Tie & Dye: A Unique Experience, A Unique Outcome
How-To
Climbing one of China’s holiest Taoist site with beginner climber, Davian Chew.
By Davian Chew - September 16, 2019
ie & Dye is a form of traditional art that originated from China 1500 years ago and has been kept alive till the present day.
art form has been picked up recently due to its customisation for different individuals’ style.
Ever wanted to give back to nature? One such way is to use natural ingredients such as plant dye. The following step-by-step guide is one such way for you to customise your day-to-day items, from scarves to table cloths, all while being environmentally-friendly at the same time.
“The pace of life in today’s society is very fast so tie & dye can be a form of stress-relief because one can get a sense of satisfaction after seeing the final product of what they did from scratch,” said Ms Ge Fei, 37, a lecturer of tie & dye.
T
Materials Needed:
1.
1.
Cloth (cotton / linen/ silk)
Plant Dye
Tie & Dye: A Unique Experience, A Unique Outcome
How-To
Davian Chew teaches you how you can make your very own tie and dye to express and showcase your unique personality.
By Davian Chew - September 16, 2019
ie & Dye is a form of traditional art that originated from China 1500 years ago and has been kept alive till the present day.
art form has been picked up recently due to its customisation for different individuals’ style.
Ever wanted to give back to nature? One such way is to use natural ingredients such as plant dye. The following step-by-step guide is one such way for you to customise your day-to-day items, from scarves to table cloths, all while being environmentally-friendly at the same time.
“The pace of life in today’s society is very fast so tie & dye can be a form of stress-relief because one can get a sense of satisfaction after seeing the final product of what they did from scratch,” said Ms Ge Fei, 37, a lecturer of tie & dye.
T
Things you'll need:
Cloth (cotton / linen/ silk)
Mordant (you can find this at Spotlight Singapore)
Cotton thread / Rubberband (for winding the cloth to secure the shape of the cloth)
Deep Bottom Bucket (for the blue plant dye-making process)
Scissors (to cut the strings)
5 Litres of Water
Isatis Root (Common name: Ban Lan Gen 板蓝根)
Preparing the Blue Plant Dye
1.
2.
3.
4.
Submerge the leaves of the Isatis Root in a bucket of water between 15 and 20 degrees Celsius.
Stir the mixture every 15 minutes until a layer of forms on the surface of the water.
Remove the residue floating on the surface of the water.
Add in rice wine and quicklime before letting the final mixture sit for six to eight hours. A good indication to start your tie & dye process is when the water turns green.
Cloud Tie & Dye
This method is recommended by Ms Qing Hua, the boss of a tie & dye shop, Qing Lan Diao (青蓝调), because it is the easiest for beginners.
1.
Rinse the cloth in clear water and wring it dry.
2.
Make sure that the inner side of the cloth is facing upwards towards you. Pinch the centre of the cloth and rotate your hand in a clockwise direction before proceeding to wrap the towel up into a flower shape.
(Note: The tighter the cloth is, the more the blue dye will show on the cloth.)
3.
Put the towel into a mesh bag which has a stone tied to the bottom of it. Tie a tight knot directly on top of the cloth to secure it in its position. The stone will help to weigh down and fully submerge the cloth in the dye.
4.
Tie a rubber band at the top of the mesh bag and hang it on a rod before putting it into the bucket of prepared dye.
5.
Soak the cloth in the dye for four minutes.
6.
Remove the rod from the dye for around five to ten minutes, until the cloth turns blue. Repeat step 5 and 6 twice
7.
Remove the cloth from the mesh bag and rinse it under running tap water until the water runs clear. Hang the cloth out to dry right after.
8.
Soak the cloth in vinegar after it has dried. This helps the dye to last longer.
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