A new twist on tie-dye

Parents everywhere are in the home stretch, awaiting the new school year. As I recall that time of my life, the memories are bittersweet. I remember late summer days, slowly preparing myself for my babes’ eventual flight from the nest. How can so much anticipation and reluctance grip the heart at once? I realize that some families are gung-ho to get back into the swing of school, while others find themselves hanging on tight to summer’s lazy days. Most of us have felt a little of both sentiments at some point. Whichever your inclination this week, you and your youngsters could no doubt use a fresh idea to fend off stir-craziness as the summer wanes. After so many days spent running and playing, swimming and sunning, even the most self-disciplined kiddos can become bored. Take heart. This is the ideal time to tap into your creativity, and I have an easy recipe to rekindle your child’s summer sparkle. It combines the “3-Rs” green-living mantra (recycle, reuse, renew) with the artistic potential of one simple (and super cheap) item found on supermarket shelves everywhere. No stress, and no school-like regimen. Freestyle fun is the name of the game. Are you ready? Let me show you how to put a new twist on an old craft: tie-dyeing! Tie-dyeing is a fun method of decorating fabric by binding and selectively dyeing to create gorgeous patterns. It’s no surprise that kids love everything about it. Heck, the very idea of staining an unblemished white garment on purpose is exciting enough. But then you add twisting, tying, dipping and unraveling — who could resist? However, don’t just rush out and buy a tie-dyeing kit from the local dime store. It’s likely full of chemicals that you don’t want soaking into your child’s skin or your own. Instead, make the most of this summer project by creating vibrant, nontoxic dyes from, of all things, Kool-Aid powdered drink mix. Granted, I don’t drink the stuff. All of those high-intensity hues aren’t something I want to imagine painting my insides. But, with a long history of food-grade “safety,” Kool-Aid makes for a much more kid-friendly pigment when it comes to crafting. I happened upon the artistic attributes of Kool-Aid years ago, when my daughter colored her little brother’s hair green. It lasted for weeks! Further exploration proved that this unusual “dye” produces lovely, brilliant colors on wool and other protein fibers like silk and alpaca. It’ll also work well on nylon that isn’t treated with any kind of coating. However, Kool-Aid won’t bind to cellulose-type fibers like cotton, rayon or hemp. What to Dye? Your tie-dyeing adventure starts with a treasure hunt to search for just the right recyclables to renew and reuse for your project. Partner up with your child to search your closets and drawers, or gather a variety of garage-sale goodies. You can tie-dye almost anything. Any white, light-colored or unbleached natural protein or nylon fiber will do. Look for aprons, sheets, handkerchiefs, skirts, scarves — whatever strikes your fancy. Fabric Prep Step: It’s a good idea to launder and dry any item you plan to dye. This will help the dye set more evenly. Avoid using fabric softener in the washer or dryer because it can coat the fabric, causing it to resist the dye. Materials You’ll Need: Fabric Unsweetened Kool-Aid powder in a variety of different flavors/colors White vinegar Small recycled plastic containers (one for each color) Plastic gloves Rubber bands Twist, Tie, Dip and Dye 1. Mix 2 packages of each Kool-Aid color with 1/4 cup vinegar in individual bowls. Stir until dissolved. 2. Pull and twist your fabric into different shapes, and secure with rubber bands. You can find detailed instructions and diagrams of cool tie-dye folding techniques at http://www.prochemical.com/directions/Folding.htm and www.ritdye.com/Tie-Dye+Patterns.17.lasso. 3. Wearing rubber gloves to keep from staining your skin, dip rubber-banded sections of fabric into different dyes. 4. Allow the fabric to air-dry with the rubber bands in place. 5. To set the colors, unwrap your dried masterpiece and iron it on high heat, using an ironing cloth between the fabric and iron. Wait 24 hours before washing, and then wash separately in cold water.