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Arts and crafts

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Original poster

OK. Tie dye. I get one shot at this - heeeelp

41 replies

stealthsquiggle · 02/10/2013 19:58

For reasons which made perfect sense at the time, I am planning to tie die aprons for my DD's party. I am going for this sort of effect. I have one of these kits, and I get the whole roll it up, fasten with elastic bands, apply dye plan.

But here is where I get lost. I have pre washed the aprons, and have written names on the plain aprons with this stuff. The dye instructions say the fabric needs to be damp. So how do I get it damp without washing out the dye resist stuff, and do I do it before or after rolling them up?

Normally I would do trial and error, but having read the instructions on the dye pack, the dyes only last 45 mins once you have mixed them up - which makes this a one shot deal, and I am in need of the collective wisdom of MN to make sure I don't stuff it up.

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Mogz · 02/10/2013 23:39

The wax you've used for the names should be fine and stay in place if you run the aprons under some water before putting them in the dye. Just be gentle. If it were going to budge with a bit of plain water it wouldn't be much good to use with a water based dye! Good luck, and wear gloves! And old clothes! And don't let the dog/cat/small children near the wet dye!

Original poster

stealthsquiggle · 03/10/2013 07:14

Thanks, Mogz. I figured it must be damp proof but I am panicking. Apart from the general panic caused by knowing that I can't try again when if it goes wrong, it's the mechanics. If I were doing one, I would dampen it, then roll it up, then dye it. Trouble is, I am doing 26 . It did occur to me this morning that I could roll them all up and then leave them out in the rain for a while - what do you think? I then plan on covering a table with a tarpaulin to work on. I would do it outside (the chickens could take their chances if they chose to interfere) but it is apparently going to rain all weekend (hence the thought process about using the rain...)

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SoupDragon · 03/10/2013 07:43

If you do find the resist stuff washes off, you could probably rescue it by colouring the names in with a fabric pen.

SoupDragon · 03/10/2013 07:44

If you roll them and leave the in the rain, i suspect the centres would remain dry

Original poster

stealthsquiggle · 03/10/2013 08:02

soupdragon.

Leave them in the rain and then roll them, maybe? [slightly desperate]

I need to be able to batch process them somehow....

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Original poster

stealthsquiggle · 03/10/2013 08:03

Maybe I should try one today (the getting wet bit). I have a couple with no name on.

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PukousMucous · 03/10/2013 16:05

Putting them into the dye wet helps the dye get in evenly. But if you make sure the aprons are saturated with the dye by mixing and squeezing you could skip the wetting bit. Dyeing dry fabric can leave an uneven finish but with tie dye that may not matter too much.

Original poster

stealthsquiggle · 03/10/2013 16:10

So does it matter if they are just damp or properly wet? I can imagine that if it were dripping wet it would have weird effects on the dye, but I was wondering - if I wrapped up all the little bundles (I am aiming for spirals) , chucked them all in a bucket of cold water, and then squeezed them out before putting the dye on, would that work, do you think?

(yes, I do know I am over thinking this, but if it goes wrong then there is absolutely no way I have the time, material or money to do it again before the party )

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PukousMucous · 04/10/2013 09:49

Sorry, bit late.

The fabric only needs to be damp before going in the dye, not soaking but ideally it should be damp all the way through if you are going to wet it at all.

Or have you already experimented? Whatever the weather they will look great.

Original poster

stealthsquiggle · 04/10/2013 09:54

Not experimented yet (cowardice combined with waiting for the last few replies) but confirmation, if I needed it, that it needs to be a batch process was provided by the 1.5 hours it took last night to wind them all (not even quite all, as some names are still drying) into spirals and secure with elastic bands.

So... my plan (which may go horribly wrong) is to soak them all in a bucket of cold water, then put the in the washing machine and do a slow spin. Hopefully lots of damp little bundles will emerge.

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Original poster

stealthsquiggle · 04/10/2013 23:30

Dye is on and cooking overnight. Fingers crossed.

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PukousMucous · 05/10/2013 07:49

What news? I hope they look magnificent, in sure they will

Original poster

stealthsquiggle · 05/10/2013 08:35

So far (they're in the wash), the tie dye looks great, but the dye resist appears not to have worked at all . I am suspending judgement until they come out of their hot wash, but when I was rinsing them there were no names in evidence at all.

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Gatekeeper · 05/10/2013 08:45

stealth, how about putting the names back on with 'puffy'/3d fabric paint? The one I have is dead easy to use and has a nib end for writing. After it has dried I use a hairdryer on it and it...well...puffs out!

Original poster

stealthsquiggle · 05/10/2013 08:57

Gatekeeper, I think that's what I will end up doing. I am feeling mildly resentful about the time I spent putting the names on the first time, though .

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Gatekeeper · 05/10/2013 09:16

give them a good kicking and swear a bit and then let it goooooo

Original poster

stealthsquiggle · 05/10/2013 09:30

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Original poster

stealthsquiggle · 05/10/2013 11:10

Out of the wash and, sure enough, not a sign of the names - I found one where I could see there had been letters, but that's it. Lesson is - dye resist stuff is a waste of money and time and I shall compose a snotty email to them.

.. and find time somehow to go and buy puffy paint and redo the names.

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Mogz · 05/10/2013 12:05

Aww, shame it didn't work. Next time just go straight for puffy paint (or use melted white candle wax my DM tells me it's fab for tie-dye). How does the dye job look once dry?

Gatekeeper · 05/10/2013 12:21

can you bung some photos on please stealth...interested to see how it turned out as I fancy having a go

Original poster

stealthsquiggle · 05/10/2013 15:00

Will do - as usual, I failed to take any pictures of the process. Dyes have not taken quite as well as I had hoped, TBH. Ironically, given that they say they won't take on synthetic fabrics, the brightest colours on the 100% cotton aprons are the labels

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3birthdaybunnies · 05/10/2013 19:06

Watching with interest as thinking about doing this for dd1's scooby doo mystery party- t-shirts though with I imagine even more fabric than your aprons.

Tinkerisdead · 05/10/2013 20:13

Ah Stealth i'm gutted for you cos I know how long you planned that. Will they look okay once the names go bavk on do you think?

Original poster

stealthsquiggle · 05/10/2013 22:17

They'll have to, DW.

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Original poster

stealthsquiggle · 07/10/2013 10:30

OK, sorry for the delay (had to wait until DD was out of the house as she doesn't want to see/know about the details of her party) - aprons here

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