During my teen years, and also when I was studying at art school, I used to indulge in tie-and-dye during most weekends. My friends absolutely loved the tie-and-dye t-shirts, dresses and dupattas I used to make. So much so that I sold quite a few of them to friends of friends for a couple of hundreds each. I can’t remember the last time (besides last weekend when I went on a spontaneous tie-and-dye spree) I worked on a tie-and-dye project.
So I decided to make a couple of tie-and-dye t-shirts for Aarav and Aarna last weekend. I went to a local store and bought a few of the supplies and made a few tie-and-dye t-shirts that they absolutely loved!
How to tie and dye
Tie-and-dye is an interesting craft project for kids because their happy accidents could result in beautiful designs! Try it out yourself with your kids!
Material required for tie-and-dye:
- 100% cotton clothes
- Fibre-reactive dye
- Soda ash fixative
- Bucket
- Glass Jar
- Measuring spoon
- Rubber gloves
- Apron
Technique:
- Pre-wash the t-shirt, dress, or dupatta you plan to use for tie-and-dye.
- Wring the excess water and tie rubber bands as per the design you wish to get.
- Add 2-4 teaspoons of the dye to half a jar of cool water. Close the lid of the jar and shake.
- Then, add the water in the jar to half a bucket of water.
- Add 6 teaspoons of soda ash to half a jar of hot water. Shake the jar with the lid on, as done previously.
- Then, add the water in the jar to the mixture in the bucket, and stir.
- Place the damp t-shirt in the bucket for about 30 to 60 minutes depending on how dark you want the colour.
- Once you remove the t-shirt from the bucket, wash it under warm water first and then slightly cool water.
There you go! Tie-and-dye is that easy! Do try it out and let me know how it went!
