"TIED DYEING"

Radio Record, Volume VII, Issue 8, 1 September 1933, Unnumbered Page

"TIED DYEING"

f @eeeeveaacaeeeegverrnns @ OQSebeeeecerserresveneces Unusual Effects with String and Some Dye " [-. you wish- to get some pretty results in. dyéing, try tied. dyeing. . This is not a-new. art, but an old: revived. :. The: Orientals have always been clever with their fingers, and: used to do all their pattern dyeing-by means of tying, up. material and -dipping into yarious dyes.. It is somewhat similar to batik work, but much simpler, being done entirely; with: string and dye. If a number of strands of thick knitting cotton-are> wound routd a piece of material (folded into four or. eight) it willbe found;after dipping in dye and untying, that where the cotton has been a white: mark is left; which has been repeated in. the same place in each fold, so that upon unfolding.a complete design will result, A floral pattern can. be made-in the same.manner by. tying i in: two places after folding the usual four times; so that the tied piece: of material resémbles’ a. shut-in umbrella. -The "ferrule" being the centre of the flower, and the. second tie being made a little over. half-way down the "handle," the remainder, below the secont_tie, is the portion to be dipped in the colour. of the background. If yellow dye is. cused» for dipping up ‘to the second: tie from thercentre, and purple for ‘the background, a very effective pansy design will result,, especially if, the "ferrule" °- centre is dipped into the purple up ‘to the first tie. This combination" will zive a rich dark brown, and..wherever .the purple has mingled: at all with the yellow, the ' pansy will be shaded with brown, giving much more charaeter to,the flower. This is a simple method of making patterns, and ‘with very littlé. practice original designs’ can be-ev olved i in a few minutes. = -« ‘4 Use any good household dye. . Follow the directions on the dye packet as: to the quantity. of dye to use. Tints may be obtained .by immersing: the fabric, or certain parts of it, in the dye for a second. only, so that the dye: will not fully penetrate into the material. or entirely cover the foundation. colour, thus resulting in lovely iridescent colours. The same dye may ‘be used* over and over again. The great fascination of: tied dyeing lies in experimenting with, ‘colours, and dyeing one colour over another, Extremely beautiful and. unusual effects ' often result, "Twisted dyeing" is also very effective for scarves and cushion .corers. First fold the material as.if you were pleating for knife pleats, then twist . each end in the reverse direction until you can twist no more, Take the two ‘ends and twist together like a skein of wool similar-to those bought in shops for darning.. Now. dip quickly into a dark blue (blue, black, purple or brown will do) and you will discoyér a decorative twisted design. like those seen on the. popular. black and.‘ white © veined scarves. Interesting circles may .be made by. knotting. the fabric on itself and then: dyeing.