Tie dye terms defined and displayed in alphabetical order. You can sort by category.
Pleating fold for symmetry or stripes.
This is a powder meant to be mixed with water and dye, to thicken the dye.
A container used to hold fabric during dyeing or draining. Often used with racks or bins.
A container used for holding fabric, ice, or dye runoff. Usually plastic and shallow.
Water with urea (and sometimes other additives) prepared for use with procion dye.
Misting dry dye for slow, ringed effects.
Colors that sit opposite each other on the color wheel, like purple and yellow.
A plant-based fiber that bonds well with fiber reactive dye. Common in shirts and towels.
How long the dye is left to set before rinsing.
A type of dye that doesn’t require a chemical reaction to bond. Often less permanent.
Dye under ice for strong, layered color.
Refers to how much dye is absorbed by fabric versus left in the water.
A small metal tipped squirt bottle used for intricate liquid dye application.
Uses poly fleece to create smoother lines and folds during ice dyeing.
Grams per square meter. Describes how thick or heavy a fabric is.
A chemical additive that slows how fast dye strikes, allowing for smoother blends.
A natural fiber made from the hemp plant. Strong and absorbent, but can be rougher than cotton.
Dye powder is applied over ice placed on fabric.
A setup where fabric is positioned at a slope to control how dye and ice melt travel.
A natural fiber made from flax. It absorbs dye differently than cotton and can wrinkle easily.
Short for fiber reactive dyes, often seen in Dharma/ProChem brands.
Leftover melted ice and dye.
Adding a second layer of dye on top of an existing one to shift or deepen the color.
Waiting long enough for dye to fully set.
A synthetic fabric that doesn’t bond with fiber reactive dye unless treated or coated.
Pre-washing fabric for clean dye results.
A tool used to grip and pull sinew tightly after it's wrapped around fabric.
Drapey cellulose fiber with vivid dye results.
Photo or video of the rinsed result. Best when dramatic.
Removes color with bleach, then re-dyes.
A digital or analog tool used to measure dye powders or chemicals by weight.
A traditional Japanese folding and binding method used to create repeating patterns in fabric.
Raises fabric pH so dye bonds to cotton.
A common fold where fabric is twisted into a circular shape to create radiating lines.
How fast dye begins to bond with fabric once it gets wet. Faster strike means less blending.
Bottle used to apply dye precisely.
Optional chemical that helps dyes stay wet longer and penetrate fabric.
A dye type used on animal fibers like wool or silk. Requires heat and acid to set.
Colors that sit next to each other on the color wheel. Usually blend well together.
Letting dye sit so it bonds with fabric.
Colors that migrate or stain nearby areas.
Small clamps used to hold folds in place during dyeing or drying.
Dye that works without heat. Most fiber reactive dyes fall into this category.
The level of visual difference between areas of a design, usually through color or saturation.
Soft cotton knit fabric used in T-shirts.
A dyeing method where fabric is lowered into liquid dye, usually to control placement and intensity.
Sprinkling dye over ice for soft, blended effects.
A stretchy band used to bind fabric tightly. Creates strong resist lines.
Permanent dye that bonds to cotton fibers.
Helps dye stick to fabric.
A cone-shaped tool used to pour dye or chemicals into narrow containers without spilling.
Creates layered rings like a geode crystal.
Protective hand coverings used to avoid contact with dye powders or chemicals.
Hot water to boost dye activation and richness.
Tall ice pile held with cardboard, magics tracks or other ingenuity.
Thin cotton string often used for binding fabric. Doesn’t stretch.
Low-liquid dyeing for textured finishes.
A symmetrical fold where one half of the fabric is folded over the other like a book.
Any fabric made from plantbased sources. Includes cotton, hemp, and linen.
A scale that measures how acidic or alkaline a liquid is. Affects how dye bonds to fabric.
Synthetic backing fabric for flowy folds.
Soaking fabric in soda ash before dyeing for better results.
Refers to the colors red, yellow, and blue. These can be mixed to make all other colors.
Dye setup with shirt elevated to let ice melt cleanly through.
Mask to prevent inhaling dye powder.
When color is removed from parts of the fabric, usually with bleach or discharge chemicals.
Refers to how deep the dye penetrates into the fabric. Or how bright color is.
Random crumple fold for marbled texture.
Thick, waxy thread for tying crisp lines.
Soaking fabric in soda ash before applying dye.
Sprinkling dry dye or soda ash on fabric.
Removes excess dye and prevents backstaining.
Folding style with tall peaks for deep color penetration.