[Lydean] Tie dyeing is a large part of our team. Not all of us enjoy the process, but all usually enjoy the results. Some of the items we produce aren't what we expect. Sometimes, the results are a pleasant surprise, but sometimes we delegate the results to work-outside clothes. We have dyed shirts, hand-made vests, handkerchiefs, head-scarves, tablecloths, wrist bands, and even underwear (as gifts to a few select friends :>). This journal entry documents the process we used today. We won't know the results of this process until Friday night, because I like to let the dye soak for 5-7 days.

The solution is made from 2 gallons of water and 2 cups of soda ash powder. The water in our area is pretty poor for dyeing, and this mixture has worked well for me in the past. The water was lukewarm when I added the powder and it was stirred until all of the powder dissolved.

Everything we dyed was all-cotton, with the exception of some PJ shorts, which were silk. All of the clothes were washed, but not dried. Some of the clothes were soaked in the soda ash solution for 15 minutes. The bucket wasn't large enough to hold all of the items, so the other half was soaked later.

The dye bottles we use are actually ketchup and mustard dispensers that we bought in bulk. To keep the bottles from leaking, teflon tape was wrapped around the top of the bottle (step 1). The color was written on masking tape (step 2). One teaspoon of fiber reactive dye powder was added to each bottle except black, which needs two teaspoons to make it black instead of dark purple (step 3). The teaspoon measure needs to be cleaned between each color (step 4). The water was as hot as the water heater would make it-about 130 degrees F (step 5). The bottles were filled 95% full. When the bottle is shaken, the air allows the powder to mix better (step 6). Because the water is hot, the dye solution has a tendency to spurt when your finger is removed, so point the bottle away from you (step 7). Since the laundry room sink is not adjacent to where we tie dye, the bottles are carried in a bucket to prevent spilling (step 8). The dyes sometimes leak, so be careful where you place them.

David, Laura, and I decided to dye some all-cotton shorts. Garbage bags were placed on the floor and the shorts were placed on top of them. David and I pleated the shorts. We placed the shorts flat on the surface (step 1), folded about an inch of the shorts onto itself (step 2). We repeated this process: step 3 shows the shorts a little over halfway done, and step 4 shows the shorts completely tied.

Before handling the dye bottles, we all donned vinyl gloves (Step1). Holding a finger over the tip of the dye bottle, it was turned over and slight pressure was applied (step 2). After the last color was applied, the shorts were turned over (step 3). Notice the newspaper, that was forgotten. It should have been put between the garbage bag and the shorts before the first color was applied. After all colors were applied to the front and back, the shorts were lifted, the newspaper was thrown away, and the shorts were placed back on the garbage bag (step 4). The end of the garbage bag was pulled over the shorts and then the bag was rolled over and over (step 5). The ends were closed with rubber bands, so the shorts will stay moist while the dye cures (step 6). The bag was placed on a shelf in the laundry room (step 7). It will stay there for the next 5 to 7 days. The room should stay warm for this length of time. Our thermostat is at 78 degrees.

One of the shirts was tied, so it would have a star pattern with four colors. The shirt was placed front down (step 1). The left side was folded onto the right side (step 2). The first star-fold was made (step 3). The second star-fold was made by grabbing the shirt where the first fold met the shirt's right side; in step 3's picture, this point is a little above the center of the picture. The seam was lifted, so that the fabric under it hung straight down (step 4). The lifted portion was then folded toward the top (step 5). The collar of the shirt was folded down (step 6) and the bottom was folded in half on top of the remaining wedge (step 7). Rubberbands were placed on one side of a pair of chopsticks, and the chopsticks were placed around the shirt at a slant to the bottom fold (step 8). Rubber bands were placed on the other side of the chopsticks (step 9). A second set of chopsticks were placed next to the first (step 10). A third set of chopsticks were placed next to the second (step 11). Red, yellow, and green dyes were applied to the shirt (step 12). The blue section was pleated and dyed with blue dye (step 13). The shirt was turned over and dyes were applied to the back; folds of the shirt were separated and dye was applied to the white areas (step 14). The shirt was wrapped as indicated above and placed in the laundry room.

Over the years, we have bought shirts, but haven't been able to use them. These shirts are used to experiment with new techniques like the cross and heart on this shirt. Dye-resist was applied to the top right portion and allowed to dry (step 1). The shirt was folded in half and a heart was drawn using a pencil (step 2). A basting stich was sewn over the pencil line (step 3). The basting stich was drawn tight and tied off. The heart portion was dyed red and the rest of the shirt was dyed yellow (step 4).

She dyed a green peace sign onto a shirt by directing the spray of the bottle (step 1). She colored other areas a solid color (step 2). Mary applied dye to her hands and then "stamped" her handprint onto a dress (step 3).

Beads were placed on the back side of a knit headband, and rubber bands were tied around them from the other side. The headband was dyed red, yellow, green, and blue.

Laura tie-dyed a pair of shorts (step 1) and a sundress (step 2).

Renee tie-dyed two shirts and a pair of shorts. She is heading to Virginia Tech this fall and wanted something in her new colors, maroon and orange. The first shirt was pleated, and she applied the colors in bands (step 1).

With three other left-over shirts, I made spirals. I pinched the shirt a few inches below the neck of each shirt (step 1). I continued to spiral them (step 2) until they were compact, and then I applied three rubber bands (step 3). After applying colors to the wedges, I poured some black dye into a puddle onto newspaper (step 4). I dipped one side of one of the shirts into the black dye and then then the other side (step 5).