Introduction
The Soda Soak Tie-Dye Method is the way to do this. Our recipes, abbreviated group instructions, and a lot of patterns using this method are in the new book, "Tie-dye" (#BTD), which we include in our larger (50/100 shirt) Group Kits.
Basically, you follow the Soda Soak Tie-Dye instructions en-mass. In a nutshell, what you do is fold and tie up the shirts (or whatever), soak them in a solution of soda ash and water for a few minutes, apply a solution of dye, water and urea, let them sit overnight in plastic bags, rinse them, untie them, rinse them some more, and wash them in a washing machine with synthrapol and hot water. Thats it! Easy!
The Dharma group kits have all the basics except the clothing, which we carry at very reasonable prices. Dharma white clothing is 100% cotton and tie-dyes beautifully. If having the thread of the garment also dye is important to you, watch for the little cotton plant icon on the clothing ad - if you don't see that icon, it is sewn with Polyester thread, which stays white. If you get your clothing elsewhere, make sure it's not a polyester blend! You'll get a very washed out look.
Other odds and ends you will need are: •large tables covered with plastic (card tables or picnic tables work) •buckets for the soda ash solution (plastic is best - 5 gallon is a nice size) •old newspapers (at least 6-8 weeks old-so the ink doesn't come off) to absorb the excess dye under the clothing being tie-dyed •bowls of water to rinse gloved fingers between colors •measuring cups-2 cups or larger-clear pyrex works great •measuring spoons and spoons for stirring the dyes •Jugs with TIGHT fitting lids to hold large amounts of pre-mixed dye •a funnel - to pour premixed dye solution into squirt bottles •paper towels and/or sponges to wipe up messes! •big garbage can or bags for trash
Optional things:
- More rubber bands if doing complicated ties
- More gloves if more than 12 people dyeing at once
- Waterproof aprons, especially with young children - or at least have them wear old clothes
- "Reduran" cream to get dye off hands (see our catalog-it works good!)
- Zip-lock plastic bags - if the students are going to take the clothing home to do the rinse out and wash (give them xerox of rinsing instructions - this is the easiest way to go for the instructors!)-otherwise, completed items can just be covered with plastic to stay damp overnight.
Preparation before the session starts
It is best to have the tables all set up, covered with plastic, etc. Each work area should have newspapers, rubber bands, gloves, finger rinsing bowl, paper towels or a sponge, a bucket of premixed Soda Ash (allow about a gallon of soda ash mix for each 8-10 adult t-shirts- (1 lb of Soda Ash makes ~2 gallons), and squirt bottles of premixed dye in the selected colors. It is always best to use freshly made up dye, so you can mix it the morning of the class, or the night before for convienience. This allows for the best possible color. Bring it in the big jugs and use a funnel to refill the squirt bottles.
To mix up the dye in quantities you need, just multiply our 8 oz recipe by the number of cups of each color you will need. Calculate about 4 oz (1/2 cup) of liquid mixed dye for the equivalent of each adult sized T-shirt to completely color it - so ~1 oz for infant garments, ~2 oz for child size Ts, 8-12 oz for adult dresses, etc. Multiply those oz. by the number of garments in the group. Divide the total oz. of dye needed by how many colors you have. That will be approximately how many oz of each color you need to make. If your patterns will have a lot of white, you will use less dye. Round up to be safe! Cautious students will hopefully balance the ones who just pour it on. Follows is an example of quantities needed for a group of 50 people dyeing the equivalent of 50 adult T-shirts:
50 people:
Tie-dyeing 50 t-shirts in 3 colors, using 4 "stations" with 12 to13 students at each station:
- Soda ash soak: 4 buckets, 2 1/2 gallons each, will take 5 lbs
- Dye: 3 colors in 16 oz squeeze bottles will tie- dye 12-13 shirts at ea station, unless people really pour on the dye-(for 4 stations, you need 12 bottles-kit has 6-need 6 more) use a dust mask!
Actual class:
You can demonstrate tyeing to the whole group 1st, showing them how to tie their garments-then have everyone do it at their station while it is fresh in their memory. Then all the shirts can be soaked in the soda ash 5-10 min. (Use gloves!) If you have somehow marked the shirts ahead of time with an indelible marker, on the label or with some kind of tag, it helps. During that time you can demonstrate how to apply the dye on a pre-tied and soaked garment. Be sure and demonstrate how to get the dye into the folds! Then turn 'em loose! After garments are dyed, lay them all out on newspaper with plastic over the top to keep them damp for the curing process, making sure that shirts don't touch each other, or have each student put their garment in a plastic bag to take home, along with a copy of the rinse and wash out instructions. Each student should be instructed to clean up their area for the next person who will take their place if you have lots of people and a few dyeing stations.
Rinsing
Use gloves! While garment is still tied it needs to be rinsed as much as possible under cold running water (faucet, hose, shower, bathtub), then gradually untied while still rinsing. Get as much dye out as possible this way, then immediately wash with hot water and Synthrapol. Synthrapol is a special detergent that helps get the rest of the excess dye out so it won't bleed and run in future washings. Students could bring little jars to take some home in - warning-it can eat through plastic baggies. Remember, good rinsing procedure keeps the clothes from looking "muddy" and colors from running over each other into white areas. You can't skimp on water! Immediate washing with Synthrapol keeps the excess dye that is still left from bleeding all over the white or lighter colors. Before washing, don't let the dyed clothing touch anything or each other!
Care
Since Dharma Dyes are "fiber reactive", they are very permanent and will not fade or bleed because they actually chemically react with the garment fibers. They yield brilliant colors that last for years. Bleach or detergents containing bleach should not be used! If the garments have been properly rinsed and washed initially, they are safe to throw in with the family laundry in the future!
