Folding larger garments

[lilah]

Hi All!

I'd first like to say how happy I am that this forum exists. I am learning heaps here. So, on to my latest confusion as a newbie dyer...

Well, I tie-dyed a couple of size 7XL sleepshirts this weekend and I have to say, they turned out hideous.  I re-folded and tied more than once before I thought I had a nice shape, but the fabric did not cooperate. One was a spiral, one was supposed to be a butterfly/clover type shape. Now I know I could have done a simple yoke or similar but I wanted these to be unique - they are for a plus size family member who has never had her own tie-dye nightshirt. It took me forever to find them & order them and BOTH are now ruined. Any thoughts? If I get the chance to order another one what would be a smart way to fold it? It is so difficult to work with the really big shirts because of the shape, seams, etc. The spiral is tolerable if messy, but the clover just looks terrible. Any ideas are appreciated!

Thanks

Lilah

[deb]

Depending on the colors you used, maybe you can re-dye it to look like it was meant to be crinkle-dyed in multiple colors? For example, if your clover shirt was green and turquoise, you could overdye the whole thing in turquoise with lots of green splotches and end up with a nice crinkly aquamarine? They might not match your original expectations, but it might salvage them and make them wearable, if not downright pretty! I've had some lucky surprises that way!

Any chance you can post pics, even cell phone pics?

[lilah]

Hi Deb,

Thanks for the idea. I will try to post pictures later if possible, maybe that will help.

Lilah

[tiedyejudy]

Here's a couple of thoughts:  for larger garments, you can fold in half diagonally and form a double swirl; then try dyeing one color on each side instead of multiple colors.  Work to get your dye into the folds and be sure you apply enough dye, or you will have a lot of white showing.
For the existing shirts, you didn't say if they were hideous because the colors all turned muddy, or the designs didn't come out the way you wanted them to.  Sometimes, I have had success discharging the dyes using either a light bleach-water bath, thoroughly rinsing, then overdyeing, or using dishwasher gel with  bleach to discharge  the dye, followed by a dyeing using low water immersion technique.  If they aren't too muddy, just a LWI 'scrunch' might lend interest.  I am attaching a picture of a tank I dyed that looked really bad until I overdyed... I really like the way it looks now!

And here is another where I tried to do a scrunch... it came out dorky looking, so I used the diswhasher gel and it still looked dumb.  I started overdyeing, and after about 3 LWI dyes, I liked the results so well I kept the shirt!

So don't give up... there's more than one way to dye!

Judy

[lilah]

Judy,

That tank looks great!!! I have to say, I really like your stuff. I'm curious how long some of the "pros" that post here have been dyeing, and how much experience y'all have. But maybe that's for another post!!

The shirts look bad because: the swirl turned out "muddy" looking and poorly formed - meaning that the design is barely discernible amidst the surrounding blotches of color. The "butterfly" (which I had no business trying since I'm so new at this and I should practice the more basic folds a bit more  ) just looks bad because the shape is uneven, and the colors do not look good. Too heavy handed with the fuschia!!! I tried to take pictures but I have to say that my phone is not up to the job.

I didn't mention it before (oops) but these shirts were not white to start with. I could not find any white, long sleepshirts in that size. So I got some that were 100% cotton but in pastel colors. I have dyed colored shirts before with good results so I don't think that affected the process - it was a design flaw in the folding and tying on my part.

I will try the discharge method. I've never done that so I will have to read up on it. I'm sure there's info on that here somewhere, but as a quickie can you tell me how to mix the dish gel/bleach and how long to leave it on?

Thanks Judy!!!

Lilah

[lilah]

Hi again,

I read the thread on discharge dyeing. I was thinking dish soap with bleach added, silly me 
Thanks!

Lilah

[tiedyejudy]

Judy,

That tank looks great!!! I have to say, I really like your stuff. I'm curious how long some of the "pros" that post here have been dyeing, and how much experience y'all have. But maybe that's for another post!!


I will try the discharge method. I've never done that so I will have to read up on it. I'm sure there's info on that here somewhere, but as a quickie can you tell me how to mix the dish gel/bleach and how long to leave it on?

Thanks Judy!!!

Lilah

Thanks, Lilah.  I have been dyeing for about 10 1/2 years now, and went through a lot of learning curves to get where I'm at now.  I'm still learning!  Last year I took a class in surface design techniques, and learned plenty, including the little trick about using dishwasher gel with bleach as a discharge medium.  It acts like thickened bleach, so you get a  lot more control over where the discharging happens.  And there is no mixing, since you use it straight from the bottle!  Cheap too... the one thing you won't know is how your commercially dyed fabrics will discharge, but if you are totally unhappy with what you have done so far, turn it into a learning experience and experiment.  You might want to try tying your garment into a shape, such as a swirl, and applying the diswashing gel with a foam brush.  Let it dry thoroughly, then rinse and wash out the gel.  You might like it at that point, or you might have a light enough area to overdye with a light dye mix. 
Have fun!
Judy

[lilah]

Hi Judy,

Thanks so much for the ideas and encouragement. I'm on the entry-level end of gaining all of that experience and I hope I will still be dyeing a decade from now! I am enjoying it very much.

I discharged the "butterfly" then bleached the entire sleepshirt, then retied & redyed. It turned out great, and the areas where the garment had bleached added a nice contrast to the new pattern. I really appreciate your help - I might have chucked the whole thing in the bin!!

These sleepshirts are nearly impossible to photograph without a helping hand, so I will try to post pics when I can get a decent one.

All the best,

Lilah

[lilah]

Here is the finished shirt...

[deb]

Cool!!!! 

[lilah]

Thanks Deb! I thought so too!

[tiedyejudy]

Good job!  Colors look great, and the design is too cool!

Judy

[lilah]

Hi Judy,

You inspired me!

Lilah