Tie dye is a technique for dying natural fabrics that results in interesting, colorful patterns. The technique involves crumpling, pleating or folding the fabric into various patterns, then tying it with string, hence the name. The tied fabric is dipped into vats of dye, then wrung out and rinsed. Tied areas accept dye unevenly amidst the folds, creating varied patterns in the finished product.

It is important to select natural fabrics to tie dye, as synthetic material does not readily accept dye. Cotton is an excellent choice, making tie dye tee shirts a favorite. You can also tie dye silk scarves, bed sheets, blouses, skirts and pants.

People commonly use three colors in the tie dye process, though you can use more colors or fewer colors as well. When using multiple colors, it's important to choose colors that will blend well to make interesting secondary colors in those areas where the dyes fade into one another. Dye vats are prepared ahead of time in buckets or plastic tubs. Pots might have to be used to heat dye mixtures on the kitchen stove or a backyard grill.

The first step in the tie dye process involves soaking the material to be dyed in soda ash. Wear protective gloves throughout the tie dye process to protect your skin. Choose gloves that fit well, such as latex surgical gloves.

Use ½ cup (118 ml) soda ash per gallon (3.79 liters) of water. Immerse the fabric in the mixture for five to ten minutes, occasionally agitating the material. When finished, wring out the fabric to remove excess water, but don’t allow the material to dry out.

Folding techniques determine resulting patterns in tie dye. Various books instruct the novice on how to create spirals, stripes, donuts and starbursts, among many other patterns. You can also experiment with your own techniques to get completely unique tie dye results. Once the fabric is folded, it’s time to bind it. Strings or rubber bands will do.

With the article tied, it’s ready to dip into a hot vat of dye, starting with the lightest color first. The fabric is left in the dye for four to seven minutes, then rinsed thoroughly with warm water before moving on to the next color. The hotter the vat and the longer the fabric stays in it, the deeper the color. Depending on the desired pattern, material may only be partially dipped into a particular color. If so, rinse only the portion that was dipped.

When finished dying the material, rinse the tied article with warm water and graduate to cooler water. Continue to rinse the tie dye until the water runs clear.

Finally, untie the material and place it in the washing machine. Use mild detergent and the gentle cycle with warm water and a cool rinse. Hang dry or place the tie dye in a dryer. For routine care, wash tie dye items by themselves in cool water, or dry clean silk and other delicate fabrics as required.