Knot dyeing is a hippy and counter-culture practice, perfect for those who love bright fabrics. Do you want to do something yourself but you don't know what to do? What to tie? What to dye? Follow the instructions to find an answer.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Create Different Textures
Step 1. Make the strips
Spread the shirt on the table. Roll it from the hem to the collar so that you end up with a long tube of fabric. Use string or rubber bands to tie the roll.
- To create just a few strips, leave more space between each tie. For a lot of them, use a dozen or more rubber bands.
- Rolling up will result in vertical stripes.
- If you want the horizontal ones instead, go from right to left or vice versa and tie along this line.
Step 2. Create spirals
This is the simplest and most common knot dyeing technique. To create a spiral on the shirt, first lay it out on the table. Place your thumb and forefinger in the center of the shirt. Start moving them in a circular fashion around the center point.
- If ridges start to form, flatten them. The shirt must have spirals but should remain flat on the table.
- When you're done, use a wide rubber band or string to tie. You will need to do at least six sections so use at least three rubber bands or pieces of string. The shirt must have a roughly rounded shape and with folds in the shape of a 'slice of cake'.
- For a more complicated design use more rubber bands. Make sure they all converge in the center.
- You can create multiple spirals by making smaller sections in the same way.
Step 3. The Pois
Take a piece of fabric between your fingers as if to pinch it. Tie a string or elastic to the end of the emerging fabric. To create small polka dots, lift a couple of centimeters maximum. For larger ones, instead, squeeze a larger section of fabric.
- By tying more rubber bands on top of each other you will create a kind of multi-circle target.
- For a different colored ring, try using cords or rubber bands previously dipped in color.
Step 4. The Rosette
They are small points that connected to form a flower. To get them, pinch a small section of fabric. Transfer the raised part to one hand and pinch a second. Again, move the section to the other hand. When you have pinched some, tie them together with a rubber band.
- More rubber bands create a rosette with a striped or spiral texture. You can make many based on the fabric available.
- For a more articulated rosette, do more pinches. Three or four will create a simple one.
Step 5. Give it a crumpled look
The easiest way to knot dye is to take the shirt and crumple it. As long as the look is really super wrinkled, not perfectly folded or rolled. Now take a lot of rubber bands or pieces of string and wrap them around the entire surface of the shirt. You can create a neat pattern but if you really want a crumpled style, just throw them at random.
Step 6. Create creases
Start at the bottom of the shirt and fold it up like an accordion. To do this, you should fold a section of it at the front then fold it inwards. Repeat over the entire surface of the shirt.
- Make several knots. This style is similar to that for creating stripes so the number of folds will determine the number of stripes.
- By folding up, you will get vertical lines. For horizontal ones, follow the same directions going from left to right or vice versa.
Step 7. Play a flash
It is the most complicated drawing and requires a lot of folds. However it really is the most beautiful. Start by folding the shirt up to chest height, then fold the section down - sideways it should look like an N. Repeat, lowering the line. Fold one section about two inches from the top of the top, then fold down. Repeat 3 to 5 times until the shirt has several layered folds.
- The look must be that of an old laundry board.
- Put the shirt diagonally and visualize a midline. Accordion fold from one side towards the center, then turn and do the same with the other side.
- Tie in small groups as soon as you finish folding. For a more detailed shape use lots of rubber bands or cords. If you want a simpler one, 3 or 4 are enough.
Method 2 of 3: Dye the Shirt
Step 1. Set up your work area
Knot dyeing or otherwise is a messy job. To prevent accidents, cover the table, floor, and nearby furniture or rugs with plastic (a tablecloth or garbage bags).
- Make sure you have everything you need close at hand so that you don't have to wander around the house or worry about tipping something over as you move.
- Use an oven rack to hold the shirt so it reaches every corner.
- Remember that it will take some extra paper towels or rags to dab any drops.
Step 2. Many dye packs also have a carbonate soda solution that is used to fix the color on the fabric
Dissolve the carbonate in a bowl of water and leave the shirt to soak for about twenty minutes.
- If your chosen dye doesn't have the carbonate solution included, you can soak the shirt in warm water. You can also choose to buy the carbonate separately.
- Do not use cold or hot water, it will weaken the color.
- If you don't want the colors to spread out too much, don't wet the fabric before adding the dye. Dyeing a wet shirt causes the color to spread faster. So if you want it to remain isolated, dye the shirt dry.
Step 3. Prepare the color
Each paint pack should have specific instructions on the proportions to use. If you don't have them, mix different colors directly in a basin of warm water.
To create colors that are pastel or faded in appearance, use more water and less dye. Do the opposite to make them shiny
Step 4. Immerse the shirt
Keep the colors in separate bowls for layered color baths or pour them into spray bottles. For color baths, take the shirt and dip it in different parts. You can dip it all in one color and then pass it first in the second then in the third. Using the sprayer instead, just spray a little color in the desired area by layering the colors.
- If you want to layer the colors, apply the lighter ones first. The opposite would make it all a mess.
- If you mix complementary colors - opposites in the color scale like orange and blue, yellow and purple and red and green, the point where they come together will take on a brown tinge.
- It is not mandatory to dye the entire shirt. You can make small sections of it and leave the rest of the natural color.
Step 5. Let it dry
Wrap the shirt in a plastic bag to keep out moisture. Let it rest for 4 - 6 hours to allow the dye to react to the fabric. Place the shirt in a warm corner.
Step 6. Rinse
Wearing rubber gloves, take the shirt out of the bag, remove the rubber bands or the cords. Rinse in cold water to remove excess color. Be careful not to spill the water on yourself and on the work surface.
Step 7. Wash the shirt
Put it in the washing machine. Start a cold wash and wait. If you want, you can repeat an empty wash with a little detergent to wash the inside of the drum of any dye residues.
Step 8. Dry the shirt and put it on
You can put it in the dryer cold or just hang it in the sun. And now, put on your new garment!
Method 3 of 3: Knot Dye Non-Woven Items
Step 1. Dye the cupcakes
Give your favorite treats a pop of color. You can give the pasta shades of the rainbow or make a colored glaze for decoration.
Step 2. Dye the paper
It is a great opportunity to make items and cards to give as gifts. Use the dye process to give the paper a colorful and fun effect.
Step 3. Dye your nails
Your nails will look more beautiful if you give them a knot dyed effect. Make one or two concentric designs using your favorite nail polish.
Step 4. Create a knot tint effect with photoshop
If you want to give your graphics a touch of different color, learn how to use the tint effect with photoshop. With a couple of tricks you will soon be able to add a rainbow background to your artwork.
Advice
- Wear rubber gloves and an apron to avoid staining your skin and clothing.
- Avoid using synthetic fabrics as they will react to color differently than cotton.
- Never use boiling water or water that is too hot as the color will not set evenly.
- Pre-wash before soaking the shirt in the color as any residue may not absorb the dye.
