Tie-dye is something that I have loved to do for as long as I can remember. My biggest frustration with it has been that it is never as vibrant as I want. Since first learning tie-dye, I have learned some tips and tricks for getting a gorgeous, vibrant tie-dye. One of my most favorite methods is using powder dyes and ice!
Here are the products I use for this:
* Synthrapol Detergent
* Soda Ash Fixer
* Dharma Fiber Reactive Dyes
* Large Cubed Ice
* Rubber Bands
* TSM Cotton French Terry
Most of these can be found on the Dharma website along with tips and tricks for other tie-dye methods! These dyes are only recommended for natural fibers, making TSM's Cotton French Terry a perfect base!
To start with, I wash my fabric using the Synthrapol detergent. This gets any factory chemicals off, helping the fabric absorb dye better! From there, I soak it in water mixed with the soda ash fixer. Soda Ash fixer helps the fabric to absorb the dye better, as well. It really helps with a bright tie dye! After it has soaked, I ring out the fabric as well as I can. It should be damp, but not soaking wet.
Now it is time to do the tying and dying! I gathered the fabric in a wavy pattern from selvedge to selvedge and used my rubber bands to secure the gathers. This can be done in so many different methods or patterns, I suggest looking online for tie dye patterns and how to make them to get the desired look. Once tied up, I sprinkled my dyes all over the fabric. I used a color palette I found on pinterest for inspiration! I did this for the top and bottom to make sure the fabric will be really saturated. Then, I added ice all over my tied fabric. Less ice can be used to carry dye further through the fabric, but then it is usually not quite as bright. I used a lot of ice for mine!
From here it is a waiting game. I left my fabric overnight, checking on it and adding more ice as needed. Once the fabric looked really saturated with only a little white, I decided it was done!
Now it is time to rinse and wash! I rinsed and rung out as much dye as possible before popping it into the washing machine. I washed and dried it as I usually would any CFT garment. This came out really cool!
I couldn't resist sewing up a comfy, cozy romper with this! I used the Jersey pattern from Styla Patterns! This is definitely getting worn on repeat through the summer! My next ice dye project is going to be making joggers with my kiddos and letting them help! This is a fun, family friendly project!
-Kellie
TSM Influencer Team Memeber