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tie dye expert tip: if you are utilizing a 8- or 16- wheel 'mandala' or 'snowflake' folding pattern (commonly used to make mandalas, lotuses, flower, and stars) and you wish to include black in your work, do not simply dye one side black, as is the natural inclination when folding with a 'two-sided' pattern such as the common scrunch fold, the ubiquitous galaxy swirl, or any mirror image. Coloring one side black works on these 'two-sided' patterns because the peaks of one side of the fold are the valleys of the other, and as such, will reveal themselves to be side by side 'stripes'. However, when one folds in a 'snowflake' pattern [I titled it thusly due to the fact that one uses this folding pattern (and cutting) to form the well-known craft favorite of paper snowflakes] it is utilizing 'panels', and the all-one color patterns will cluster next to each other.

solution? dye piece with brighter colors as desired then 'sprinkle' black onto both sides. The result is closed to the desired effect of more evenly spaced black locations.

 

dye life lessons: gifts always end up being one's best work. 

knowing just how much dye to use is all about practice and is highly project dependent. learn from mistakes and move forward (or sideways)

the absence of dye can make more of an impact then it's presence. 

there is a place for planning out every minute detail (folding pattern, color palate, dye pattern) and there is a place for spontaneity and surprises. nothing turns out exactly as planned or expected.

 

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custom mod for a. r. v 2.0 - front and back pockets, custom patch with hand-drawn artwork

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custom NU 

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pockets!

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impactful with the single color palette - emphasis on the folding pattern : collar turned out particularly nice, close ups below

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absence of dye makes a big statement

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gotta love organic cotton socks

your wish has been granted - this human has an etsy shop :

 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/enjoyyourjourney

 

now your wildest x-made dreams can come true

 

also a new batch has been borne of the wash  -

dye life lessons and tips from this round:

perfection is statistically unlikely

no matter the amount of planning, there are always surprises, and these are often the greatest gifts

less is more - no need to over-saturate your project

too much dye ? don't squeeze it out, it fades your color and muddies your crisp lines - instead place it over a grate so it can drip out while the dye sets

contemplate your color choices - [this is from someone who loves rainbows and has to exert self-control to not always default to the whole spectrum] often a small selection of colors will have more impact

 

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powdered dye art in the sink

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chocolat swirls  - the middle one looks like one meditating with arms outstretched_998DSC_9481

my tied bundles of joy have been described as voodoo dolls, spiders, and octopi_999DSC_9483 _1000DSC_9484

custom men's high fashion drip dye ombre work for PW - pre-washout

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PW custom work post-washout (un-ideal lighting - white is not as blue)

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spider-puss about to dye

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black 'baconator' custom scarf work for CD

 

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dyed bundles of expectation

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blue bumblebee

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small sachet

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custom work for High Five Freedom