How to Tie-Dye: The Fanfold

I've decided to do a blog series about all the different ways to tie-dye. There is just so much about it to understand.

Truth be told, I'm putting together an online class about the basics of how to tie dye. As it is coming together, I'm just getting so excited about all the little nuggets of information coming to the surface that I have to share!

First, I am going to cover the fanfold. It is the most essential step that must be mastered before we can move on to learning all the different tie-dye patterns. Several of the tie-dye patterns are achieved with the fanfold as the first step. Fortunately, most of us mastered the fanfold in grade school before the days of school air conditioning making paper fans.

Start with a rectangle of white pre-washed 100% cotton fabric. Fold the fabric back and forth onto itself, so it creates a zigzag pattern piling on top of itself.

Watch the below video:

Check out my next post to learn the other folds used to create various patterns. Once I have shared all of the folds, I will cover how to apply the dye to the various folds and tied fabric to create different tie-dye designs. 

 

A Brief History of Tie-Dyeing

Tie-dye is actually a modern name for an ancient dyeing technique called resist-dyeing.

Resist dyeing is achieved when fabric is manipulated by folding, twisting, pleating or tying to prevent the dye from penetrating the fabric in strategic places to create patterns and designs. You see, the folds resist the dye.

Resist dyeing techniques have been used for at least 5000 years and can be found across many cultures from around the entire world.

Pre-Columbian Peruvians dyed intricate circle and line patterns in bold colors as early as 2000 BC.

The art of Shibori has been practiced in Japan and Indonesia since the 6th century.

Western African cultures have produced elaborate tie-dyed and embroidered patterns for centuries, such as the famed indigo dye pits of Nigeria.

Inspired in part by Western African fashion and textile arts, tie-dye grew in popularity amongst the Hippie culture of the 1960s. Psychedelic brightly colored tie-dye patterns could be found everywhere from t-shirts to wall 
hangings to album covers.  

Fortunately the fascination with this ancient resist dyeing technique has endured into the 21st century.

13 Must-Have Tools for Tie-Dyeing

Textile and fabric arts have been around since the dawn of mankind. While overall the processes and techniques have not changed drastically in all that time, modern tools like plastic buckets and rubber gloves have made tie-dying infinitely easier and more safe.

After decades of tie-dying and other textile arts, I have found some tools that are essential to the process. Read below to find the 13 must-have tools for tie-dyeing.  

1. HOT water. For the best dyeing results the water MUST be HOT. It can be from the faucet, but must be too hot to handle on your bare hands for you to achieve saturated colors when dyeing fabric. 

2. Salt. Salt acts as a mordant for the dye to be more easily absorbed into the fabric. Don't skimp on the salt; I use at least 1/4 cup for small dyeing projects like tie-dyeing a t-shirt, but will use much more for large pieces of fabric or larger garments like pants or dresses.

 

3. The right kind of fabric. Only natural fabrics will dye (easily). Cotton is best for beginners. Find 100 percent cotton fabric or t-shirts to dye. 

4. Rubber gloves. Dye always dyes your hands. It looks weird, and it's toxic. Just wear gloves. People will look at you like you're gross and diseased if you have blue or purple hands. Trust me on this. 

5. Protection for clothing. Splashing and dye splatter is inevitable, either wear old clothing or invest in an apron, smock, or lab coat to cover clothes. Also, don't wear shoes you care about.

6. Rubber bands. Buy a variety pack of different thicknesses and sizes of rubber bands. This costs only around a dollar. Don't save them once they've been dyed. Each size and shape will give you different tie-dye pattern results. 

7. String. Get cheap craft string (the white stuff.) It is very inexpensive because you will also through this away as you use it. Tying garments and fabric with string instead of rubber bands will also yield different tie-dye patterns. 

8. Small container for mixing. Never pour dye and salt directly into dye bath. Instead, mix salt and powder dye with a small amount of water in a small container to create a thick paste-like mixture until all powder dye and salt is dissolved. Then pour thick paste-like dye mixture into dye bath. 

9. Utensils for mixing. You will need at least only small spoon dedicated to mixing dye. Don't ever use this spoon for food again and be sure to wash between dye projects. 

10. Measuring tools. Not every project will require the same amount of dye or salt. Have dedicated measuring tools like cups and spoons as well. 

11. Plastic bags. To get the brightest and most vivid colors when tie-dyeing, Place tied and dye-soaked garment into plastic bag and tie shut. This will keep the garment wet while you let the dye saturate the garment for up to 24 hours. 

12. Paper towels. Always messy. Always have paper towels. Wipe up messes right away to avoid staining. 

13. Bleach. Bleach beats dye always. Use beach to clean utensils, mixing containers and the sink before moving on to the next project.

Is there anything I have missed? Let me know in the comments if there are any tools you as a textile artist have found essential for tie-dyeing.