Date: 2 February 2022

To: Dr. Ying Xu

cc: OWL @ CAPS
From: Paul Douglas Irwin
Subject: Spiral Tie-dye Instructions

The topic of my instructional video, for my first major assignment in ENGL 2210, is going to be
how to tie and dye a perfect spiral. It is important for me to make this video for several reasons.
The very first assignment I had in a college-level English course was to create a website (and
oddly enough, the class was taught by Dr. Xu, my very first college professor, here at UNM). I
chose to make a website based on one of my past professions (and hobby), and that was on a tie-
dye business that I managed.

The business was called the Tie-dye Factory. We made all sorts of clothing for toddlers to adults.
We made baby onesies to kid’s shorts and dresses; lingerie to bikinis and swimwear; nearly two
dozen woman’s tops to men’s button up shirts; and also: bandanas, socks, hoodies and tapestries.
I feel that it is important for me to make a video teaching the craft that I perfected to others out in
the world desiring to learn how to tie and dye garments in a professional sense and make creative
and fun items to wear and show off their artistic talent.

The context of my video will be to help others understand the proper steps and procedures when
making spirals on to fabric and garments. My instructional video will help my audience
understand that my instructions (and decade of experience) will help guide them step-by-step in
creating beautiful and brightly colored spirals on to the fabric and garments of their choice. The
purpose of my video is to show my audience that it is easy to create spirals and to become
talented in a craft that has been popular for centuries. My target audience will be teachers,
children, young adults, and anyone interested in learning how to dye fabric and create the
popular spiral that has adorned shirts for decades.

The materials I will need for my instructional video are rather simple. The instructional video
will demonstrate the tie-job and the dying aspect will be explained, rather than shown (due to
lack of actual workspace needed). The materials that I will be using are a shirt and rubber bands.
The difficulties that I foresee are going to finding a way to shoot this video by myself and where
to actually shoot the video. I plan on solving this by trying to find help with recording the video.
I plan on trying to rent a video recorder from Creative Commons in Zimmerman Library or from
the Cage in the Film Department. Another option is that I will have to rig something up and
make it work as best as I can. If the video becomes problematic and out of the question, then I
will resort to a PowerPoint presentation with a voice-over.
Why should anyone care about making spiral designs on the fabric of their choice? With the
amount of tie-dying done in elementary and middle schools, I feel obligated to share my
experience to the world in need of a little color in their lives. My instructional video will help
others in avoiding mistakes through trial-and-error and guide them in creating beautiful spirals
they can be proud of. It can become your hobby, your artistic outlet, or a new-found passion and
joy. It’s simple, it’s easy, and most important of all, it’s fun to do!