Groovy Tie-Dye Fiber Arts Course

Fiber reactive and acid dyeing can be a great way to combine art and science, while having fun making wearable items for yourself! It's also a great way to learn about starting a business selling your creations. If you'd like to learn professional dyeing techniques that will result in high-quality sellable items, join this 6-week camp and learn from a professional dye artist. View the class video above for a preview of my work!

In this class, students will dye a variety of items while learning the following:

- How to safely dye textiles using acid dyes (Kool-Aid packets!) and fiber reactive dyes
- Understanding the difference is between cellulose, protein and synthetic fibers
- Why dyeing is an exact science
- How it works: the chemistry at work during the dyeing process
- How to get bright, vibrant colors that won't wash out!
- Galaxy dyeing, low water immersion and tying shapes
- Understanding water density, pH and color theory

Week 1: Learners will learn how to tie a spiral for the traditional and ever-popular rainbow tie-dye swirl. This lesson is an introduction to dyeing cotton (cellulose) fabrics, mixing dyes, basic color theory and proper rinsing technique. There will also be additional resources to learn advanced tying techniques, including the Japanese art of shibori! Students will be prompted to share photos of their completed dyed items and comment on their fellow classmates' items. There will also be a printable overview and worksheet with a short quiz on dye science and the vocabulary we learned during the lesson. The printable worksheets will come in handy for future dye projects!

Week 2: Low water immersion dyeing. Deepen your understanding of how fiber reactive dyes work by trying a "scrunch" dye. This technique gives you a "galaxy" effect and is another lesson on the science of dyeing. In this project the addition of our soda ash solution is delayed, allowing our colors to "split" naturally and give some unique patterns and shadows! Students will again be provided with a worksheet and this time will complete a virtual quiz using Nearpod, where they will review the vocabulary and techniques we have learned so far. They will also be encouraged to share their pictures in the classroom.  

Week 3: Ice dyeing! An alternative to low water immersion, ice dyeing can also give your project a galaxy effect, allowing colors to split and mix as the ice melts. This fun project can also be done using snow or even a sprinkler, if cubed or crushed ice is unavailable. For an additional challenge, learners will test different methods of getting a "true black", which is often the hardest color to achieve in fiber reactive dyeing! Students are assigned the task of posting their ice dyed items in class and answering a questionnaire that compares the ice dyeing and low water immersion process, as well as a handout on color theory with a fun word search activity to practice our new vocabulary words.

Week 4: Vat dyeing (solid color). While dyeing a solid color sounds like it would be a piece of cake, getting a solid, consistent single color can actually be a challenge in fiber dyeing! In this lesson we will learn how to use salt to raise the density of the dye bath, and how to test the pH levels. This lesson also covers the use of urea, water softeners and other factors that go into achieving vibrant, colorfast results. Learners will share their photos in the classroom and submit their dye bath measurements, which will be notated using the printable worksheet provided. 

Week 5: Batik dyeing. Learn the history of this ancient Indonesian art form and try your hand at a wax-free, kid-friendly version! For this project learners will watch a presentation explaining what batik dyeing is, including a demonstration of how I use hot wax, tjantings, stamps, stencils and thickened dyes. For our project together, the tutorial will demonstrate how to use white or clear gel glue as a resist substitute for wax, and then handpaint the dye for a permanent, colorfast batik-inspired art piece. For professional results, learners will be instructed on how to thicken their dyes with sodium alginate, a food-grade thickener that is optional. Learners will be asked to collaborate with one another by taking a poll and agreeing on a "theme" for a batik design that will inspire our glue drawings. They will also be provided with a vocabulary list in the form of a fun word search, and then share their dyed pieces in the classroom. 

Week 6: Acid dyeing proteins (wool, silk). Learners will learn how to dye colorfast protein-based/plant-based fabrics by using Kool-Aid! This lesson will also cover how to use professional dyes in the future. Kool-Aid packets and/or food coloring bottles are a cheap alternative to professional acid dyes, and are just as colorfast. Along with the tutorial on dyeing, learners will also be provided with a short game that is a quiz review of all we have learned over the course of our flex class. Finally, we will share all of our wonderful items together and talk about future goals, and how we might turn our dyeing talents into potential business opportunities!

Much of my videos will be spent discussing and explaining several different types of fibers and appropriate, safe dyes for these. I will review some natural dyeing processes, but please note that our class will focus on permanent, colorfast dye methods that require specific types of dye (fiber reactive) for cotton fibers. While natural dyes may sound like a safer alternative, the process of making the dyes colorfast, or permanent, requires the use of toxic mordants that are not safe for children or inexperienced dyers. 

In addition to learning about tie dyeing, I will share my personal experiences and knowledge of other dyeing processes such as confetti dyeing, shaving cream dyeing and gradient/ombre dip-dyeing! Students will learn professional dyeing vocabulary and earth-friendly ways to save and conserve water and energy while dyeing.

For an appropriate work space, you might find it helpful to view the tutorial videos on a mobile device (phone or tablet) and follow along from a sink. I often tie dye at my kitchen counter, bathroom sink or laundry room sink. If this is not possible to do, one option is to cover your table or desk with a plastic grocery or trash bag. Make sure you have plenty of access to water. Rinsing can be done outdoors with a hose, in the washing machine or in a tub (it will not permanently stain your tub but can be very messy and require extensive clean-up).

Since these lessons are pre-recorded you can pause, rewind and fast-forward as needed. This course is very reliant on having correct supplies, so please be sure to read through the class supplies list and contact me with any questions as you obtain all of your materials. I respond to messages and all classroom posts within 24 hours Monday-Friday. 

I'm DYEING to dye with you! Let's get busy making rainbows together!