Can You Tie-Dye Polyester?
- 1). Put on a dusk mask and gloves. Clean the fabric in a bucket containing hot water, around 140 degrees Fahrenheit, 1/2 teaspoon of soda ash and 1/2-teaspoon of Synthrapol.
- 2). Fold the fabric and tie it with dental floss. You can either fold the fabric in a way to create certain patterns -- a task for more experienced tie-dyers -- or just fold the fabric randomly before tying it.
- 3). Dissolve the disperse dye powder in a bowl containing 1 cup of boiling water. For pale and medium colors pour half-teaspoon in the bowl, for dark colors pour 3 teaspoons and for black pour 6 teaspoons. Also, disperse 2 tablespoons of Dye Carrier NSC into a separate bowl containing 1 cup of boiling water.
- 4). Pour 2 1/2 gallons of water in a stainless steel bucket. The water must have a temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Also 1/2 teaspoon of Synthrapol, 11 teaspoons of white distilled vinegar, diluted Dye Carrier NSC and dissolved disperse dye.
- 5). Stir the mixture and add the tied fabric in it and stir for at 30 minutes. Remove the shirt from the mixture and place it in a bucket containing boiling water. Leave the fabric in the boiling water for 5 minutes.
- 6). Transfer the fabric to another bucket, containing water at 160 degrees Fahrenheit and 1/2 teaspoon Synthrapol. Leave the fabric in this bucket for 10 minutes before rinsing it in hot water to complete the tie-dyeing process of the polyester garment.
