tie dying in a big group... with dilemmas

[kelz]

hi,

this is a bit long but I'm really new to tie-dye and have lots of questions to bear with me...

I'm an arts and crafts coordinator for a week-long summer camp and was thinking of doing a tie-dye craft this yr with the kids. in some researching, I found RIT has an easy recipe and method with no chemicals. I also found another method with chemicals, but apparently is specialized in "big group tie-dying"...

ALL RIGHT SO.. my dilemmas are this:

- I might not have access to "very hot water" like the recipe calls for... I'll be able to get hot water but I won't have access to a stove while the activity is going on (it is in a small shack-type thing outdoors)
- I won't have access to warm running water (only cold - again, the outdoors thing... but we're near a bathroom with big basin sinks)
- are the chemicals in the 2nd procedure safe around kids? is it a way big hassle to do with a big group?
- I have seen those "tie dye kits" at wal mart and such, would that just be a lot easier to skip all this and buy those?[/list:u]

I have to do this with 150 kids and about 50 adults (not all at the same time, probably about 25-30 at a time).

again I apologize for all the questions but I wanted a fun activity this yr =) any help/suggestions are VERY appreciated.

love, kelz

[steve]

hi,

this is a bit long but I'm really new to tie-dye and have lots of questions to bear with me...

I'm an arts and crafts coordinator for a week-long summer camp and was thinking of doing a tie-dye craft this yr with the kids. in some researching, I found RIT has an easy recipe and method with no chemicals. I also found another method with chemicals, but apparently is specialized in "big group tie-dying"...

ALL RIGHT SO.. my dilemmas are this:

- I might not have access to "very hot water" like the recipe calls for... I'll be able to get hot water but I won't have access to a stove while the activity is going on (it is in a small shack-type thing outdoors)
- I won't have access to warm running water (only cold - again, the outdoors thing... but we're near a bathroom with big basin sinks)
- are the chemicals in the 2nd procedure safe around kids? is it a way big hassle to do with a big group?
- I have seen those "tie dye kits" at wal mart and such, would that just be a lot easier to skip all this and buy those?[/list:u]

I have to do this with 150 kids and about 50 adults (not all at the same time, probably about 25-30 at a time).

again I apologize for all the questions but I wanted a fun activity this yr =) any help/suggestions are VERY appreciated.

love, kelz

Kelz--

Don't use the RIT. It doesn't work well and you don't want the kids exposed to the hot water. The kits from walmart are a rip off--they don't dye nearly as much as they claim.

Go to some place like prochem http://www.prochemical.com or dharma as you mentioned. Order the same materials as the kits by the pound. I have done groups this large before. 1 pound each of Yellow MX-8G, Red MX-5B, Black MX-CWNA, and 2 pounds of Turquoise MX-G Should be enough for your group. You will also need soda ash--about 10 pounds. 10 pounds of urea would be optional. You will need disposable gloves, bags, rubber bands, etc.

While you do not want to drink the dyes, or swim in the soda ash solution, they are safe enough to use with children. My daughter was 2 when I first let her apply dye. I do it with kids all the time.

I can give you more details as how to manage such an undertaking if you like!

Steve

[pburch]

I'm an arts and crafts coordinator for a week-long summer camp and was thinking of doing a tie-dye craft this yr with the kids. in some researching, I found RIT has an easy recipe and method with no chemicals.

I have to point out that the description of the Rit dye recipe as involving "no chemicals" is a total joke. Rit dyes ARE chemicals.

Of course, everything in the world is made of chemicals, but when people talk about "no chemicals" they usually mean no synthetic chemicals, or no toxic chemicals. Rit dye is composed of synthetic chemical dyes, and, like all dyes other than food coloring, is considered potentially toxic, in that it must not be allowed on the skin (wear gloves) or in cooking pots (never reuse a pot for food after you have used it for Rit dye or any other dye besides food coloring). This is because, like most dyes, it has not been properly tested for safety when consumed or applied to the skin. There's no need to worry, though; just follow standard safety rules about gloves, aprons, and proper behavior (don't eat the dye! don't squirt it on your friends!).

The most dangerous aspect of Rit or any other brand of all-purpose dye is that it cannot be used with cool water, and in fact bonds very poorly to fabric unless the fabric is submerged in an extremely hot dyebath, ideally above 190°F (87°C). (Even then, the dye is not very washfast.) Boiling water is, obviously, very dangerous around kids, if there's any way it can spill.

Soda ash is a common ingredient in laundry detergent, so you probably use it all the time. It is important to rinse or at least wipe soda ash off if it gets spilled on the skin, and to keep it out of the eyes, because its high pH can be irritating. Other than that, it's not particularly dangerous.

Cold water dyes, such as Procion MX dyes, are exactly what you need for your project. Don't mess with all-purpose dye.

Paula

[kelz]

Kelz--

Don't use the RIT. It doesn't work well and you don't want the kids exposed to the hot water. The kits from walmart are a rip off--they don't dye nearly as much as they claim.

Go to some place like prochem http://www.prochemical.com or dharma as you mentioned. Order the same materials as the kits by the pound. I have done groups this large before. 1 pound each of Yellow MX-8G, Red MX-5B, Black MX-CWNA, and 2 pounds of Turquoise MX-G Should be enough for your group. You will also need soda ash--about 10 pounds. 10 pounds of urea would be optional. You will need disposable gloves, bags, rubber bands, etc.

