Corky Lorenz is a photographer who documents local life in Elkhart, Indiana. See events, people, and process notes. Corky Lorenz Clothes for people who LOVE color. SUN 7PM SUN 7PM SUN 7PM SUN 7PM Next Restock: Sunday, June 28th, at 7pm. See previews on Facebook & IG. Set your alarm! Tutorials See tutorials for tie dye. Sewing Learn to sew cloth pads. Elkhart, Indiana See Elkhart, from Corky's perspective.

Tie dye supplies The main supplies you need to get started with tie dye are powered dye, soda ash, gloves and a cotton shirt. Essentials - procion dye - soda ash - gloves - mask - paper towels or rag - bins Optional - dye bottles - rubber bands - artificial sinew - measuring spoons - magic tracks Poly Fleece Synthetic fiber fabric meant to fold under thin fabrics for the flowy ice dye style. Typically folded with tall scrunches. Soda Ash This is what makes the color permanently bond to the fabric. Presoak your shirt in soda ash water before applying dye. Mix 1 cup of soda ash with 1 gallon of water. Shirt blanks I like these for practicing flowy ice dye. They are slightly stiff, which helps with getting nice flowing details with tall scrunches. Mega Bloks These are great for draping shirts over. When you ice dye, you get interesting results when you create dramatic peaks and valleys. These are a good alternative to using balls of foil (used to be popular). Just don't let kids play with them if they will put in their mouth. Elastics For sprials, scrunches, accordians! Some people have good results using elastics for geode tie dye, but I prefer to use sinew. Wire Rack For ice dye drainage when you don't want the item sitting in excess dye water. Racks helps get better "flow" for the watercolor ice dye look. Jacquard Dye Fiber reactive dye meant for cotton, rayon, hemp, and other natural fiber fabrics. I like using the Jacquard "Jet Black" color when ice dyeing. Sinew Thick, waxy thread, used to tie fabric before applying dye. It's often used to create lines by resisting the dye under the tied sections. Shaker I got one of these and like it for keeping some black dye at hand. Mixing with salt makes it sprinkle evenly. Mask Powered procion dye is very fine and floats in the air. It's best to wear a well fitting respirator to make sure you aren't breathing it in. I like the standard painter masks. Detail Bottles These fine tip squirt bottles are good for liquid dyeing very intricate designs with lots of small sections. Usually people using these are doing detailed mandalas or geodes. Magic Tracks I enjoy using these connected in a circle, as an ice barrier. You can stack them into 2 layers if the ice is too tall for just one layer. Rinse and reuse. Some people find them at garage sales and thrift stores. Baskets I got all my metal baskets from Meijer locally, but you can use any basket that looks like a shape you like. Coated metal is nice so it will last a while without rusting. Gloves Some people like to use shorter, disposable gloves to make it easier to do detail work. I have learned to like these for ease and not buying disposable gloves. They are great for rinsing dyed items out because they are tall. Dharma Dye Fiber reactive dye meant for cotton, rayon, hemp, and other natural fiber fabrics. When used with soda ash, the color stays bright.

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

Dye Tutorials How it's made! This is a collection of dye projects with photos and info on each step. Metallic Accents Flowy Brown Melt Speed Black Ice Dye Bold Color

Swatch Collections + start a collection Louise L Shelby Linda Phillips Jessthestitcher Gale P Kristen Ryon Dye Barry Dye Corky Lorenz

See real color swatches from the tie dye community. Brands include Dharma, Jacquard, ProChemical, Grateful Dyes, Dyespin, and more. Swatch List Community contributed color swatches. Click the thumbnail to see the the dye color name, and the contributing artist's collection. < Back to Color List black blue brown green grey ice ice dye orange pink purple red yellow Hot Pink Dharma Golden Brown Dharma Dragon's Heart Dharma Dances With Raisins Dharma Chinese Red Dharma Celadon Dharma Bronze Dharma Blue Violet Dharma Better Black Dharma Amethyst Dharma Raven Black Dharma Warrior Princess Dharma Wasabi Dharma Timber Wolf Dharma Shiitake Mushroom Dharma Powder Pink Dharma Dragon's Heart Dharma Avalon Dharma Lavender Dharma Herbaceous Dharma Hot Hibiscus Dharma Fuchsia Red Dharma Dragon Fruit Dharma Cobalt Blue Dharma Chartreuse Dharma Cayman Isle Green Dharma Bright Green Dharma Blue Gray Dharma Better Blue Green Dharma Amber Waves Dharma Aqua Marine Dharma Nightshade Dharma Wasabi Dharma Timber Wolf Dharma Sage Green Dharma Pearl Grey ProChem Citrus Yellow Dharma Herbaceous Dharma Wedgewood Blue Dharma Lime Pop Dharma Herbaceous Dharma Fire Red Dharma Deep Space Dharma Clear Yellow Dharma Charcoal Gray Dharma Camel Dharma Brazilnut Dharma Baby Pink Dharma Avalon Dharma Alchemist Dharma Aqua Marine Dharma Brilliant Blue Dharma Warrior Princess Dharma Stormy Sky ProChem Safari Grey ProChem Loden ProChem Blue Abyss Dharma Avalon Dharma Robin's Egg Blue Dharma Sea Glass Dharma Gun Metal Gray Dharma Eggplant Dharma Deep Purple Dharma Citrus Yellow Dharma Chamois Dharma Burgundy Dharma Blueberry Dharma Baby Blue Dharma Atomic Fireball Dharma Patina Green Dyespin Warrior Princess Dharma Brilliant Blue Dharma Warrior Princess Dharma Stormy Sky ProChem Safari Grey ProChem Loden ProChem Alchemist Dharma Alchemist Dharma Ice Blue Dharma Seafoam Dharma Grape Dharma Dutch Chocolate Dharma Deep Orange Dharma Chocolate BrownDharma Cerulean Blue Dharma Brushed Steel Dharma Bluebird Dharma Black Ice Dharma Aqua Marine Dharma Raven Black Dharma Warrior Princess Dharma Mystical Dyespin Timber Wolf Dharma Shiitake Mushroom Dharma Power Berry Dharma Dragon's Heart Dharma Alchemist Dharma Kaleidoscope Eyes Dharma Wasabi Dharma Better Blue Green Dharma

