There’s nothing quite like tie-dye to exemplify the “classic camping” style! These simple instructions will guide you through making some beautiful pieces – and have fun along the way.
Classic Spiral
Place your finger in the center of the spiral. Slowly and carefully wrap the material in a spiral until a flat disc is formed. Use rubber bands to hold the spirals together. Then use the prepared spray bottle dye to add the color. Don’t forget to paint on both sides!
Ice Dying
This technique requires more patience – you have to wait for the ice to melt – but using powder dyes instead of liquid dyes, which may be easier to control. Wet the cloth, knead it into a ball, and place on a grill or drying rack on a baking sheet or bucket. Cover the cloth completely with ice, spoon the powder dye onto the ice, and allow the ice to melt completely. Set up the dye as directed (usually in a microwave oven or with a dye fixative).
Gradient Effect
Wet the fabric. When your garment is ready to be dyed, use a spray bottle to add dye to the hem (or wherever you want the darkest color). Then brush the dye up and down with a brush dipped in water. This spreads the color, and the intensity of the color decreases when you move away from where the dye is added.
Crumpling Technique
This is similar to the spiral described above, but does not need to be folded so precisely. Simply knead the fabric into a flat disc, elasticate it casually, and secure it with a rubber band. Apply the dye with a spray bottle, taking care to leave space between the colors, or only place the colors on top of each other, well-mixed colors (e.g., red and yellow next to each other will create some orange overlap).
Accordion Folds
Fold the cloth like a folding fan, folding 2 to 3 inches until a long, narrow bundle is formed. Hold it in place with rubber hands every few inches and then stain it with a spray bottle like a classic spiral.