While you do not want to drink the dyes, or swim in the soda ash solution, they are safe enough to use with children. My daughter was 2 when I first let her apply dye. I do it with kids all the time.

I can give you more details as how to manage such an undertaking if you like!

Steve

steve - you're a tie dye angel! thanks for the advice. I would love more details/ideas for doing this.

can the kids wear latex gloves as opposed to rubber (I'm thinking like huge yellow dishwashing gloves when I hear 'rubber'...)?

thanks again steve!

love, kelz

[kelz]

thanks paula!

yeah, the RIT method is looking less and less appealing as I read on...

I'll be checking out your site often for tips before I do this at camp. thanks!

love, kelz

[pburch]

Latex gloves are fine. So are vinyl or nitrile. It would be really nice if you can get some extra-small gloves for the smaller children to wear, but anything they can keep on is good. My drug store sells only medium (labeled 'one size fits all', which is not entirely correct), but there are online sources. PRO Chemical & Dye sells size 7 latex gloves (the same as size small, I think), though not extra-small.

Paula

[steve]

I think disposable examination latex gloves are the most practical for this purpose. They generally come in packs of 100 gloves (not pairs) for $6 or so. I also use disposable aprons which can be had for as little as 4 cents each in 100 packs from a food service supplier.

You'll want to mix the dyes and any other chemicals ahead of time to get that out of the way--believe me, you will be busy enough when you are dyeing.

Get bundles of newspaper and plastic bags (again from a food service provider--cheap by the 1000 pack!) I like to contain the mess by giving each participant a 1020 nursery flat with no holes in it lined with many layers of newspapers. If the dye puddles a little, I fold a layer or 2 of paper over it so I can set the garment on fresh newspaper when applying dye to the other side. When done dyeing, they can bundle the paper around the shirt and toss in a plastic bag for curing.

You will need lots of squirt bottles--I buy them by the dozen at Sam's Club for about 40 cents each (condiment bottles).  It's best to have one set of 4 bottles for every 2 people--so we're talking about 50-60 bottles.

Review how to use the primary colors to make secondary colors.

String works better, but you'll probably be better off using rubber bands unless the kids are older and can handle knots and the like.

Keeping track of the garments can be a hassle. So run down to the post office and grab some free tyvik mailers and cut them into 2 by 2 pieces. Use a sharpie to write identifying information on the tag. Attatch them to the label of the shirt with a safety pin and make sure the label is exposed after folding. The shirts can be folded, soaked, dyed, washed, and dried with these labels attached.

You might spread this process out over a couple of days--at least one for tying and another for dyeing. One issue that I have run into when tying and dyeing at once, is that it is difficult and tiring to get all the shirts wrung out as well as they should be before applying the dye.

I'll think of more later! Feel free to ask away!

Steve

[steve]

By the way--this is what 200 plus people wearing their tie-dye looks like.

[kelz]

By the way--this is what 200 plus people wearing their tie-dye looks like.

insane!!!! that's awesome steve. however the whole two-day thing.. can't really do it. the most I have is an hour with the kids, only one day. I have to see 5 different groups for 5 different days during camp.

is it still feasible?

[steve]

the most I have is an hour with the kids, only one day. I have to see 5 different groups for 5 different days during camp.

is it still feasible?

An hour is cutting it pretty close, but I have done it. If that is the case, I'd keep the designs simple with very few variants!

Keep in mind that the shirts will also need to be cured over time and washed a few times before they are ready for wearing.

Steve

[kelz]

hey - have been researching this up recently, is it possible to make the dyes ahead of time and keep them in jars to use over the span of the week? or do I have to/should I mix new batches every day? thought it would be super easy to mix up a ton of dye, take it up to camp and just distribute as the week went on, thought I'd ask the experts  

thanks again!!

[steve]

hey - have been researching this up recently, is it possible to make the dyes ahead of time and keep them in jars to use over the span of the week? or do I have to/should I mix new batches every day? thought it would be super easy to mix up a ton of dye, take it up to camp and just distribute as the week went on, thought I'd ask the experts  

thanks again!!

At cool room temperatures you should be able to get away with mixing for a week as long as you don't mix "activated dye". If temperatures are warm, you can refrigerate the dyes, or, as I do, keep them in a cooler with some of those blue ice packs--just enough to keep the dyes in the 50s.

Steve

[steve]

Kelz--

When I thought about your time constraints, I believe that using activated dye might help chop some time off your procedure.

You may also want to look at out new discussion area: Tie-dye Workshops-- Down near the bottom of the page.

Steve

[kelz]

all right, so... I'm thinking I'm going to be getting the 100+ person tie dye kit from dharma (http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/1294219-AA.shtml). I've added more bottles, as well as aprons, more gloves, garbage bags for drop cloths.... is there anything else I need or should add? has anyone used this kit before? reactions?

I have to have my camp budget turned in tomorrow, that's why I'm panicking lol  

as always, thanks![/url]

[steve]

You will not have nough dye for 200 people. Frankly, I don't think that is enough dye for 100 people.

That kit is kind of strange in the amounts of various supplies--6 squirt bottles and 12 gloves (pairs?). If you are going to run around for more gloves and aprons etc. I'd just buy dye in pound containers along with the soda ash, urea (not strictly necessary), and synthrapol (again--not strictly necessary).

I'd get the rest elsewhere. Food service purveyors (or a costco) could be a source of cheap squirt bottles, aprons, and gloves. Get rubber bands by the pound at office supply stores.

You will also need buckets, jars, mixing tools for mixing big quantities of dye.

Steve