Folds and Patterns

Below is a list of common modern tie-dying folds and patterns.

Bullseye

Bullseyes involve a central point which is bound, as though poking the fabric with a finger or stick then binding the protusion every 1-2 inches. Usually different color dyes are applied to each bound section to create rings of color.

Stripes

Horizontal or vertical stripes are created by pleating= the fabric into several small folds, causing the dye to spread laterally.

Spiral

Spiral patterns involve pleats of fabric arranged in swirls around a central point, bundled into a round bun often resembling a cinnamon bun or a snail’s shell. Different wedges of the circular bun are dyed different colors.

V

The ‘V’ shape achieved by folding a shirt in half vertically, then a line is drawn diagonally from the shoulder area down to the center fold of the shirt. The fabric is then accordion folded along the line and bound into one or more areas to which the dye is applied.

Random

This category can hold several different patterns, the majority of which have nothing to do with each other; they can be combinations or they can be as chaotic as bundling the item to be dyed to resemble a plucked chicken.