Tell me about tie dye, please!

[atpeace]

What are you experiences with tie dyeing? Easy? Hard? Worth getting all the equipment and tools? Messy?

I am in love with rainbow tie dye, and want to make some clothes, for DD, gifts, myself, etc. I'd also love to tie dye a piece of long fabric to use as a wrap for future babies (and to give as gifts). Is it worth it? Or should I just buy it already made? Anyone have any links of WHAMS selling tie dye stuff?

thanks!

[lizabird]

About 3 yrs ago, I decided I wanted to do a LOT of tie-dye. I went crazy with Dharma Trading Company and bought a bunch of dyes and supplies (Check out their info how-to pages, they are very very informative and you'll find everything you need right there!). It wasn't wildly expensive, mostly it depends on how many dyes you decide to buy. Well, then if you buy any new white teeshirts/clothing, that gets expensive too, but I have found a lot of light colored clothing to dye too at thrift stores (maybe a white shirt with a small stain that gets covered up with dye, or a light blue shirt that looks fine with the darker dyes, etc.)

It is lots of fun, and if you buy the stuff and get into it, you'll find yourself dying everything in your house that used to be white...

[jerri]

I've not done a ton of tie-dying, but I always love the results. For a beginner, it was fun and easy for me to pick up a few white things up at the thrift store as well as some white fabric I had and some prefolds. I just used the 'kit' you can buy at the craft store (with coupon). Worked out fun and easy and gave me confidence to try other kinds of dying.

[atpeace]

Thanks everyone! I'm excited about this project, and think I'll be using a kit.

I have a question...I'm nervous about washing the tie dyed clothes in a machine. Will it stain? Can I just hand wash in a tub? Or is it really worth the worry? Also, can I wash them all together once they're dyed, or will they run and stain each other and get muddy?

[notjustmamie]

Before your untie them, rinse each piece out under running water until the water runs clear. As I recall, you then dry them to set the dye. If you buy a kit it should have instructions on how to launder them.

[ColoradoMama]

Originally Posted by atpeace

I have a question...I'm nervous about washing the tie dyed clothes in a machine. Will it stain? Can I just hand wash in a tub? Or is it really worth the worry? Also, can I wash them all together once they're dyed, or will they run and stain each other and get muddy?

I wouldn't worry about it. If it bothers you too much, go to a laundromat. We didn't even wash ours out ahead of time. I threw them in the machine and washed them (twice I think) in cold. You'll definitely want to wear gloves when you take them out and just realize that they splatter! One thing you can do is to take off the bands outside and put everything in a big bag and then dump that into the machine to cut down on the splatter.

We love doing tie dye, but it is messy for sure! It's not too hard although if you want the fancier designs it's certainly challenging! Here's a picture of the stuff the kids and I did this summer: tie dye. In contrast, here's a shirt my friend Heather made (she sells tie dyed stuff) for my husband: alien tie dye. She sells her stuff on eBay. Here's a link to some of it http://stores.ebay.com/Diapers-and-Wipers. She doesn't have a lot listed right now, but she said that if there is something you're looking for to contact her, and she'll see what she has.

[ma2maya]

Originally Posted by atpeace

Thanks everyone! I'm excited about this project, and think I'll be using a kit.

I have a question...I'm nervous about washing the tie dyed clothes in a machine. Will it stain? Can I just hand wash in a tub? Or is it really worth the worry? Also, can I wash them all together once they're dyed, or will they run and stain each other and get muddy?

I have always tossed my dyed items directly in the wash. I fill up the washer with hot water and toss my untied items in. I let it go thru the wash cycle and after it dumps(before the rinse) I stop it. I take off the ties that may have not all come off. I then reset it and do another hot wash. I might go thru the process again if I have many items in there but if not I let it go thru all the way to spin. Never had any issues with stains in the washer and my items come out great. Take a peek

Kathy