New Found Love of Low Water Immersion Dyeing

Tie-dye is a passion, I concede. The planning of the design, the execution of the folds, the accidental splashing of the dark dye in the area you had previously reserved for yellow. It's all part of what drives me in my quest to create the most awesome wearable artwork.

But I have temporarily forsaken my roll of flat sinew and in it's place I have embraced the lowly bucket. What an concept! Scrunch, twist, roll, wad, swirl or otherwise abuse a piece of cloth or clothing and jam it down into the bottom of the bucket. Squirt, pour, dribble, drip or spray a tint or two of Procion MX dyes on top. Wait a bit and add some soda ash water to not quite cover the cloth and let stew.

The patterns and intricate detail that emerge after 1-24 hours are just breath taking. I could not have gotten this effect with paint on canvas if I tried. Yet, with minimal effort, some dye, water and a bucket, the beauty creates itself.

Here's the finished piece for sale on our site. The lucky product adorned with the beauty above is a Junior size 7 pair of shorts: