Tie-dyeing is widely known as one of the most popular methods of fabric decoration that has existed for centuries. When used on linen, a naturally breathable fabric most famous for its wear-resistance, we get the harmony of art and comfort. Linen dresses can be tie-dyed because linen is very receptive to dye and the final artistic outcome is usually bright and stubborn. Today, Tangerine Tiger is here to help you learn how to tie-dye a short linen dress, let it be about how to obtain the materials you will need or about in what ways you will tie-dye the dress as well as how to take care of the dress after the tie-dyeing is done.
Before Dyeing Linen Fabric: What You Need to Know
The first step is to prepare all that is needed to do the tie-dyeing. Here’s what you’ll need:
- A white or light-colored short linen dress: The closer the base color of your fabric is to white, the bolder and more vibrant the other colors you are going to use for tie-dying.
- Dye: You can use fiber-reactive dyes most preferred for natural fabrics such as linen. They are more durable and give out brighter shades of color.
- Rubber bands or string: These will assist in forming all sorts of patterns in your tie-dyeing layout.
- Squeeze bottles or brushes: For using the dye in places limited to a few people or specific areas.
- Gloves: To protect hands from staining.
- Plastic bags: To cover the dress during the period the dye takes to set.
- Buckets and water: Proper for soaking the dress and washing out the dye.
- Soda ash (optional): They provide a better opportunity for the dye to be absorbed into the fabric as they soften the fabric slightly.
Choosing Your Design
As inspired by the randomness of the art involved in producing tie-dye. There’s no two are the same, and therefore what is being produced is a classic representation of their individuality. Nonetheless, the patterns you set are relatively determined by how you knot and crinkle the fabric before applying the dye. Here are some popular techniques for creating designs:
- Spiral: The first method involves pinching the center of the dress while twisting it circularly. Once you’ve got a spiral, you position it into sections by using rubber bands. It is most effective when you use different colors of dye on each section to give it the rainbow spiral theme.
- Crumple: This design is more random and unstructured as opposed to the previous ones. Pump the dress into a rather loose and bag-like material, then tie it in using rubber bands. This technique forms patterns that seem to have no order, contrary to what one might observe in most other methods of layering liquids.
- Stripes: Hang the dress vertically or horizontally and then fold it like an accordion and circle it with rubber bands. Paint each section with dye so that there are stripes.
- Bullseye: Pull a tiny section of the fabric where you wish to have the center of the bullseye and stretch it upward. Stop every few centimeters down this length and secure it with rubber bands. It is also important to apply different colors between the bands as this creates a concentric pattern.
- Shibori: This is a method that was developed in Japan and it mostly requires forward or twisting of the fabric material and then an application of dye. Shibori schemes look gorgeous on linens especially as the fabric gives rich impressions with complex tries demonstrating the rawness of handmade work.
The Tie-Dye Process
- Pre-soak the fabric (optional): When washing with soda ash, dilute your short linen dress in water and immerse your linen dress in it, for about 20 minutes.
- Prepare your Dye: Most manufacturers provide guidelines on how to go about diluting the dye, adhere to them to the letter. Make certain you apply gloves and cover your working area with plastics or old towels.
- Tie your fabric: Fold, scrunch, or twist your dress in as you wish and tie using either rubber bands or string.
- Apply the dye: Dyeing can be done by squirting the dye in the fabric using the squeeze bottles or by brushing.
- Let it sit: After applying the dye, put your dress in plastic to ensure that it stays wet until the dye sets. Let the dress stand for 6-24 hrs depending on the extent of color that you want on your dress.
- Rinse and wash: After the dye has set let out the dress from the bag and wash it in cold water until the water being drained is clear. Then, in washing the dress, do this separately in warm water and a mild detergent.
Conclusion
Making tie-dyed linen dressing is a nice activity that enables one to purchase a kind of slow fashion products instead of continuously buying mass clothes. No matter what you decide – to use extremely saturated colors or something more delicate like warm pastels you will get a fascinating vision of each person’s exquisite individuality. In addition, the seasonal nature of linen means this dress is ideal for warm weather, daytime wear, or as a beach sarong. To buy your short linen dress now, visit Taangerine Tiger!