How to Marble Shirts
You can create a marble design on any shirt by using a simple tie-dye method. Tie-dye -- originally derived from ancient Indian and Japanese techniques -- involves binding cloth and dyeing it to create colorful patterns. Marbling overlaps two or more colors to create a spotted or swirled pattern on the surface. To successfully create a marble pattern on a shirt with the tie-dye method, use a fabric that is simple to fold tightly, such as cotton, and apply one or more colors of clothing dye to create your design.
Things You'll Need
- Cotton shirt
- Rubber bands
- Clothing dye
- Rubber gloves
- Squeeze bottles
- Paint tray
- Newspapers
- Waterproof tablecloth or garbage bag
Instructions
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Prepare a work area before you begin dyeing the shirt to prevent soiling any surfaces. If using a table, cover it with a large garbage bag or use a waterproof tablecloth. Spread newspaper on the floor to prevent dye from staining it. Wear old clothing, because you may spill dye on yourself.
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Fill up a spray bottle with water and spray your shirt until it is damp. This helps the shirt retain its form when you start applying dye to it.
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Scrunch your shirt with your hands into a tight ball of fabric. Place the scrunched shirt down on a table and wrap rubber bands around it to keep it intact. Use several rubber bands -- about 10 total -- and criss-cross them over one another.
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Put on rubber gloves. Prepare the clothing dye according the directions listed on its packaging.
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Pour the dye into a squeeze bottle. Any type of squeeze bottle works, ideally one with a tip that dispenses the dye slowly which allows you more control over dye distribution. Use a separate bottle for each color of dye that you are using.
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Squirt one color of dye into a fold of your scrunched shirt. Make sure you squirt enough dye, otherwise the color design may not cover the entire shirt. Repeat this process with another dye color. You can squirt each color in the same fold to create marbled colors that overlap. Or, squirt each color in a different fold to create a design that produces different colors on various areas of the shirt.
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Place the shirt on a paint tray once you are finished dyeing it. Wait a few minutes to allow the dye to soak in.
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Remove the rubber bands from your shirt and unravel it. Your shirt should have a colorful marble design on it.
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Spray cool water all over your shirt with a spray bottle to help set the dye into the fabric. Hang the shirt up to air dry. Iron the shirt on a high temperature to seal in the dye and make the color last longer.
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References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
