does anyone know about tie-dyeing?

Question

Does anyone know what you soak t-shirts in first to make sure the colors of the dye don't fade when you're doing tie-dye?

Answer 1

http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/tiedye/a/041601a.htm

Tyin' and Dyein'
From Sherri Osborn,

Basic Directions and Tips
Here are some basic directions for tie-dyeing along with some helpful hints and tips.

Before you dye your item, you should wash it to remove any sizing from the manufacturer or anything else that may have gotten on it.

Decide what sort of design you want (You can check out Our Projects for specific folds) and which color or colors you want to use.

Lay your shirt or other item out flat first and then fold and tie as desired.

Cover your work area so the dye doesn't stain it. I covered ours by laying down a few large garbage bags and then put newspaper on top of that.

Prepare your dye as directed by the manufacturer. You should carefully follow all instructions. While preparing the dye and dying your item, you should wear rubber gloves to protect your hands from staining and the hot water.

Pre-treat your item if necessary.

With some dyes you will have to soak it in soda ash and with others, like RIT, you simply need to dip it in hot water.

Start dying! It is usually best to start with the lightest color if you are using more than one color. Rinse or wait between colors as directed by the manufacturer. Make sure to follow all directions carefully when it comes to dying and rinsing your items. Some dyes require you to rinse immediately and others require you to let the item sit for at least 24 hours.

When your dyeing is complete, make sure to clean all containers immediately with hot water and soap or cleanser if needed.

Be careful washing your tie-dyed items! Most should always be washed in cold water. The first few times they are washed, they might bleed, so wash them with like colors or alone.

Again, the exact directions you follow will vary depending on what brand of dye you use. Read all instructions and precautions carefully.
There is one thing you should remember while you tie-dye no matter what brand of dye you use: There is not a wrong or right way to do this! Every tie-dyed item will turn out different no matter what technique and colors you use. Check out the pictures of Our Projects and have fun creating your own!

Answer 2

Make sure the t-shirt is a natural fiber - 100% cotton - and wash it first to remove sizing. It will then take the dye better. Using a commercial dye like Procion will be brighter. You can add a teaspoon worth of baking soda to change the ph of the dye so it attaches to the fibers better. Older t-shirts do not take the dye well (from body oils and detergent residue) or if they have any polyester in the blend. ALSO - after you dye it - don't wash it for 48 hours and wash it in cold water and by itself the first time you wash it. Throwing it in the dryer after 48 hours may also set the dye so it doesn't fade.

Good luck!

Answer 3

You use a soda ash solution. Mix it 1 cup of soda ash to 1 gallon hot water. The hot water just helps it to dissolve. You will need to soak the shirts for at least 15 minutes before beginning. I always get the soda ash solution made up before I start tying up the shirts, so it is ready to go...

Soda ash, aka sodium carbonate, is available at swimming pool supply sections of stores, as well as at Dharma trading listed in my sources. My hubby can get it at work, and brings me home big pails of it, but I've bought it in a pinch at a local discount store during pool season up here under the name pH up.

I'd suggest that you use a fiber reactive dye (like Procion or Dharma dyes) for brightest results. Also using 100% cotton is best for minimizing any fabric issues that may make your colors less bright.

Answer 4

tying a t-shirt so that when you dye it you will get a certain pattern

Answer 5

Oh, don't do that. People might mistake you for a hippie.