tie-dye

Tie-dye used as stage decor, Snoqualmie Moondance festival (1992)

Tie-dye is a process of resist dyeing textiles or clothing which is made from knit or woven fabric, usually cotton; typically using bright colors. It is a modern version of traditional dyeing methods used in many cultures throughout the world.^[1] "Tie-dye" can also describe the resulting pattern or an item which features this pattern. Tie-dyeing became fashionable in the West in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of hippie style. It was popularized in the United States by musicians such as John Sebastian and Janis Joplin.^[2]

General

T-shirt in process of being tie-dyed at the Our Community Place Lawn Jam June 28, 2008 in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Tie-dying is accomplished by folding the material into a pattern, and binding it with string or rubber bands. Dye is then applied to only part of the material. The ties prevent the entire material from being dyed. Designs are formed by applying different colors of dyes to different sections of the fabric. Once complete, the material is rinsed, and the dye is set.

Dyes

An example of a tie dyed t-shirt

Although many different kinds of dyes may be used, most tie-dyers now dye with Procion MX fiber reactive dyes.^[3] This class of dyes works at warm room temperatures; the molecules permanently bind with cellulose based fibers (cotton, rayon, hemp, linen), as well as silk, when the pH is raised. Soda ash (sodium carbonate) is generally used to raise the pH and is either added directly to the dye, or in a solution of water in which garments are soaked before dyeing. They do not fade with washing, but sunlight will cause the colors to fade over time.

Traditional tie-dye

The earliest surviving examples of pre-Columbian tie-dye in Peru date from A.D. 500-800. Their designs include small circles and lines, with bright colors including red, yellow, blue, and green.^[4]

Shibori includes a form of tie-dye that originated in Japan. It has been practiced there since at least the eighth century. Shibori includes a number of labor-intensive resist techniques including stitching elaborate patterns and tightly gathering the stitching before dyeing, forming intricate designs for kimonos. Another shibori method is to wrap the fabric around a core of rope, wood or other material, and bind it tightly with string or thread. The areas of the fabric that are against the core or under the binding would remain undyed.

Tie-dye techniques have also been used for centuries^{[citation needed]} in the Hausa region of West Africa, with renowned indigo dye pits located in and around Kano, Nigeria. The tie-dyed clothing is then richly embroidered in traditional patterns. It has been argued that the Hausa techniques were the inspiration for the hippie fashion^{[citation needed]}.

Plangi and tritik are Indonesian words, derived from javanese words, for methods related to tie-dye, and bandhna is a term from India. Ikat is a method of tie-dying the warp or weft before the cloth is woven.

Tie-dyeing was known in the US by 1909.^[5] Later in the 20th Century, tie-dye became associated with the Hippie movement.

Mudmee Tie-dye

Mudmee tie-dye - Thailand

Mudmee tie-dye developed from mudmee silk, which is mainly created in Thailand and neighboring part of Laos. This type of tie-dye displays unique shapes and patterns. Mostly found in the big markets of Bangkok, Thailand, the artists, creating their garments, keep their specific artistry confidential.

This type of tie-dye is characterized by its softer forms and bigger variety of shapes and patterns. Colors used are often subdued and many items are found that are restricted to only one or two colors. The use of black as a base color results in unusual tones.

Creating Mudmee tie-dye requires more skills and resources than the typical t-shirt of the hippie era. There are only few such skilled artist present around the world and a danger exists that this art form may become extinct. There is currently a project underway to participate in an apprenticeship at one of the bigger studios in Thailand and then, with the help of the owner of the studio, create a book to preserve the art of mudmee tie-dye making^[6].

Folds and patterns

Below is a list of common modern tie-dying folds and patterns.

Spiral

Spiral patterns are created by gathering a small section,usually with a clothes pin, in the middle of the fabric and slowly rotating the piece creating pleats of fabric arranged in swirls around a central point. It is then gathered into a flat round bundle and the different wedges of the circular bundle are usually dyed different colors to create a greater spiral effect. ^[7]

V

The 'V' shape is achieved by folding a shirt in half vertically, then a line is drawn diagonally from the shoulder area down to the center fold of the shirt. The fabric is then accordion folded along the line and bound into one or more areas to which the dye is applied. This will show in the shape of a 'V'.

Random

This category can hold several different patterns, the majority of which have nothing to do with each other; they can be combinations or they can be as chaotic as bundling the item to be dyed.

Random circles

This effect is made by tying knots with string or elastic bands in different places. The more fabric that is tied, the larger the circles. The less fabric that is tied the smaller the circles.

Peace Signs

The Peace Sign can be made by folding a t-shirt in half, drawing a half circle, then the center line and arm of the peace sign. The shirt is folded along the lines and tied using rubber bands. The dye is applied to form the outline of the peace sign then a lighter color is used to fill in the background colors.

See also

• Batik
• Psychedelic art

References

1. ^  "Psychedelic Beginnings". 2003-05-29. http://articles.latimes.com/2008/apr/06/image/ig-lookback6. Retrieved on 2008-07-25. 
2. ^  "The Psychedelic Tie-Dye Look". Time. January 26, 1970. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,878729-1,00.html. Retrieved on 2008-07-25. 
3. ^  "What kinds of chemical bonds attach dyes to fibers?". http://www.pburch.net/dyeing/FAQ/bonding.shtml. Retrieved on 2008-07-25. 
4. ^  "What is Synthrapol?". http://www.pburch.net/dyeing/FAQ/synthrapol.shtml. Retrieved on 2008-07-27. 
5. ^  "What is soda ash, and what's it for in dyeing?". http://www.pburch.net/dyeing/FAQ/sodaash.shtml. Retrieved on 2008-07-25. 
6. ^  "Fiber-reactive dyes". Tie-dye Wiki. http://tie-dyewiki.com/wikinew/index.php?title=Fiber-reactive_dyes. Retrieved on 2008-07-25. 
7. ^  "Amarras Replication Research Project". World Shibori Network. http://www.shibori.org/research/amreplicate.html. Retrieved on 2008-07-25. 
8. ^  Pellew, Charles E.. "Tied and Dyed Work: An Oriental Process with American Variations". Craftsman, Vol. 16 (1909), p. 695-701. http://www.handweaving.net/DAItemDetail.aspx?ItemID=2934. Retrieved on 2008-07-25. 
9. ^  "More about Gigi's Thailand Trip". ThaiDye.com companion blog. http://www.thaitiedye.com/2007/12/22/more-about-gigis-thailand-trip/. Retrieved on 2008-11-16. 
10. ^  "Spiral". Tie-dye Wiki. http://tie-dyewiki.com/wikinew/index.php?title=Spiral. Retrieved on 2008-07-25. 

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Tie-dye

• Easy Tie Dye Instructions
• Learn How To Tie Dye for Free

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