Crumbs wound in your fabric could create light spots in your dye or flecks of white. Take a damp cloth and wipe off your surface before laying your fabric on it. You may want to protect the surface on which you are working by laying down a dye resistant mat or disposable cover to work on. Some common options include cardboard, plastic, and tarps.
You may want to use a tool to help you coil your fabric to give you the tightest spiral possible. A tighter spiral will result in more coils in the pattern, making it more elaborate. Some tools you might use to wind your spiral include a blunt fork or the eraser end of a sturdy pencil. [2] X Research source
Start with four rubber bands and increase the number as you find necessary. Larger pieces of fabric, fabric wound especially tight, or thicker fabric might need more rubber bands to maintain the spiral.
Be careful while twisting and knotting your fabric. You’ll want it to be tight, but knotting it too tightly can cause the fabric to rip or warp.
Fastening your ball too tightly can make it difficult for the dye to work its way into the core of the bunched fabric. This can create gaps in your dyed design. Use the minimum number of fasteners secured as loose as possible while still retaining the ball’s shape. If you plan on using twine or string, it may be easiest to have a friend help you hold the bunched fabric while you tie, or vice versa. If no friends are available, lay of the string on the surface, set your ball atop the middle of the string while still holding the ball together with one hand, cross the ends of the string at the top of your ball, and use your free hand to tie a simple knot.
You can even create more elaborate shapes with your rosettes. For example, you could make a circle of rosettes around the middle of your shirt or gather them into the shape of star. Your imagination is the limit!
Your stripes will form along the orientation of your rubber bands. To ensure even striping, you might want to measure the space between your fasteners with a ruler and adjust as necessary. You could also measure out and mark your spacing beforehand. [11] X Research source
Combine 8 oz (250 ml) of soda ash fixer with 1 gallon (4 L) of warm water. Stir until it is evenly mixed. Wear a dust mask and rubber or plastic gloves when working with this solution. Soda ash can irritate your lungs and skin. [13] X Research source [14] X Research source
½ cup (125 ml) table salt with 8 cups (2 L) cold water. Stir until dissolved. [15] X Research source [16] X Research source
1 cup (250 ml) white distilled vinegar with 4 cups (1 L) cold water. Stir well to distribute the solution evenly.
If using vinegar or salt, rinse the material before squeezing out the excess moisture. A pair of tongs can be used to remove the fabric from the simmering solution so you can rinse the fabric immediately with cool water. This will save you time spent waiting for it to cool. Then, wring out the fabric until it is damp. [18] X Research source
You can use a normal kitchen spoon or ladle to stir your dye. You may want to avoid using wooden spoons; your dye could stain these.
Chop up the plant or dye material into small pieces using a kitchen knife. Place two parts water and one part dye material in a large pot and boil it over high heat. Reduce the heat and let simmer for 1 hour. Strain the plant material out and pour the now colored liquid into a large bowl for you dye bath. [21] X Research source
Boil the berries for approximately 15 minutes or until the color of the berries mixed in with water. Separate the berry chunks by using a strainer and pour the colored liquid into a large bowl. Discard the berry chunks leaving only the colored solution to be used in dyeing the fabric. [22] X Research source
Orange: Onion skin and carrot roots Brown: Coffee, tea, walnuts, and dandelion roots Pink: Red raspberries, cherries, and strawberries Blue/purple: Red cabbage, mulberries, elderberries, blueberries, purple grapes, cornflower petals, and purple irises Red:Beets, rose hips, and St. John’s Wort soaked in alcohol Black: Iris roots Green: Artichokes, spinach leaves, sorrel roots, lilac flowers, snapdragon flowers, black-eyed Susans, and grass Yellow: Celery leaves, turmeric, willow leaves, marigold blossoms, paprika, peach leaves, yarrow, and alfalfa seeds[23] X Research source
A chemical dye will usually require you to soak your fabric for 4 to 10 minutes. Soaking your fabric too long could result in the color becoming too dark. A natural dye will yield the best and brightest color when simmering. Soak your fabric in the heated water for roughly one hour. For a stronger, more vibrant color, soak the fabric overnight.
You can improve the dyeing process by adding salt to your dye solution. You should use the amount of salt recommended on the packaging of your dye, but typically you can expect to need one tablespoon of salt per squirt bottle. Stir or shake the solution until it is consistent throughout. [25] X Research source
It’s a good idea to keep some paper towel on hand during this process. If you apply too much dye, it could puddle on the fabric and run, creating a runny design! You can prevent this by blotting excess dye with paper towel.
When removing your fabric from the microwave, be careful you don’t burn yourself. A pair of gloves or tongs can protect you from burns. Watch your fabric carefully when it is in the microwave. If you notice the plastic baggie inflate, this is completely normal. However, microwaving your bagged fabric for too long could melt the plastic and ruin your fabric.
Continue rinsing the fabric until the water runs clear. Be thorough; you don’t want dye to spread to other clothing. This process could take several minutes.
Alternatively, you could save your fasteners for later use by untying your string or unwrap the rubber bands.
If you decide on using a washing machine, you may want to run your tie dyed fabric through a cycle alone. This way, dye you might have missed won’t transfer to other clothes. [26] X Research source
Lay your dyed fabric flat in an old towel that is larger than it. Roll up your fabric inside the towel, and then wring out the towel along with the fabric inside.
