Tie-Dyeing: Step-by-Step Guide to Tying, Dyeing, and Setting

Tie-dyeing is a way of dyeing fabric by first tying or folding it. Where the fabric is cinched with a rubber band or string, less dye gets through. Once you untie it, spirals, stripes, or circles appear. You can tie-dye in two ways: apply dye directly to the fabric and heat-set it with an iron, or use powdered dye in a hot dye bath.

What do you need for tie-dyeing?

• a clean, stain-free T-shirt or fabric, most often cotton
• tie-dye paint, either Pentart tie-dye paint for direct application or KREUL Javana Batik for a dye bath
• rubber bands or string for tying
• rubber gloves and a work surface you don't mind staining
• an iron (for Pentart paint) or a large container for 6 liters of hot water (for Javana Batik)

How do you tie a T-shirt for tie-dyeing?

A damp T-shirt is easier to tie.

• Spiral – pinch the center of the T-shirt and twist until the fabric forms a flat circle. Secure it with two to three rubber bands crossed over each other to create 6 to 8 sections, like slices of a pie.
• Stripes – fold the T-shirt accordion-style and secure it with rubber bands across the folds at regular intervals.
• Circles – pull a small piece of fabric into a point, wrap a rubber band tightly just below the point, then add more rubber bands farther down.
• Folding (Shibori) – fold the fabric into triangles or squares and tie it tightly. KREUL Javana Batik is also suitable for this technique.

How do you tie-dye with Pentart paint?

1. Tie the T-shirt using one of the methods above.
2. Apply Pentart tie-dye paint to each tied section. The paint spreads easily over the fabric. Choose from eight shades.
3. Once the paint is dry, untie the T-shirt and heat-set the paint with an iron. The fabric can then be machine-washed.

For pastel shades, mix tie-dye paint lightener into the paint. You can also use Pentart paint to create a colored background, not just a classic tie-dye pattern.

How do you tie-dye in a hot bath?

KREUL Javana Batik powdered dye contains dye salt and works at temperatures from 50 to 95 °C:

1. Pour 6 liters of water at a temperature of at least 50 °C into a container and stir in the dye until it dissolves.
2. Submerge the tied fabric in the bath and leave it for about an hour. Keep the temperature steady to achieve an even shade.
3. Wear rubber gloves while working. Then wash and dry the fabric. You’ll see the final shade once it’s dry.

What fabric is best for tie-dyeing?

KREUL Javana Batik dyes cotton, viscose, linen, canvas, silk, wool, and polyamide. It is not suitable for very fine wool such as mohair, cashmere, or angora. Pentart paint is suitable for T-shirts, scarves, and pillowcases. When using KREUL Javana Batik, the fabric must be clean and free of stains and fabric softener.

How much fabric does one pack dye?

One full pack of KREUL Javana Batik (70 g) gives a strong shade on 200 g of fabric and a lighter shade on 400 g of fabric. Weigh your T-shirts to find out how many that is.

How do you wash a tie-dyed T-shirt?

Fabric dyed with Pentart paint can be machine-washed after it has been heat-set with an iron. Fabric dyed with KREUL Javana Batik can be washed at up to 40 °C.

If you want to draw or paint on fabric, browse fabric paints and fabric markers.