The Basic Technique of Tie Dying and Batik

Batik and Tie Dying is "probably the oldest and most primitive methods of printing designs on fabric" (Young, 1872, p.203). These two types of dyeing are related because they both imply methods that cause some of the fabric to not absorb the dye; this is known as resistance dying, and it is a fun and easy project that anyone can do at home with little money required. Here are the basic instructions for both tie dying and batik. Have fun and remember to experiment!

Tie dyeing is a method that requires folding or scrunching the material into a pattern and securing it with rubber bands. The dye is then applied to the fabric. When the rubber bands are removed the areas that are scrunched up will be without color. This method is a lot of fun for people of all ages, and it was very popular in the 60's and 70's. Remember the fabric can be folded in different ways to create different patterns. It can also be twisted in a spiral to create a spiral. Tie dying is a fun way to experiment with negative space, and it can be done cheaply and easily at home.

Batik is a slightly more complicated method of "resistance dyeing" that I am very interested in (Young, 1972, p. 204). Batik requires the use of wax to block dye from reaching the fabric. When using a brush to apply wax the "wax should be applied hot enough so that it will penetrate the cloth fairly evenly and not just spread out over the surface of the fabric in a crust or the dye will seep through it" (Young, 1972, p. 208). Next dye the fabric in a cold water dye and hang to dry. In order to remove the wax, "cover your ironing board with newspaper and, while the piece is still slightly damp, lay it on the ironing board, put a layer of newspaper over it, and begin to iron very carefully" (Young, 1972, p.209). Continue to change newspapers and keep your iron hot enough to melt the wax. When no more wax seems to be coming out on the newspaper submerge the fabric into a pot of boiling water; this will remove the last bits of wax (Young, 1972). The fun part about batik is that you can repeat the process over and over until you have many layers of color.

Both of these methods of resistance are a lot of fun, and they can be done easily in the comfort of your own home so find some old clothes and revamp them with these techniques!

References:

Young, J. (1972). Woodstock craftsman manual. New York, NY: Praeger Publishers.

Summer Kids Craft: Floral Charm Bracelet

A great summer kids craft is a floral charm bracelet. Floral charm bracelets are great summer craft projects for kids. They will remind you and your kids of the summer all year round. This article will provide you with detailed instructions on creating a floral charm bracelet with your kids this summer.

For this summer kids craft you will need a piece of chain long enough to fit around your kid's wrist. You will also need small fake flowers, scissors, a hot glue gun, hot glue sticks, wire, pliers, beads, 2 O-rings, and a clasp. Start this craft by helping kids cut the flower buds off of the stems.

Then plug in the hot glue gun. Help kids cut a few 3 inch sections from the wire. Use the pliers to bend one end of the wire into a small loop. String a bead or 2 onto the wire. Help kids use the pliers to twist the wire into another loop right above the beads. This will hold them in place.

Next bend the ends of the wire into a loop a few circles deep. Open an O-ring slightly with the pliers. Sting the end of the wire onto the ring and set aside.

Next add the clasp to the bracelet using the O-rings. Start by bending the rings slightly open with the pliers. Then attach the chain to each side of the clasp using the rings and pliers. Close the rings with the pliers securely to make sure your bracelet stays together.

Before attaching all of the pieces of this bracelet it is important to make a plan. Help kids arrange the flowers across the wire in the order they would like them to be when the bracelet is done. Help kids place the wired beads in the places they would like as well.

Start help kids assemble the floral charm bracelet by add the beaded wires to the chain. This is done by threading the O-ring that is attached to the wire through the links in the chain. Then glue the flowers to the chain with the hot glue gun. Make sure to add a few drops of glue on both sides of the chain to secure the flowers in place.

This summer kids craft is easy and fun. A floral summer charm bracelet is a great way for you and your kids to celebrate the beauty of summer all year round. Try this easy summer craft with your kids!

How to Tie-Dye with Kids: 3 Fun Patterns

 

Tie-dye is a great project for kids; it is inexpensive and a lot of fun, and it allows kids to be really creative. This article will provide you with step-by-step instructions on how to tie-dye a t-shirt three different ways with your kids.

Supplies

First you will need the essential supplies, and you have two options to choose from. You can buy a tie-dye kit at your local craft store, or you can gather your own items for tie-dying. The items you will need are newspaper, all purpose dye in fuchsia, yellow, and turquoise, rubber bands, squirt bottles, plastic bags, and gloves.

Getting Prepared

Start by covering your work table in newspaper. If you are using a store bought kit you can now mix together the soda ash and water in a bucket. You can also mix together the colors of dye and fill the squirt bottles. For more defined designed you should wet the t-shirt prior to adding the rubber bands, but remember to wring it out well.

Patterns

To create a lined pattern pleat your shirt by folding it back and forth, but remember if you pleat it vertically your lines will appear horizontally and vice-versa. Kids will find this design easy, and you can help them add rubber bands at various points along the folded shirt.

For a spiral pattern you must start by pinching the center of the shirt. Next spin the point that you have pinched until the rest of the shirt is wrapped around it in a disk shape. This disk shape can then be wrapped in rubber bands to help keep its form.

A simple circle pattern can be created by pinching sections of the shirt and wrapping the rubber bands around it. This may be the easiest pattern for children, and its abstract results are a lot of fun.

Soaking, Dyeing, and Curing

Now that your t-shirts are all wrapped up in rubber bands you can add the dye using the squirt bottles. If you are using a kit remember to soak the shirt in the soda ash water mix for 10 minutes prior to dyeing. After the color has been applied wrap the item in a plastic bag for at least 4 hours to cure.When the shirt has cured you can wash it in the washer machine to remove excess dye, and your tie-dye shirt is complete. This simple project is a fun way to allow kids to explore their creativity while learning about color and having fun!

Straw Bale Gardening Basics

 

Knowing the straw bale gardening basics will allow you to make your first straw bale garden thrive. Straw bale gardens are a great way to garden without having to worry about the condition of your soil. Straw bale gardening is a great way to create a raised bed and help your plants thrive. This article will discuss straw bale gardening basics in detail.

When first deciding to plant a straw bale garden you may be wondering what type of straw to use. Any straw will work for your straw bale gardening needs, and it is best to go with what is available in your area. The important part to remember is to not use hay. Hay is different from straw and it will sprout grass that is extremely hard to pull. Using hay will cause more work than necessary; so only use straw bales for your straw bale gardening needs.

Now that you have the straw bales you will be gardening with it is important to consider where and how your will create the structure of your garden. First it is important to remember to not let the string tying the bale together touch the ground. The string must not come in contact with the ground because this contact will cause it to rot. If the string rots your straw bale will fall apart, and so will your garden. Well kept straw bale gardens can be used for up to two years so this simple step is important. When placing your straw bales to form your garden there are a variety of patterns and designs you can create. Feel free to be creative with the design. As long as you can reach the top of the bale to add plants and weed than your straw bale garden placement is successful.

Now that you have the gardening layout set up you must wet the bales completely. When you wet the straw bales they will get hot. This is the composting process and it will take about a week for the bales to cool down. After the bales have cooled down feel free to weed them and add about 3 inches of soil to the top of the bales. If you are going to be gardening with transplants the soil is not necessary because you can plant right into the straw bales. If you are starting this garden from seed you will need to add the soil and sow seeds the same as you would in any other gardening situation.

Creating a straw bale garden is fun and easy. It adds an interesting touch to your garden and helps out in areas where the soil is not good for gardening.