Home dyeing tips

Just found some great tips on home dyeing techniques on the Trash to Fashion blog. The blog is part of the Trash to Fashion eco-art competition. Check it out:

Creating circles

• Pinch a small portion of fabric and tie a rubber band or string around it tightly (if using string, keep to white or natural).
• Consider how close or distant you want the circles to be from each other and how big you want them to be. The bigger the circle, the larger the pinch of fabric.
• Hold the fabric by the pinched portion (this is the bit that stays plain) and dip the loose fabric into the dye, or using an applicator saturate all of the unpinched area of fabric.
• Let the fabric dry for a few hours before you remove the rubber bands then leave for a further 24 hours to fully set.

Basic folding

• Fold your fabric into small even squares and place clips on interesting angles holding the fabric together (you could use bobby pins).
• Dip one corner of the square into the container of dye and hold for 30 seconds.
• Repeat on all corners, leaving the centre of the square untouched by the dye.
• Place square on an old towel to air dry for a few hours (until you’re sure the dye won’t run).
• Open up the square and continue to dry for 24 hours.

Both of these techniques could be manipulated in several ways with angles of folding, distance between circles, placing of clips etc. Play around to see what you like. You can also use multiple colours with both of these techniques.

For more dyeing tips check out http://trashionnz.blogspot.co.nz/.

The Schools' Trash to Fashion awards are being held 23-24 August 2014 in Auckland, with entries closing 16 June – check out www.st2f.co.nz for more on this cool competition.