So this weekend I went on a tie dyeing binge. It's been about a year since I broke out the rubber gloves, buckets, squeeze bottles and string. I did 18 t-shirts, 8 dinner napkins, 3 pair of socks, and a partridge in a pear....no, wait, the bird got away. There is one other item I did but won't mention or share at this time because it's a surprise for someone who reads me. Aren't you all wondering now? Ok, so the wash line here only shows a few of the shirts I did but it was kind of nice to see some color splashed against all the white snow.
Though my limelets have rebelled against tie dyes for a number of years now, Calypso has recently seen the light and decided she wants some of her own. Her objection is the bagginess of the t-shirts so she handed over her one form fitting white t-shirt with the request that I make a rainbow swirl on it. Here are the results. She was pleased. Apparently when she wore it around some friends one of them asked her if I would do a short for him too. Maybe the old lady isn't so uncool after all if the youngsters want her stuff.
This next one was an experiment. I get bored doing the same pattern over and over again so I fooled around with different folds to see what I'd get. I liked it! Once the dye is on the garments they have to sit around for 24 hours waiting for all the happy chemical reactions to take place to permanently affix the color to the fabric. I can hardly wait the full time before opening them up to see the results. I know what patterns I am going for. I know what colors I used. But it's still a surprise to see exactly how it all turns out once they are opened up and washed out. Maybe I am weird but it's like Christmas morning when I unwrap all the shirts and other things. I get very excited. If something flops though it's kind of like getting that great big pink bunny suit like in A Christmas Story. Fortunately that doesn't happen to often so it's usually more like getting that Red Ryder BB gun.
Since I am trying to reduce, reuse, and recycle I have been weaning the Lime family off paper napkins and using cloth ones more often. I decided to dye a bunch. They were perfect for using up the small amounts of dye left over after doing the big items. Almost too pretty to wipe your mouth on, huh?
I took bunches of pictures of the finished products but forgot to take any new pictures of me in the tie dyes for this week so here are some of my old favorites in tie dyes I have also done.
Dance of the 7 Dishtowels
Sock it to Me
How'd She Do That?
My Favorite Sheets
31 comments:
Beautiful pic of the shirts hanging out above the snow.
So, does each family member get a certain color napkin and then use it for a few days or a week?
Yes maam my yard has looked like Wodstock got naked before. Carrie's 16th birthday was a woodstock/tie dye party and i did handkerchiefs and bandanas for the guests with shirts for her closest friends. My choice of drying is a ladder and I once got addicted to stripes, since i had not seen them before, i went crazy with the stripes!!
All of this reminds me how i found you. It was then and I had googled something about tie dye and found YOU, one of my best google finds!
The kids shirts date back to size 2T and are all in their respective cedar chests.
I think it all started for me in '76 when i found the bathtub
filled with bluejeans and weighted down with blocks, the parents gone haywire........
Once again I love your work!!
Wow! what an array of vibrant colors!
They are breathtakingly beautiful!
Tie-Dye Trini...
You felt inspired yesterday eh?
I love tie dye to begin with but Calypso's shirt is outstanding. I see something interesting in it but maybe it is because I already had something planted in my head. To me the top portion of the shirt reminds me a palm trees. With thinking that I believe the bottom of the shirt reminds me of a sunset. Anyway I might have had that planted in my head as the person that is generally credited with creating the Hawaiian shirt died this past week.
I love your tie dye in the snow, that is a real nice break.
You know it makes sense that you get all excited when you open up the finished product. Tie dye, especially for you, is an art. I have to believe artists get very much the same feeling upon completing their projects.
Now I have a bone to pick with you. I know colors always have to be in the order of the rainbow. It drives you crazy if it is not (I believe). The napkins... the napkin on the far right just does not feel right. It seems out of place. I thought the first color is suppose to be red and that first napkin really does not look as red as I thought it should ...
Other than that, I love your work. You done good kid!
