Tie and dye

Tie and dye is one of the techniques of creating a pattern or design on the fabric using one of the resist dying methods where the fabric is tied in the appropriate manner required for the design and then dyed to create patterns. The portion of the fabric which is tied does not take the dye and the rest of the fabric gets colored thus forming the design. 

This technique is seen in most of the parts of the world. In India it is also called as 'Bandhani'. Lots of variations are done in tie and dye techniques to create variety of designs. 

Tie and dye designs and techniques

The most popular design in tie and dye is circles like design or pattern. A very tiny portion of the cloth is picked and tied tightly. So as said before the portion of the fabric which is tied does not take the dye and the rest of the fabric gets dyed forming white circles kind of pattern. 

This technique can be used creatively to form different unique patterns. Apart from the circle shaped design lots of other patterns are produced by various methods like the following

• Folding the fabric like a square and tying only lengthwise or lengthwise and widthwise tightly

• Folding the fabric like a square and machine stitching on it in different patterns like straight lines, diagonal lines etc. In this case wherever the stitch is done the dye does not penetrate. 

• Crushed effect can be obtained by simply crushing the fabric; tying it randomly and dyeing it. 

• Different sort of designs can be produced by tying the fabric with some objects inside it for eg rice and then dyeing it. 

• Four corners of the fabric can be knotted and dyed. 

• The fabric can be folded like a square or rectangle and the four corners of the square or rectangle can be tied and dyed. 

Images of some tie and dye samples

Square fold tie and dye

Tie and dye with object inside(rice)

Tie and dye with object inside(rice)

Crushed effect

Wrinkled effect

These are few tie and dye methods and you can however be very creative and make your own interesting designs. Synthetic dyes are mostly used in these days. 

Applications

Tie and dye is widely used in almost all types of apparels, home furnishings and accessories. Products where tie and dye technique is applied includes shirts, kurtis, salwars, sarees, anarkalis, dupattas, stoles, shawls, women and men's tops, skirts, scarfs, jackets, bags, shorts, leotarts, women's dresses, wall hangings, swim wear etc. 

Again creativity plays a very important role here. You can be very innovative in applying the technique in different products. There is no hard and fast rule that you have to apply a particular technique in only a particular product. As long as the design is pleasing and the product is usable it is perfect.