Friday, July 26, 2013

Tie-dyed Paper


I followed all sorts of tutorials and tried all sorts of methods I found online to make tie-dyed paper. I suppose they "worked," but none of them produced results that actually looked like tie dye. The fact is, paper just DOESN'T crease the way you need it to for traditional tie dying patterns. After trying everything else, I decided I was going to have to try an idea I'd discarded earlier: tissue paper. I was afraid it would be too fragile for what I was going for. Turns out, it's REALLY forgiving. I didn't have a single piece tear on me. Well then.

If you wanna try it for yourself, you'll need:

  • Tissue paper (intact, cut to smaller pieces, torn into sort-of squares, whatev)
  • Permanent markers (you could use Sharpies, but mine were from the dollar store)
  • Rubbing alcohol
  • Pins/rubber bands
  • Something to protect your work surface
  • Spray bottle
  • Iron
Ok, so the basic method is REALLY simple -- "shape" your tissue paper, color, spray with alcohol, wait to dry, unravel, iron. But you're going for an authentic pattern, right? So here's the easiest/most recognizable one. This was really hard to photograph, so bear with me!

Step 1: Pinch your paper in the center


Step 2: While holding the center, spin the outside edges counterclockwise (or clockwise, counter is just easier if you're holding with your right!)

You'll do this with your paper still on the work surface. I only lifted mine for the photo!


Step 2b: Continue spinning, making sure to keep the paper flat -- don't let it work it's way into a cylinder -- until you're left with a wadded up, spiral of paper. I won't lie. This is WAY easier with a shirt than paper. It took lots of practice to get it right, so don't get discouraged! Just unravel and start over with the same piece or just go with it! I doubt hippies were perfectionists ;)

Wadded up, spiral of paper
Step 3: Pin or rubber band at this point to keep the shape. You can use rubber bands to mark off your colors, too, just like with a shirt. I didn't have any rubber bands, though, and mine came out just fine :)


Step 4: Color! Yay, fun! There are no rules for which colors you use. Just use at least two and color ALL sides of the spiral (you'll want your colors to match up on the front and back, though).


Step 5: Spray both sides with rubbing alcohol. It just so happens that my sprayer thingie for my spray bottle fit on my bottle of alcohol. And I'm lazy. If yours doesn't fit, you'll have to do it the non-cool way and fill up your spray bottle.


Step 6: Leave it the way it is, pinned or banded, to dry. This won't take long at all.

Step 7: Carefully unwrap (it may still be a wee bit damp in the folds). Admire your ingenuity ;) This one, made specifically for the tutorial, came out the best. Natch :/

Not ironed. Again, laziness.

You'll want to iron it at this point (or maybe you don't. Who am I to say what you want to do?!) But IF you do, it's safe to do with a "cool" iron (what does that even mean?!). I ironed mine on, I think, the second setting on the iron. If you want, you can then cut it into a butterfly shape for your tree-huggin' kid. Or whatever. There are a bunch of actual patterns for tie dying clothing. I tried a few using tissue paper for The Girl's mobile and most of them came out exactly how I'd intended. I even attempted (and succeeded!!) the double spiral. So, go on wit' yo' bad self! And make some of your own. If you do, share them with me. I'd love to see what you come up with!

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