How to Tie-Dye Sheets

Gather your supplies and set up your work area. Choose a mess-safe work area like a basement, garage, laundry room or backyard, weather permitting. Cover your work surface with a plastic tablecloth or a sheet of painters plastic. Place a layer of newspaper or paper towels over the plastic to soak up drips and prevent the dye from running off the table. Remember, the dye is permanent so wear appropriate clothing and protect the entire work area.

Wash the sheets in a washing machine to remove the sizing. Use regular laundry detergent and ​no​ fabric softener, as it interferes with the dyeing process.

Fold the damp flat sheet in half vertically, bottom to top and then half again. Fold each end into the middle and accordion fold in 2-inch pleats from the edge to the center from each side. Place rubber bands about every 2 inches along the folded sheet from end to end.

Fold the damp fitted sheet with all four corners fitted together. Bring the sides into the middle and accordion fold them from the ends in the same manner as the flat sheet. Place rubber bands about every 2 inches along the folded sheet from end to end.

Lay the pillowcase flat and pinch up an area near the middle. Twist in a spiral pattern. Keep twisting until you have a roughly circular shape. Place a rubber band around the circumference to keep it together. Place an additional three to four rubber bands across the face, dividing it into wedges.

Put on the disposable vinyl gloves, fill the dye-filled squeeze bottles to the marked line with warm water and shake for 1 minute. Do not mix the dye until you are ready to use it; its working life is about 45 minutes.

​Note:​ Kits and individual colors come with the powdered dye in a squeeze bottle. With refill kits you'll need to put the powder into a squeeze bottle.

Set the pieces on a cooling rack over the prepared work surface. Placing the tip of the bottle close to the fabric, saturate each banded section with the dye in a pattern of your choice. Start with the light colors first, work from one end to the other, changing colors as desired. Flip the pieces over and repeat the pattern.

Place the dyed sheets in a plastic bag. Seal it and leave the sheets overnight for the color to set.

Put on the disposable gloves. Put the DIY tie-dyed sheets in a deep laundry sink, bathtub or a large outdoor tub. Rinse each piece with cold water until the bleeding of the dye slows. Cut the rubber bands and open the sheets and pillowcase. Rinse each piece separately. Continue rinsing until the color stops bleeding.

Return the sheet set to the washer and run it with laundry detergent at the hottest temperature recommended for the fabric and the largest amount of water. Set the machine to extra rise, if available. If your washing machine doesn't have an extra rinse setting, rinse the sheets again after the first cycle. Dry the tie-dyed sheets in the dryer.