How to Tie Dye a Heart T-Shirt

Tie dye shirts can be any color.

Tie dye is the process of dying fabric several different bright colors. The fabric is tied with rubber bands or some other kind of tie. Then dye is applied to certain areas of the fabric to create a bright tie dye design. Tie dying shirts is a fun craft or art project that can be done at home. Most tie dye shirts are made in a spiral pattern, but you can make a tie dye heart T-shirt for a more fun and flirty design.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Plastic garbage bags
• White cotton T-shirt
• Bucket of water
• Rubber gloves
• Rubber bands
• Fabric dye (3 different colors of your choice)
• Plastic wrap
• Measuring cup

1. Prepare your work area by covering it with plastic garbage bags. Tie dying can get pretty messy. You want the dye to end up on the T-shirt, but not on the rest of the house. Covering your workspace with garbage bags will protect all your precious belongings. If it is a warm day, you may even consider heading outside.

2. Wet the T-shirt in a bucket of water and then wring it out. It should be damp, but not dripping.

3. Fold the damp shirt in half vertically. The front side of the shirt should be showing. Use a light pen to draw half of a heart shape along the folded edge.

4. Gather the fabric along the line that you have drawn with your fingers. When it is all gathered together place a rubber band around the fabric at the line. Make sure that it is tight. Tie a few more knots in the fabric of the T-shirt using rubber bands wherever you want.

5. Put on the rubber gloves. Open the fabric dye bottles and follow the directions. Most will ask you to add water with a measuring cup. Add the water slowly. The dye will likely bubble up as you add the water.

6. Squirt the dyes on the shirt, especially around the rubber bands and gathered areas. Leave some white space. Do not mix the colors too much as this will make the shirt just look like a muddy mess. Leave some separation between different colors.

7. Place the shirt in a plastic bag and let it sit for 6 to 8 hours. This will allow the dye to really sink into the shirt.

8. Remove the shirt from the bag. Rinse the shirt in a bucket of clean water and hang it out to dry.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose dye colors that coordinate well together.

• Wash the shirt by itself for the first few washes so that the dye does not ruin other clothes.

References

• Parent Dish: Make-and-Learn Crafts: Tie-Dye Tees and Paper Pinwheels for a Spirited 4th
• All About Hand Dying: How to Tie-Dye a Heart Shape