Things You'll Need:
- T-shirts
- Soda ash (optional)
- Tablecloth or newspaper
- Tape
- Drop cloth (optional)
- Rubber gloves
- Smock or old clothes
- Buckets
- Dye
- Salt
- Stirring utensil
- Rubber bands
-
Step 1
Wash and dry the t-shirts prior to dying. An alternative to pre-washing the shirts is to soak them in soda ash for 20 minutes. You can purchase soda ash at most craft stores.
-
Step 2
Work outside if possible, since it's a messy process to tie dye a shirt. Wherever you work, place newspaper, garbage bags or a vinyl tablecloth down to protect the table or counter. Tape the sides down so the newspaper, garbage bags or tablecloth stays in place. If you're working inside, put a drop cloth on the floor in case you spill dye.
-
Step 3
Put a pair of rubber gloves on to keep your hands free from dye stains, and wear old clothes or a smock because you're going to get messy when you tie dye.
-
Step 4
Use 1 bucket for each color dye. Line them up next to one another to make it easy to move from one to the next as you tie dye your shirt. Prepare the dye according to the package directions.
-
Step 5
Mix 1 cup of salt with just enough hot water to dissolve it. Add the salt mixture to each bucket of dye and stir well to mix it.
-
Step 6
Decide how you want to tie dye your shirt. Use rubber bands to tie the t-shirt into designs. The shirt won't be dyed where the rubber band is, and the different folds and wrinkles help create the final designs.
