How to Tye Dye in Cool Designs

Tie-Dye Your T-Shirts into Cool Designs!

Hearts, spirals and peace signs are often associated with cool looking tie-dye designs. Mixing multi colors within the tee adds to the design and pattern. These motifs are generally made by the type of tying technique used when twisting the fabric in place prior to dyeing as well as the dipping process. By choosing a specific pattern and following the tying process, most t-shirts can be transformed into newly created cool designs.

Things You'll Need

• Cotton white t-shirt
• Mild detergent
• Pencil
• Construction paper (optional)
• Card stock (optional)
• Pattern paper (optional)
• Scissors
• Thread
• Sewing needle
• Rubber bands
• Fabric dye
• Protective gloves
• Plastic container
• Salt
• Craft mixing tool
• Squirt bottle
• Drop cloths

Instructions

Tie-Dye Multi Heart Pattern

1. Pre-wash a cotton blank t-shirt in a mild detergent. It is best to use a cotton white t-shirt for the dye to penetrate into and adhere to the cotton fibers. Let dry.

2. Make different size heart templates on separate pieces of construction paper, card stock or pattern paper. Fold the paper in half and draw a half heart. For an abstract heart, draw the heart on a flat piece of paper. Cut it out with your scissors.

3. Fold the t-shirt in half lengthwise. Place your folded heart pattern on the fold line. If you are working with multiple heart shapes, you will have to repeat and fold the shirt in each area you want a heart pattern to appear within your tie-dye.

4. Thread your sewing needle and lightly baste around the heart pattern. Each heart will have a separate basting stitch. Make a simple knot on one end. Once complete, gently pull the threads. It is best to finish one heart at a time. Your heart pattern will begin to gather.

5. Twist the gathers tightly and secure it with rubber bands. The tighter the twists, the less color will penetrate into the fold lines, and the more tie-dye effect you will be able to create. For a two color heart, tie bands in two separate areas. Gently pull the basting thread out once the area is secured.

6. Prepare your dye bath. Wear old clothes and protective gloves. If the dye splatters it will permanently damage your garments. Read your dye pack brand's instructions. Most fabric dyes require you to pour the dye powder into a plastic container and to mix it with hot water. Some dyes suggest adding 1 cup of salt to the dye. Mix the dye with a crafting tool until the dye powder and salt are completely dissolved.

   If you are using several colors for your pattern, you can prepare two to three colors at one time. Keep in mind that if the water cools, the dye will not be as effective and you will not be able to achieve the color you had originally expected. It is strongly recommended to prepare the dye bath just before dipping the t-shirt so that the water is at it's hottest.

7. Dip your tied t-shirt into your color. You can opt to slightly open the folds to check if the dye is adhering. If too much dye has saturated into the fold and you are unable to see the tie-dye pattern, you have not secured the twists securely enough. If your heart is going to be two or three colors, do not dip the entire tied section into the container. Dip the tip and leave the remaining twists out of the dye bath to apply the subsequent colors in the next step. Leave it in the dye for the brand's recommended time.

8. Pour your second color into a squirt bottle. Remove the shirt from the dye bath and carefully squeeze out the excess dye. The shirt is completely saturated with dye at this point and can run off into the next area for your next color. Take your time during the removal process.

9. Squirt the dye into the area for your second color. You can repeat the process for a third and fourth color.

10. Squeeze the excess dye from the t-shirt into the container. Hang your t-shirt. Place drop cloths on your floor. Dye can drip during the dying process. Let dry for the recommended time given in the dye instructions. Wash the t-shirt, and dry it once again prior to wearing your tie-dye design.

Tie-Dye Multi Spiral Pattern

1. Repeat step one in the previous section. Spread your t-shirt on your work surface. Pinch the tee in the area you want the spiral to appear. It is important to make each spiral individually. You can opt to make an off center spiral and make smaller spirals for the rest of the t-shirt body and sleeves.

2. Twist the shirt from the pinched area. The direction of the twist will be the direction of the spiral.

3. Secure each spiral section with rubber bands. Generally spiral patterns are wrapped with bands around the t-shirt. Keep in mind that the larger the spiral, the less t-shirt material will be available for multi spirals. Continue repeating the process for each different size spiral.

4. Repeat step six in the previous section. Pour your dye into a squirt bottle. You will not be dipping the t-shirt into one dye bath container. Squirt the first dye color in all of the spiral areas you want that color to appear. Although you are working with squirt bottles, it is recommended that you wear protective gloves for the project. Leave the dye for the recommended time.

5. Squeeze the saturated dye carefully into the container. If you applied the same color in multiple spots, squeeze each section separately. These areas are heavily saturated with dye and can spread into unwanted color areas. Repeat step four by squirting the second and remaining colors into the designated spiral areas, leaving in for the recommended time and squeezing the excess dye into the container.

6. Remove the rubber bands and open your t-shirt to reveal the multiple spiral tie-dye pattern. Hang the t-shirt to dry and place drop cloths underneath to avoid dye drips damaging your floor. Wash your shirt in a mild detergent and dry it prior to wearing your cool design t-shirt.

References

• "Tie Dye! The How-To Book"; Virginia Gleser; 1999

Resources

• Jacquard Products: Tie-Dye Rounded Yoke Shirt