Tie-dye shirt attempt

Discussion in 'Fiber Arts' started by Whirlwind83, May 16, 2025.

  1. Mark769

    Mark769 Members

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    Beautiful shirts! I am late to the post
     
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  2. Whirlwind83

    Whirlwind83 Members

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    20250711_135458.jpg

    Thanks for the tips and compliments all.

    This one came out pretty. I was trying for a bulls-eye but failed, and the green wasn't very green but oh well. I have one more in the dryer and one in the washer.
     
    Last edited: Jul 11, 2025
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  3. Whirlwind83

    Whirlwind83 Members

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    20250711_151126.jpg

    This one is fun!
     
    Last edited: Jul 12, 2025
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  4. Whirlwind83

    Whirlwind83 Members

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    I redid a prior failed attempt. It still didn't turn out right, but at least now you can tell it's a tie dye. Before it looked like a white shirt with vague stains.
    20250711_164438.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jul 11, 2025
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  5. Golden Angel

    Golden Angel Members

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    They all look great.
     
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  6. Mark769

    Mark769 Members

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    I agree. Each shirt has its own personality
     
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  7. Whirlwind83

    Whirlwind83 Members

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    Glad you like them.
     
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  8. drumminmama

    drumminmama Super Moderator Super Moderator

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    What’s your process?
     
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  9. Whirlwind83

    Whirlwind83 Members

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    I get my dye prepped by adding hot water, salt, and vinegar. Wash the shirts, and fold them into the pattern I want. (It's a learning process.) And then dip or squirt the dye on the sections. Then I let it sit for 24 hours in a plastic bag, rinse, and toss it in the washer and dryer.
     
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  10. Mark769

    Mark769 Members

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    What type of dyes are you using? I heard foragers use friuts, (blue berries), vegetables (certain sqashes) and foragers use wild plants (poke weed).
     
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  11. Whirlwind83

    Whirlwind83 Members

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    Rit dyemore.
     
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  12. Mark769

    Mark769 Members

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    Thank you
     
  13. drumminmama

    drumminmama Super Moderator Super Moderator

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    Okay, buckle up.

    different fibers need different dyes.
    Dyemore is for polyester/synthetic fabric.

    Cotton, linen, hemp and rayon from cellulose need fiber reactive dye. Procion is my choice.

    To prep a cotton shirt, prewash it, no fabric softener.

    soak in soda ash solution (1:16 ratio soda ash to water) at least 20 minutes. I prefer overnight. Longer is fine, as long as the stink isn’t overwhelming. (It does smell).
    Wring shirt to damp.
    Fold/tie/band/bind your design.
    apply dye as powder (ice, HWI) or liqud. If ice dyeing, let ice melt. Liqud dyeing, apply, bag and let cure 24-36 hours so the dye can bind with the fibers and react with the soda ash. Ice dyes get bagged after all ice is melted. Same cure time.

    Take off ties, rinse in cold water then hot. Wash with dyers detergent (synthropol, Kieralon. Dawn in a pinch.) dry with heat.
     
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  14. Whirlwind83

    Whirlwind83 Members

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    Thanks for the reccomendation and instructions. I'll remember that next time. :)
     
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