need to wash
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| | inadvertently mix and so the garments
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| and dry the new garments before you start
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| | remain colorfast.
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| your tie dying party. Unwashed new fabric
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| | Ultimately, though, tie dye is all about
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| won't pick up the dye very well.
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| | having fun. It can be a family adventure,
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| The Secret of Dyes
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| | a fun way to spend a weekend afternoon
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| Actually, the dyes you use to tie-dye
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| | with friends, or a way to indulge the
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| aren't a big secret. For cotton, you need
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| | creative hippie within you. A great
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| to use a dye that will react well to the
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| | instructional DVD or video will help you
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| fabric, namely Procion MX, dissolved in a
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| | learn to tie dye, and send you well on
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| urea solution. You can make virtually
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| | your way to creating gorgeous, vibrant
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| every color imaginable with just three
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| | designs.
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| colors: yellow, turquoise, and fuchsia.
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