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