Have any of you ever done tie dye? If so, do you have any tips as far as brands of dyes? Where to get cheap, but good dye?

I already have the 17 white cotton teeshirts.

This turned into a bigger project than I anticipated (isn't that the way it always is!?). We are doing them at our family reunion next week.

Any tips? and thanks in advance.

My kids just discovered tie dye

enjoy!

How to Tie-Dye - Learn How to Make Tie-Dye Masterpieces

Paula Burch's How to Tie Dye

How to Tie Dye Shirts: Free Online Instructions for Making Patterns & Designs: Free video clips on ExpertVillage.com

Art Lesson Twenty-nine

Chaos... what brand of dye do you use? where did you get it? does it require the 'soda ash' pre-soak?

I tried doing tie-dye a few months ago with my kids as an experiment because I knew that this was coming up and the dye did not soak through all of the layers of fabric.

Thanks for the links.

Just plain Rit dye, no presoaking. Just gather the shirt up, rubberband, dye, rinse, re-rubberband and dye for second color. You can soak in salt afterward to "set" the dye and some line dry partially then toss in dryer to help set.

It sounds like you may have twisted and tied too tightly. You really just need to gather, not twist and pull. And just soak, 20-30 minutes. This site does have the best instructions. It really is simple.

How to Tie-Dye - Learn How to Make Tie-Dye Masterpieces

Before you put the color in you need to soak the garments/linens in a solution of some kind of soda. I remember we went to Fred Meyer's and got something for the hot tub and mixed it with water and soaked everything in it. I tried googling but I can't remember what it was called. But this stuff helps set the color so it won't run or fade now or later.

Then put the liquid Rit dye in plastic you know those ketchup/catsup bottles that would take on a picnic and tie, twist, rubber band your material and put the dye directly on the places you want it. Then let the stuff dry outside.

When washing use only cold water and low heat or line dry. Shirts can be hung on a hanger over the shower/tub to dry.

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Now I member. It's soda ash

What is soda ash, and what's it for in dyeing?
Soda ash is the active ingredient in washing soda. The chemical name for it is sodium carbonate, chemical formula Na2CO3. It is more basic, that is, less acidic, than sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), whose chemical formula is NaHCO3. The purpose of sodium carbonate is simply to increase pH.

FAQ: What is soda ash, and what's it used for in dyeing?

You first soak the stuff, the soda ash is in flakes and can be bought anywhere you buy hot tub "chemicals".

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.