Beautiful dye work Lime! I also love the cloth napkins dyed too. We are switching to cloth as well and i think I will pick up a package at Sams and do this as a craft with Hannah. Thanks for the idea!
hypnotizing!
So nice to see color... Round 'bout this time of year all the gray begins to depress the hell out of me.
Beautiful job!
:-)
You're a great colorist. Just luscious. With the cool young ones' orders coming in, you may have a cottage industry on your hands here, Ms. Lime.
Can I place an order please: Soft cotton, three quarter sleeves[to cover the bat wings]. Shorter than a mumu but much longer than a tee shirt, like the kind I bought by the dozen in Mexico. So soft cool and colourful for summer, when it comes. Name your price.
Love them all.
Aw man, I LOVE tie-dye. . . You are a tie-dye artiste, my dear. And the photo of 'em all hanging in a row against the snowy backdrop is very cool. . .
And tie-dye napkins. . . what a cool idea! (You wouldn't be interested in makin' up a set of 'em for us, wouldja?)
;)
Cool. The kids and I are over-due for a nother tie-dye weekend, but I think we'll wait for warmer weather.
I do love those sheets, and the folded shirt~ quite unique.
The daughter and I tie-dyed a few t-and thermal shirts not too long ago. We had a blast! They come around, sooner or later...;)
I love the colors against the snow. Beautiful.
Did I ever tell you that my church softball team, way back in '73 or '74, had it's uniforms tie-dyed? We were certainly a unique looking bunch of jocks.
that really is a great shot! is one of them mine?
Beautiful. I love your work. I want one! lol
Groovy! (sorry, I couldn't help myself... lol.) But I do love the idea of a splash of color against the snow.
That first photo is absolutely outstanding!!! I made a mental bookmark in case I want to request permission to use it for an illustration.
I have always liked tie dye, but have never had anything at all that is tie dyed. How sad is that!
Oh! There's an award for you, over at my place. Come and claim it, if you wish.
I think I like the one for your daughter the best.
The napkins are also very good.
Mr Logo really liked the new pattern you tried.
So cool to be creative!
i see myself doing some of this with the kids before too much longer!
What a cool way to save money!!! :) I think this is brilliant and extremely personalized! :D cool!!!
I'm lovin the new pattern too! :) Very neato!
Yes, yes, I know what you mean! It's like each one is a little present when you open it up. And it's also like a box of chocolates....
:P
Those are incredibly fantastic tie dyes, Lime. You are getting better and better. I love the rainbow napkins, and the pic of hte shirts in the snow is FABULOUS!!!!!!! Stealworthy, even.
Perhaps you need your own ETSY shop?
Happy TH day Lime.
You are definately not uncool!! Just think closing the generation gap through tie dying!! And the clothing looks awesome in your snowing back yard, like a ray of summer sunshine!!!
Ooooh vibrant and beautiful. Where were you when we were doing our 60's street party last summer?
Lori would kill for sheets like that. She is so into tie dye. Where is your store?
Of course you're cool! And weird....
I'm drooling all over myself with excitement. Your color explosions just make one go crazy with color madness. Yes, where is your store? You'd make a million yet. How come when I did all of the steps (read a book or two) nothing of the finished product resembled anything at all like yours. hmmmm - Maybe I'll try napkins next time instead of washcloths. You are fabulous!
Babes, these are AMAZING. And I love the napkins (an idea that never occurred to me!) and your new pattern.
You could rake in some bucks with this, you know!
So the next time your gonna tie dye let me know so I can send you about 7 white t's so you can dye them for me.(oh and hey I'll pay ya for your time and trouble) I used to tie dye long long long ago but with all 4 boys right now I just dont have the time. Any ways they look great! FANTASTIC in fact!
I love those napkins. I have never done tie dye, except for a bedspread long ago. I do use procion dyes for some things but the colors are not very predicitble.
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