Tie dye is a very unique way of printing textiles. This printing method can be applied to plain fabric, ready garments, and home furnishing. The simplicity of the tie dye technique facilitates practicing it at home. To begin with we would discuss how to make tie dye shirts.

Arrange tie dye materials

The first step is to arrange for the materials. The best way is to buy a beginner’s kit that would come with plain white cotton shirt, few dye colors, fixers, and tie dye instruction booklet and designs.

Arrange for Supplies

Keep essential supplies like gloves, long handled tongs for stirring, rubber bands, an old bucket, some news papers, and a towel and garbage bag. Keep them handy just in case you need them.

Now you are ready to start learning how to make tie dye shirts.

The first step is to wash the shirt and dry it. A washed clean shirt is free of oil and dust and is more absorbent.

Second step is to fold and tie the shirt with rubber bands to achieve some design. As a beginner you may follow some books for design inspiration. Later you may experiment with you designs after you get a know how of what kind of fold in result in circular designs or straight designs. Take some time to tie the shirt tightly for best results. With this your shirt is ready for dyeing.

Wear your gloves and start dyeing. First you may soak your shirt in soda solution for 10 minutes but this is optional. You may skip this step. After 10 minutes of soaking wring the shirt to drain out water. Dip the shirt in pre mixed dye bath. For dye bath preparation follow instructions given on the dye bottle. Every dye color would need to be prepared in different temperatures.

Dyeing can be done either by putting the shirt in the dye bath or by spreading or spraying dye on the shirt. Make sure the area where you are dyeing is spread with newspaper to prevent staining of floor or carpets. Stir the shirt with a long stick or pair of tongs to allow penetration of dyes in folded areas as well.

Ensure that the dye has penetrated all over the untied portion of the shirt to avoid white patches. Keep the shirt in a poly bag for about four to six hours. Open the ties and rinse in salt water for dye fixation.  Rinse with cold water, spin dry and your tie dye shirt is ready.

A tie dye party is groovy anytime. Whether it for pre-teens or teenagers or for adults. They are full of fun and excitement for one and all. This theme can well fit to any occasion, whether it’s a birthday party, New Year eve and beach or poolside party, craft party for children or just for fun. It’s also a good way to engage children during their summer vacation holidays. They can learn as well as have fun and can bond over with fellows. These parties are more colorful and vibrant and that’s what has made it so popular.

Akin to any other party theme, tie dye party also requires a lot of preparations. One can have a tie dye dress code for guests or it can also be a good idea to start the party with all guests making their own tie dye dress and wear them in the evening for drink and dance session. The second option will be more successful if you can have a day long party to give enough time to guests to play around with their designs and colors.

Tie Dye Party Requirements

You can have everything in tie dye from invitation card to table covers, sofa covers and cushions to the cake all in funky colorful tie dye type designs. You can make colorful munches mixed in a bowl to go well with the theme. Colorful drinks can also be a good option.

Tie Dye Party Kits

For a tie dye party, you may order tie dye kits which are conveniently available for all party sizes. Otherwise also you may order smaller kits in greater number. Select a kit that would be appropriate for the age group of the party people. Keep some gloves, rubber bands and washed cotton t shirts, dresses, boxers etc ready, a few buckets and a rope for drying clothes. Inform the guests that they will have to wear their tie dyed clothes at the party. They may also bring in white cotton clothes of their size for dyeing. Send invitation to guests well in advance so that they can come well prepared. For tie dye design ideas you can keep a couple of books handy for guests to take design ideas.

Keep some munch and drinks for the guests while they work on their dresses.

The kits would have all details to carry out the tie dye process. So all you need to do is enjoy the tie dye party.

Tie Dye Kits

Tie dye kits are a great way to get into tie dying but what is tie dye? Tie dye is process of printing whereby a dye substrate is first tied tightly with threads or rubber bands or poly ropes to restrict penetration of dyes in those areas. The exposed area is then dyed, treated and dried. Thereafter the ties are removed to find a design pattern with dyed and undyed area. Sometimes this is the final product and sometimes the undyed portion is dyed by tying the dyed area to prevent overlapping of colors.

Tie dye is a very unique way of printing. It’s so simple that one can learn the technique at home. Tie dye kits are available in wide variety to suit everyone’s need. Whether you are a beginner or professional, whether you need them for your hobby or for a party they are all readily available at your crafts shop. Option of different kit size is also available to suit your need and budget.

Tie Dye Kits

Let’s discuss a few varieties of kits that are available.

1.    Kits For Beginners
Tie dye kits for beginners would generally consists of a couple of t shirts, couple of dye colors, chemical for dye fixation, step by step instruction book, design inspiration booklet rubber bands and hand gloves. It’s a small kit for beginners who want to try their hands on this craft. Designs are usually simple.

2.    Kits for Small and Large Projects
Tie dye Kits come in handy for a tie dye party or school or picnic project. The size of the kit is usually larger. Each kit can dye 5-8 shirts; this again differs from supplier to supplier. So it is better to check if the kit size has sufficient supplies for the group size.

3.    Kits For Serious Hobbyist
This kit is fit for anyone who practice tie dye as a hobby. These kits are usually bigger in size with more than 2-3 dye colors, more dye quantity and supplies as against the beginner’s kit. This kit doesn’t contain white garments so as to allow the user to experiment with different substrates. One can not only dye garments but can also dye bedspreads, cushion covers, table covers etc. Only the correct procedure is to be kept in mind. A booklet on details and chemistry of tie dye is included. Design inspirations are more complicated than in the above two kits.

Where To Buy Tie Dye Kits

Tie dye kits can be bought from local crafts shop for immediate use. But if you can wait longer then ordering them through internet is a good option. You can compare price and products to crack the best deal.

Tie Dye Kits