Ice tie-dyeing is a new twist on the classic style of tie-dye! This is a great club meeting project they can start and finish at home, or could be a fun family activity to do together.
If you are stuck inside on a cold, snowy day, remember that snow also works well to ice dye. Just substitute snow for the ice for interesting patterns and designs. After you have dyed your shirt and it has been washed and dried, you can add extra embellishment using bleach pen drawing and painting. Be careful not to make your design too busy.
What You’ll Need:
- Prewashed 100% Cotton Fabric or Premade Garment
- Soda Ash, 1 Cup per Gallon of Water
- Water
- Rubber Bands
- Gloves
- 5-Gallon Bucket for Soda Ash
- Cooling Rack
- Ice
- Powder Dye
- Textile Detergent
- Large Container with a Lid (such as a plastic tub)
Instructions:
- Find a clean, well-ventilated area to work in.
- Think about the design you want and research different ways to tie or crinkle your shirt accordingly.
- Check out the “Beyond the Needle” manual from your Extension Office to help with your selection of different colors and color schemes you want to use.
- Prewash fabric or garment with Textile Detergent.
- Tie/Crinkle shirt the way you desire.
- Mix Soda Ash (wear rubber gloves). 1 cup per gallon of water; let shirt soak for about 15 minutes; pull out shirt and squeeze out excess liquid.
- Place colling rack in the plastic tub and set the shirt on top of the rack.
- Cover with ice or snow.
- Sprinkle Powder Dye on top of the ice (as the ice melts, the melted water will carry the fine dye through the shirt, distributing the color).
- Cover and let sit for 24 hours undisturbed.
- Take your shirt out of the tub and rinse in COLD running water, Rinse until water is mostly clear.
- Take off the rubber bands (if you used them) and continue to rinse the shirt in cold water until the water runs mostly clear.
- Wash in HOT water with textile detergent.
- Line dry.
In this activity you will be mixing tie-dying techniques with the properties of slow melting ice. As the ice melts, the melted water will carry the fine dye through the shirt, distributing the color.
Source: 4-H2250 Beyond the Needle STEM Clothing Activity Manual - Additional Resource: www.dharmatrading.com/home/learn-how-to-ice-dye.html