FREE shipping on all orders over $60
The Process: What's involved in making a custom tie dye
Selecting a "blank"
Selecting a "blank"
Selecting a "blank"
The first step is to find a dyeable garment that is able to be tie dyed. All of my shirts are 100% cotton. Cotton is a fiber that the dye can easily adhere to when properly prepped. Some items may have a small percentage of polyester or spandex.
Prepping the blank
Selecting a "blank"
Selecting a "blank"
All newly purchased dyeable items must first be washed and dried to remove any "sizing" that the manufacturer used when creating the blank. Then it must be soaked in a soda ash solution.
Tying the design
Selecting a "blank"
Dying the project
Once it's prepped and ready, the item can be tied. Depending on the design that is wanted it will be folded and secured in a way that will create the desired effect.
Dying the project
Batching the project
Dying the project
The project can be dyed a few different ways. I usually use an ice dye process or a liquid dye process. Both types have their advantages and disadvantages and will result in different "looks" once its finished.
Batching the project
Batching the project
Batching the project
And now I wait... During this time the dye is reacting with the soda ash to bond to the material. Depending on the room temperature, the batching process can take up to 48 hours to complete.
Washing it out
Batching the project
Batching the project
Finally, it's time to wash out the dyed item. This starts in a sink. Each item is washed out by hand with a detergent that helps remove any dye that didn't adhere to the fibers. After 2 or 3 more wash outs in the sink it is then washed in a machine, usually twice to finish the process.