One of a Kynd Tie-Dye. Seal Cove, Newfoundland, Canada.

The Dyeing - The major opportunity for creativity in making a tie-dye comes with the dyeing step. The first step is figuring out how you will apply your soda ash. You can directly add it to the dye, or you can use a soda ash bath. Each option, combined with other variations, yields different results. There are endless color combinations, as well as endless dyeing techniques for creating a different tie-dye each time, even if you only use one fold. I recommend learning a bit about colors and how they work together on a color wheel prior to the dyeing stage. It will help you figure out where you want your colors to go, and how they will look combined and next to each other.

To bathe or not to bathe? - Soda ash is essential in the dyeing process. It helps the dye bind to the fabric. Therefore, it is not a question of whether or not to use soda ash, but rather how to use it. If you are planning on making a large quantity of tie-dyes in a short period of time (several hours from when the dyes are mixed), then it may be easiest to mix the soda ash in directly with the dyes. This is good when working with group settings. This method, however, does not really allow you much room for creativity at this stage, and also the dye will become really faded out by the soda ash after several hours. There is nothing more disappointing than spending all that time to make your tie-dye only to have it turn out faded after the wash.
The soda ash bath involves mixing soda ash with water, and soaking the tied shirt for about 5 minutes before it is dyed. You can then dye the shirt immediately or after partial or complete drying. Try it all three ways to see the different effects you get and how the dye penetrates at different levels of fabric moisture. You don’t have to worry about letting dyes sit refrigerated for even a few days with this method because the soda ash doesn’t combine with the dye until it is applied to the shirt. Your shirt will turn out vibrant and beautiful.

Mixing the dye - There are some important tips to keep in mind while mixing the dye. It’s not just about the colors. As I mentioned above, the first consideration is whether or not to add the soda ash directly to the dye, or to use a soda ash bath. You will need to add urea to the dye. This helps keep the shirt moist throughout the curing period which is essential to a good tie-dye. Now is the time to choose your color. You can either use a premixed color of Procion MX Dye, or you can mix your own colors using basic color mixing principles. Experiment with adding different amounts of thickening agents, such as sodium alginate. This, combined with the moisture of the shirt and tightness of the folds, will alter the ease with which the dye penetrates the fabric and give you more control over your dye application.

Direct Application - After your dye is mixed, pour it into squeeze bottles. Apply the dye to your shirt, starting with lighter colors first and moving toward darker colors. Use a lot of dye. It will seem like you’re using too much, and if you do it right, it will be a dark, wet mess at the end of it all. Try some different techniques to figure out where the dye goes when it’s applied. Try dyeing only one side of the shirt and leaving the other white. Now try dying one side of the shirt and dying the other side black. This helps you understand the dye disbursement. If you end up with more white after your wash, use more dye next time. Want more white, use less dye. Play around and have some fun with it. This is one of the major areas for creativity in making a tie-dye.