What is Tie Dye | Industrial Tie Dye Process [Video]

Last updated on September 30th, 2023 at 11:28 am

Definition of Tie-Dye

The results of tie dyeing are sometimes similar in appearance to batik, but the designs are made differently. The dye is resisted by knots that are tied in the cloth before it is immersed in the dye bath. The outside of the knotted portion is dyed, but the inside is not penetrated if the knot is firmly tied. Partial penetration occurs when the knot is not tight, causing gradations and irregularities of color that produce indistinct but attractive designs. The process is repeated as many times as desired by making new knots in other parts of the cloth and immersing the fabric in additional dye baths. This gives a characteristic blurred or mottled effect, the result of the dyes running into each other. Like other hand methods, tie dye is expensive. Because the method creates interesting designs, the patterns are imitated in roller printing.

The fabric is tied and dyed keeping in mind the design which is to be created during the making of a saree. The various designs are obtained by the following methods –

• Fabric is picked up from various places and tied with a thread. Later, it is dipped into various colors, first the lighter and then the darker one.
• Grains are tied at various places and the fabric is dyed.
• The design is traced and then tacking is done on the outline of the design. The thread of the tacking is pulled and tied. It is then dyed.
• The material is folded and wrapped into wax. It is then tied diagonally and dyed.
• Patterns used for tie and dye are circles, diamonds, rectangles, stripes and small spots all over the field.
• Nails are fixed at equal distances on a wooden block. Fabric put on it is raised at the places on nails. The raised part is dyed to get different designs.
• Bright colors like red, yellow, green, purple, magenta, orange and black are used for dyeing.

Industrial Tie Dye Process