How to Make Tie-Dye Shirts

Tie-dyeing is fun and easy.

Retro clothing is dominating the fashion scene. One of the most fun retro clothing projects you can tackle at home is tie-dyeing. Not only will you enjoy doing it yourself, it's a great craft for the kids to take part in. It's simple to do and, with the right preparation, requires very little clean-up. Tie-dying works best with shirts that are at least 60 percent cotton so that the colors will absorb successfully.

Things You'll Need

• Shirt
• Newspapers
• Rubber bands
• Dye
• Gloves
• Plastic pails
• Tongs
• Cleaning supplies

Instructions

1. Wash the shirt you'll be dyeing according to the label's instructions to make sure it's clean and that it has adjusted to being washed.

2. Lay newspapers down on a work surface.

3. Lay the clean and dry shirt on the work surface. Grab the center of the shirt in your first two fingers and thumb and twist. Continue twisting until the entire shirt forms a tight ball. Secure the shirt with several rubber bands.

4. Choose the dyes to stain your shirt. Put on your gloves and prepare the dye in plastic buckets.

5. Start dyeing with the lightest color first. Dip your shirt into the dye using the tongs. Wait and rinse in between colors. Follow the dye manufacturer's instructions on how long to let the dye set before rinsing. Some require that you let the shirt sit overnight in a plastic bag.

6. Clean your buckets and work area as soon as you're finished dyeing the shirt.

Tips & Warnings

• Some dyes require you to pretreat the shirt by putting it in hot water or soaking it in soda ash.

• Wet shirts will conform to the twisting more easily than dry shirts.

• Salt will intensify the colors.

• Wash the shirt in cold water and keep it separate from other shirts for the first several washings.

• No two shirts will ever be the same.

References

• Family Fun: Tie-Dyed T-Shirts