Tie-Dye Techniques

Tie-Dye is the fun and easy way to add a splash of colour to your wardrobe.

Brilliant effects are created by binding, folding or simply scrunching fabric before dyeing it.

Tie-dyeing need not be limited to clothes - stunning effects can also be achieved on household items such as pillowcases, napkins and tablecloths.

Both Dylon Cold Water Dye and Dylon Hand Dye are ideal for tie-dyeing - they are easy to use and give permanent colour to natural fabrics.

Best results are obtained on 100% white cotton items. If tie-dyeing coloured fabric, remember the colour rules - blue dye on a yellow fabric wll give a green result.

Dyeing Method A
for Swirls, Tying, Stripes & Circles

You will need:

	1 x Dylon Cold Water dye tin and Dylon Cold Fix sachet and 60g salt per colour. OR USE: 1 x Dylon Hand dye pack.
	1 litre warm water
	Natural fabric / garment (125g - 1kg dry weight)
	Dye vessel - plastic bowl or bucket
	Rubber gloves.

Instructions

Wash fabric and leave damp.
Prepare fabric as per instructions for selected tie die method.
Wearing rubber gloves, dissolve dye in 1litre warm water, stirring well. (For Cold Water dye also add Cold Fix and Salt.) Once dye solution has been prepared, it should be used immediately.
Immerse fabric in dye solution for 1 minute, squeezing gently.
Lift out and place fabric in a plastic bag, seal and leave overnight.
Take out of bag and without untying fabric, rinse in cold water until water runs clear, then untie and wash in hot water using normal washing detergent.
Dry away from direct heat and sunlight.

Dyeing Method B
for Ruching, Marbling, Sewing & Pegging

You will need:

	1 x Dylon Cold Water dye tin and Dylon Cold Fix sachet and 60g salt per colour. (Dylon Hand dye cannot be used for this method)
	500ml hottest tap water
	Natural fabric / garment (up to 250g dry weight)
	Dye vessel - plastic bowl or bucket
	Rubber gloves.

Instructions

Wash fabric and leave damp.
Prepare fabric as per instructions for selected tie die method.
Fill vessel with enough cold water to cover article.
Wearing rubber gloves, dissolve dye in 500ml hottest tap water, stirring well. Add dye to the vessel.
Dissolve salt and Cold Fix in hottest tap water and add to dye vessel. Once Fix has been added to dye solution, it should be used immediately.
Immerse damp fabric in dye solution and dye for 1 hour, agitate for first 10 minutes, then occasionally for 50 minutes.
Without untying fabric, rinse in cold water until water runs clear, then untie and wash in hot water using normal washing detergent.
Dry away from direct heat and sunlight.

Microwave Dyeing
for a speedy mottled effect, swirls, tying, stripes & Circles

You will need:

	1 x Dylon Hand Dye pack
	Natural fabric cut into approx 50cm squares
	½ gall/2ltr sealable plastic container (ice-cream container!)
	Dye vessel - plastic bowl or bucket
	Rubber Gloves

Instructions

Wash fabric and leave damp.
Wearing rubber gloves, dissolve 1 heaped teaspoon (approx 10g) of dye in 60ml warm water.
Immerse fabric in dye solution for 1 minute, squeezing gently.
Lift out and squeeze out excess dye. Place fabric into plastic container and seal lid (for additional security place container in microwaveable plastic bag)
Cook in microwave on high setting for approx 1½ mins. Carefully remove container from microwave and allow to cool before removing lid.
Rinse fabric in cold water until water runs clear, wash in warm soapy water, rinse and dry away from direct heat and sunlight.

Create tints of a colour by further diluting the dye solution before use.

Cleaning the Microwave

After use, wash the inside really well with warm soapy water. Peel a potato, slice thinly, cook on a piece of kitchen roll, then throw the potato away. There is just a chance that some dye molecules may have escaped, from even well covered containers; so to prevent the highly unlikely chance of them getting into your food, the cooking of raw sliced potatoes will absorb anything floating around.