How to Tie-Dye T-Shirts

It's grand fun to make tie-dyed T-shirts during the summer. It's also quite easy to set up outside and in the sun. Whether kids are at camp or day care, this project creates a work of art to wear and carries with it fond memories. Do this with your own children as a family project or practice and learn the craft to market your wares at the next craft festival. Tie-dying is traditional summer crafting at its best.

Things You'll Need

• White T-shirts
• Spray bottles
• Rubber bands
• Large bucket of water
• Wooden spoon
• Fabric dye
• Fixative

Instructions

The Basics

1. Purchase fabric dyes in the colors you want to use and color fixative for fabrics. You will need to follow the directions on the packages to know how much to use.

2. Put rubber bands around your T-shirt. See Section 2 for ideas on different designs.

3. For each color, mix an appropriate amount of water and fabric dye in a spray bottle. So for three colors, you will need three separate spray bottles.

4. Fill a large bucket with cold water. Follow the directions on the label of fixative and add the appropriate amount. Mix thoroughly with a wooden spoon.

5. Saturate your T-shirt using the spray bottles. Be generous with the amount of color you use. Wait about 10 minutes.

6. Wring out your T-shirt and place in bucket of water and fixative. Leave in bucket for about 10 minutes. Remove, wring out, remove rubber bands and hang to dry.

Designs

1. Take small, random pieces of the T-shirt and wrap a rubber band around them. Use only one color. Your shirt will have various rings and circles decorating it.

2. Start in the very middle of the front of your shirt, and wrap a rubber band around a small piece. Continue back, one rubber band behind the other. Leave at least an inch of space between each rubber band. You should have one long, rubber-banded T-shirt when you are done.

3. Start with the very first section you made and saturate with yellow. Move back and saturate each section with another color, in the order of the colors of the rainbow. Your finished shirt will look like a sun with rainbow around it.

4. Start at one sleeve and wrap a rubber band around the sleeve to close it. Continue to the other side of the shirt, and saturate each section with a color. Your finished shirt will have vertical stripes.

Tips & Warnings

• Do this project outside on a sunny day.

• Wash your tie dye t-shirt with dark or like colors the first time, otherwise the colors will run and ruin the rest of your load.