You can tie-dye almost anything, from T-shirts to pants and skirts to even baseball caps.
Use a different applicator bottle for each color. The colors will bleed together, so avoid using contrasting colors such as red and green, blue and orange, and yellow and purple, or you will get some muddy browns in your finished piece![2] X Research source
Stripes are the easiest and simplest design. Simply fold your shirt up like a fan or accordion creating a sort of rope. You can do width-wise, length-wise, or even diagonally. Wrap a rubber band around one end of your “rope,” then wrap another rubber band two to three inches (5. 08 to 7. 62 centimeters) down. Keep doing this until you reach the end of your rope. The sunburst is a circular design, with each ray or ring being a different color. Pinch the middle of your shirt and pull it towards you. Tie the end off with a rubber band. Go a little further down your shirt and tie it off with another rubber band. Keep doing this until you have a thick “rope” made out of fabric and rubber bands. The spiral is another popular design. Place your shirt down on a flat surface. Pinch the middle of your shirt and twist it. Keep twisting until you have created a spiral, or something like looks like a cinnamon roll. Wrap a large rubber band around the “bun” you have made. Then wrap another rubber band, but this time in the opposite direction, making a cross shape. You can wrap more rubber bands around your bun, sectioning it like a pizza or cake.
The brighter color the shirt is, the more effective the bleach will be.
To create some simple stripes, fold your shirt up like a fan or accordion. You are creating a sort of rope. You can fold width-wise, length-wise, or even diagonally. Tie off one end of your rope with a rubber band. Wrap another rubber band two to three inches (5. 08 to 7. 62 centimeters) down from the first one. Keep doing this until you reach the end of the rope. To create a sunburst, pinch the middle of your shirt and pull it towards you. Wrap a rubber band around the end. Go a little further down the shirt and wrap another rubber band around it. Keep doing this until you have a sort of “rope. " To make a spiral design, place your shirt down on a flat surface and pinch the middle. Give the shirt a small twist. Keep twisting until you have created something like looks like a cinnamon roll. Wrap a rubber band around the “bun. " Then wrap another rubber band, but this time in the other direction, creating a cross. You can wrap more rubber bands around your bun, sectioning it like a pizza or cake.
You can also use undiluted bleach instead, and apply it to the shirt at five minute intervals. The shirt will be bleached in about 10 to 15 minutes.
Sharpie permanent markers in various colors (or one color if you so choose). Rubbing alcohol. An applicator bottle or an eye dropper. Rubber bands. Plastic cups.
You can also use an embroidery hoop instead of a plastic cup and a rubber band. Simply tuck the inner circle inside the shirt, and secure it by placing the outer circle over it and the shirt.
You can create fireworks by making two circles, one inside the other. Use a different color for each circle. [11] X Research source Create flowers by making one big dot, and then making a ring of smaller dots around it. These smaller dots will become petals.
Clothes made from cotton, linen, rayon, and wool work the best. Avoid, acrylic, metallic, polyester, and spandex fabrics, as they will not take dye as easily if at all. [13] X Research source You can tie-dye almost anything, from T-shirts to pants and skirts to even baseball caps.
Wear old clothes that you do not mind getting stained or dirty. Dark-colored clothes will hide dye stains better than light-colored clothes. If you do not have any old clothes to spare, then wear shorts, a sleeveless top, and an apron. Consider wearing some plastic gloves, such as the type you might use to wash dishes or dye your hair. You can also find plastic tie-dyeing clothes in the T-shirt and tie-dye section of an arts and crafts store.
If your clothing is made out of cotton, linen, rayon, or ramie, add 1 cup (280 grams) salt for every 3 gallons (11. 35 liters) of water. If your clothing is made out of nylon, silk, or wool, add 1 cup (225 milliliters) white vinegar for every 3 gallons (11. 35 liters) of water.
To get a striped pattern, fold your shirt up like a fan or accordion. You can fold it width-wise, length-wise, or diagonally. Wrap a rubber band around one end of your shirt, then wrap another rubber band two to three inches (5. 08 to 7. 62 centimeters) away from the first one. Keep doing this until you reach the other end of the shirt. You are creating something that looks like a rope. The sunburst is a circular, radiating design, with each ray being a different color. Pinch the middle of your shirt and pull it towards you. Wrap a rubber band around the end. Tie a second rubber band a little further down your shirt. You are creating something that look like a rope. To make a spiral, start by placing your shirt down on a flat surface. Pinch the middle of your shirt and twist it. Keep twisting until you have created something like looks like a cinnamon roll. Wrap a rubber band around the “bun. " Then, wrap another rubber band, but this time in the opposite direction, making a cross shape. You can wrap more rubber bands around your bun, sectioning it like a pizza or cake.
If you are using multiple colors, rinse the freshly-dyed part of the shirt under cool water first to remove any excess dye. Squeeze the extra water out from the shirt, and dip it into the next color. The longer the shirt sits in the dye bath, the darker the color will become. If the water is too hot for you to handle, try wearing some dish washing gloves to protect your hands. You can also use a pair of chopsticks or tongs to move the shirt around instead.
