The other day I had an "I could do that” moment. No, not like when your boyfriend points at a pricey painting by an artistic icon and says: "What a piece of s**t. I could do that in two seconds". My moment of clarity was about something I actually could create. I was looking through a designer's most recent collection noting yet another tie-dyed garment. I do like the look but the price is questionable, given that not long ago the only place you'd find tie-dye was for $10 at the markets, printed with a big weed leaf.
In order to bring my plan to fruition I turned to the one who has all the answers: Google. A quick trip to the shops and it was DIY time.
Here's what I learned:
For step by step photos click here
What I used: Dylon cold water dye, plastic squirty bottles, rubber bands, gloves, bucket, white Supre singlet.
Process: Rinse or wash the fabric to be dyed to rid it of any chemicals that may be on the surface of the garment. Wring out and while damp roll into a long sausage shape.
Add rubber bands at intervals along the singlet sausage making sure the bands are tight. Alternatively you could use string tied tightly
Put on your gloves before you do anything with the dye. I forgot and the tips of my fingers are still Smurf blue two days later.
Make up the dye. I used one Dylon tin to one small bottle. Squirt the dye on to the damp fabric at random intervals, making sure to saturate the roll so the dye soaks through but avoiding the bits tied with rubber bands. (The die will spread on the fabric so it’s best to leave a bit of space around them. Place garment in plastic bag and leave overnight. Rinse in a bucket and then chuck in the washing mashing on a rinse cycle. Voila!
What I should have done: The dye wasn't as vibrant as it initially appeared after it was rinsed in the washing machine. Dylon makes a dye setting agent that will help with this. But I actually like the washed-out worn-in look.
Tips: If you want more colour, make the dye up in a bucket and dip the whole garment in. Just make sure the ties or rubber bands are super tight.
Run your washing machine through an empty rinse cycle after you've removed your garment just to make sure you don't die your flatmate's white business shirt blue. Speaking from experience? Never!
If you want more info and ideas visit Google. There are also videos on YouTube that explain the process but many of them feature over-enthusiastic hippies and their home-schooled kids who tell each other off when they think they're not on camera. I'm not kidding.
There are some much more fashion forward DIY examples out there, like these amazing customised Zara boots at Fashion Toast. So tell us: What’s been your best fashion DIY project?
Megan Bedford 16/10/08