General Tie-Dye Instructions

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Soda Soak Method

1. Prewash fabric.
2. Soak fabric in a mixture of 1 cup Soda Ash per 1 gallon of water for 20 minutes. Be sure the soda ash is thoroughly dissolved. Then squeeze out by hand.
3. Fold and tie fabric.
4. In 1 cup of tap water, mix 2 or more teaspoons of dye. Apply the dye to the fabric using a squirt bottle, paint brush, or sponge. Apply as many colors as you like. Do not oversaturate the fabric with dye or all your colors will run together.
5. Cover fabric with plastic wrap or in a plastic bag and let stand for at least 12 hours, but preferably 24.
6. Rinse as usual.

Activated Dye Method

Activating the Procion MX dye with Soda Ash shortens the tie-dye process and gives a different look.

1. Mix dye with water (as above).
2. Add 8 teaspoons of soda ash per cup of dye. Stir well. Activated dye will remain usable for 4 hours. Mix in small quantities.
3. Fold and tightly bind shirt or fabric. Immerse briefly in warm water. Wring out excess water. Place on a plate to catch excess dye.
4. Apply dye to both sides of the fabric bundle.
5. Seal dyed shirt in a plastic bag. Allow to sit for at least 12, but preferably 24 hours.
6. Rinse as usual.

Hints on Folding and Binding

• Always fold on a clean, flat surface.
• When folding or bunching, expose as much fabric as possible.
• Make small folds rather than large folds.
• Use string, rubber fands or narrow elastic for resists. Bind tightly.

Accordian, Horizontal, Diagonal, or Vertical Fold: Pleat fabric in 1” or smaller folds. Bind. This will make parallel lines of the dye if applied on the folded edges.

Spiral: With the fabric lying flat, select a point and twist that point, spiraling the fabric around that point to make a bundly that looks like a cinnamon roll. Dye applied in pie-shaped wedges will spiral when the fabric is opened.

Circles: Select a point, lift the fabric by that point. Smooth the fabric to make a cone. Bind along the cone. Dye applied in horizontal bands between the binding will make concentric circles.

Dots: Select a point lift the fabric by that point, bind close to the point. Select other points and bind. Dye applies to the points will make dots of color. The binding will keep the dye from making large spots.