| Even if you're not a child of the 60s, you've | | | | start dying, you need to soak your fabric in soda |
| probably had the pleasure of owning and wearing | | | | ash. Tie dye artisans use a few other chemicals |
| tie dye clothing. If you've ever been to an event | | | | as well, which you can learn about on an |
| with a craft fair, chances are that you've noticed | | | | instructional DVD or video. |
| those eye-catching booths full of colorful tie-dye | | | | The Fun Part: Patterns |
| clothing and home decor. You may even have | | | | Tie-dye is all about colors and patterns. Learning |
| marveled at how they manage to incorporate | | | | how to make swirls, crinkles, stripes, wavy lines, |
| those intricate, vibrant designs onto a plain cotton | | | | hearts, clovers, and - yes - even peace signs is a |
| T-shirt. | | | | great way to engage the creativity of everyone |
| While intricate tie dying is truly an art, you and | | | | in the family. You can learn to tye knots; twist |
| your family can have loads of fun at home | | | | fabric into pancake shapes secured by rubber |
| making your own tie dye (or tye dye) creations. | | | | bands; roll a shirts to form tubes, which you then |
| Hands down, the best way to learn how to | | | | tie; and pleat the fabric to make symmetrical |
| tie-dye is through instructions demonstrated on a | | | | patterns. |
| video or DVD. Seeing how it's done, as opposed | | | | Applying the Dye |
| to reading about it, makes all the difference in the | | | | There are at least six different techniques you |
| world. Still, tie dye is a process of trial and error, | | | | can use to apply the dye to your fabric, from |
| so why not give it a whirl (or a swirl)? | | | | dipping and soaking to using squeeze bottles and |
| It's All About the Fabric | | | | spray bottles. Again, someone with years of |
| When it comes to tie dye, the right fabric is | | | | experience can best teach you how to apply |
| critical. Natural fibers - like cotton or linen, pick up | | | | dyes to get the results you want. |
| the dye well. If you stick with 100 percent cotton, | | | | Making it Stick |
| you can't go wrong. To start with, why not pick | | | | After tie dying your shirts or decor, it's important |
| up some inexpensive T-shirts at your local mass | | | | to follow the steps necessary to make sure the |
| merchandiser? Get one for each family member, | | | | dye reacts with the fiber. Then you need to |
| and make it a party! Remember, though, that you | | | | repeatedly wash the fabric in a special solution so |
| need to wash and dry the new garments before | | | | that the dyes don't inadvertently mix and so the |
| you start your tie dying party. Unwashed new | | | | garments remain colorfast. |
| fabric won't pick up the dye very well. | | | | Ultimately, though, tie dye is all about having fun. |
| The Secret of Dyes | | | | It can be a family adventure, a fun way to spend |
| Actually, the dyes you use to tie-dye aren't a big | | | | a weekend afternoon with friends, or a way to |
| secret. For cotton, you need to use a dye that | | | | indulge the creative hippie within you. A great |
| will react well to the fabric, namely Procion MX, | | | | instructional DVD or video will help you learn to tie |
| dissolved in a urea solution. You can make virtually | | | | dye, and send you well on your way to creating |
| every color imaginable with just three colors: | | | | gorgeous, vibrant designs. |
| yellow, turquoise, and fuchsia. But, before you | | | | |