There is a group on Face Book called Addicted to Tie Dying where tie dyers from all over the world share their expertise with newbies.
It is fascinating going through the photo album!
Saturday, August 6, 2011
What color will the 'spider' be?
I have figured that one out finally! When you swirl a spiral, the side closest to the table is the better swirl. Dye applied to that side turns out to be the back ground. For the Spider, swirl down from the neck.
Here 'dark brown' was applied to the table side and maroon the other.
Here 'dark brown' was applied to the table side and maroon the other.
Production Work
Because I am not much on the production end of Tie Dyeing, I have spent the last 20 years teaching others. Last year was the first year I applied to sell at a craft fair. Our local Arts Center puts one on at Thanksgiving and takes care of collecting and paying the state sales tax. I was encouraged to apply and was surprised actually to be accepted. It is after all just 'tie dye.'
As luck would have it, I sold enough to make it worth my while. Instead of all new t-shirts I look for blanks to dye at thrift stores. I look for high end natural fiber items that have been donated. This serves both the ideas of reuse and supporting a variety of non profits. With the economy the way it is though more people are shopping at thrift stores and thrift stores are charging higher prices. I am finding that these days I can buy new cheaper than thrift. But I like the variety of styles so I keep looking.
I dye 12-15 items a week, spending about 3 hours on the tie-ing and dye-ing one day and 2-3 hours tending the washing machine the next. While my blanks are soaking in soda ash in the washer I choose my pallet of colors. I then choose the color combinations and how I will fold them, making a list so I can recreate a pattern or combination if I particularily like it. The dyeing then is routine because the thinking has already been done. Once the dye is applied they go into plastic bags and batch overnight.
As luck would have it, I sold enough to make it worth my while. Instead of all new t-shirts I look for blanks to dye at thrift stores. I look for high end natural fiber items that have been donated. This serves both the ideas of reuse and supporting a variety of non profits. With the economy the way it is though more people are shopping at thrift stores and thrift stores are charging higher prices. I am finding that these days I can buy new cheaper than thrift. But I like the variety of styles so I keep looking.
I dye 12-15 items a week, spending about 3 hours on the tie-ing and dye-ing one day and 2-3 hours tending the washing machine the next. While my blanks are soaking in soda ash in the washer I choose my pallet of colors. I then choose the color combinations and how I will fold them, making a list so I can recreate a pattern or combination if I particularily like it. The dyeing then is routine because the thinking has already been done. Once the dye is applied they go into plastic bags and batch overnight.
Sun
This sun was created by drawing a 1/2 circle and pleating along the line (DIAMONDS OVALS SQUARES). Dye was applied in 'chaos' fashion (ELECTRIC BUNCHINg) to the gathered circle with two more bands tied finger width apart. Red, yellow, and orange dye were applied in 'chaos' with red and orange alternating front and back on the bands.
This is the back of the shirt dyed black. I like the lightening effect. I simply 'swirled' the body of the shirt bottom up.
This is the back of the shirt dyed black. I like the lightening effect. I simply 'swirled' the body of the shirt bottom up.
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