Frequently ask questions about tie dye and ice dye. Can you reuse soda ash water? Soda ash water stays good forever. Just keep a lid on it so it won't evaporate. If you happen to put an item in there that releases dye, you can put a white item in to see if it will soak up the dye molecules. Does the size of the ice matter? Crushed ice melts faster and spreads dye more softly. Big cubes melt slower and give stronger separation between colors. Both can work, it depends on the effect you want. Why does black split into other colors? Many black dyes are blends of other pigments. As the ice melts, the components separate, creating outlines of blue, red, or green. This is normal and often desirable. Can you speed up the ice melting? You can, but it’s risky. Using heat or breaking up the ice early might reduce detail and cause uneven saturation. Slow melts usually give cleaner flowy lines. Why do you use ice instead of bottles? I love the way ice slowly pushes dye through the fabric, by gravity, creating organic patterns. It looks more like something that would occur in nature. What is the cold mist method? The cold mist method is a process I use to layer color into dry, tied shirts using powdered dye and a misting nozzle, with cold water. Why don't pink geodes saturate well? Even with added effort, they tend to stay on the surface or miss areas under the sinew. I often black or orange to help reach the areas they miss. How fast should the ice melt? If the ice melts too fast, like within an hour, you can lose detail and get washed out areas. Slow it down to get more even results. Do some colors need different amounts? Yes, some colors are way more potent than others! If you are ordering from Dharma, they will indicate which colors need difference ratios to be at full strength. Why is my shirt dull after rinsing? Dye that didn’t bond gets washed away. Dull results can come from under-batching, low soda ash, or not enough dye powder in the first place. What’s the best fabric for ice dye? 100% cotton or rayon usually gives the best results. Cotton/poly blends can work but won’t absorb color evenly. Avoid anything labeled “colorfast.” Where do you get your dye? I usually get my fiber reactive dye from Dharma Trading Co. They have many kinds of dye, so make sure you're looking at fiber reactive procion dye. How do you keep the white areas white? It helps the item batch the full 24 hours so excess dye has time to exhaust. Then, rinse with cold water until it runs mostly clear. That helps the white areas stay clean. How long does it have to batch? Procion dyes take about 24 hours to fully set, at room temp. If you use heat, you can speed up batch time. Blues usually turn out better with full batch time of 24 hours. What does soda ash do? Soda ash is what makes the chemical reaction happen, that makes the color permanent on your shirt. Why are my colors muddy? Overlapping complementary colors makes muddled colors. For example, red next to green will make a dark brown. Dye FAQs

Geode Tie Dye Steps Tie How to Tie Geode Style Shirts with Sinew Add Dye How to Apply Dye to Geode Tie Dye Shirts Using Ice, Bottles, or Mist Presoak Soda Ash for Geode Tie Dye: Soaking vs. Powder Application Batch How to Batch Geode Tie Dye for Bold Color and Clean Lines Setup Geode Tie Dye Rack Setup: Drainage, and Ice Melt Control Help Troubleshooting Geode Tie Dye: Uneven Rings and Blotches

Photography in Elkhart, Goshen and South Bend, IN. Local festivals, events, and community moments. The Free Label June 21, 2025 No Kings Protest June 14, 2025 Mishawaka Market June 1, 2025 Elkhart Farmers Market June 7, 2025 Pavel & Direct Contact June 20, 2025 Retro Fest June 14, 2025 Rebel Art Fest June 1, 2025 Elkhart Jazz Fest 2025 June 19, 2025 BMX Wonder Wheels June 12, 2025 Goshen First Fridays June 6, 2025

Refers to how deep the dye penetrates into the fabric. Or how bright color is. Saturation design This word is used in two ways. Refers to how deep the dye penetrates into the fabric. Or how bright the color sets. Tie dye links See all glossary items See tutorials for flowy ice dye and geode tie dye .