Many years ago now I was out rock climbing with my husband and our three daughters. We were at Devil's Lake, which is a really beautiful state park in Wisconsin. Believe me, there's more than cows and beer in this State.

I'm on belay and my husband is a good distance up when this kid comes walking down the trail. He has on this amazing tie dye. The front is a pumpkin and if that wasn't enough, as he walks by, on the back of the shirt is a ghost.

I guess if you are going to be fabulous coming, you might as well be fabulous going, too.

Happy Halloween!!!

Step 1: DYE & OTHER SUPPLIES:

I find that most tie dye artists have very strong opinions on dye, and in that way I am no exception. I have my favorite and it is all I will use. For me, I want tie dye that will have brilliant colors and will last wash after wash. I want something reasonably priced and easy to prepare.

I also run a tie dye t-shirt fundraiser for my community and I don't want to ever be embarrassed by a family telling me that a shirt has ruined an entire load of their wash.

My choice is Dharma Trading Company and their Fiber Reactive Procion Dye. I've called them on many occasions and had all my questions answered. Great selection of colors, too.

Oh, and I cheat. I mix the dye with just warm water. I don't add any other chemicals. Straight water. I've attached a picture of some of my dish towels that I have washed hundreds of times throughout the years and you can see how vibrant the colors remain.

DON'T FORGET THE SODA ASH!!!!

Dharma will even help you with a reminder at checkout.

FULL LIST OF SUPPLIES:

Dye

Soda Ash

Rubber bands in multiple sizes

100 percent cotton shirts, or whatever you want to dye

Plastic bins

Ketchup bottles

Plastic bags 4 gallon size

small plastic sandwich bags or cling wrap

Washable marker

Ruler

Laundry soap

Scissors

Rubber gloves

Eye dropper

Step 2: HOW TO MARK YOUR T-SHIRT:

With the washable marker, draw a straight line down the front and the back of your t-shirt.

Fold the t-shirt along those lines so the sleeves are in the center.

Draw half a pumpkin on one side and half a ghost on the other.

Step 3: FOLDING & PLEATING & BANDING:

My very first video. Did my best. I just thought it would be easier to show you how to pleat the design this way.

Step 4: SODA ASH:

This is such an important part, please don't skip it. Your dye will fade rapidly with each wash if you don't. Let your 100 percent cotton items soak for 15 to 30 minutes before dying.

Follow the directions Dharma gives and mix well.

USE GLOVES WHEN WORKING WITH SODA ASH!!!!

I also save my Soda Ash solution if I don't use it all. I just put a cover on the plastic bin. This is not something you want to dump on your grass or flower beds.

Step 5: ADDING COLOR:

My favorite part!!! I don't believe in messing with someone's creative process, but still there are just a few things I would like to say about this step.

1. Make sure to go light on the black for the eyes and mouth. Too much dye will bleed into the orange.

2. A small sandwich plastic bag is a good idea to cover the pumpkin and ghost when you finish with the dying. That way other colors won't blend into your design.

3. I used a light mist gray for the ghost. I have also used a watered down blue for this step.

Step 6: BIG REVEAL:

If you make the mouths straight across, they will have a scary look to them. Boys seem to like that kind of stuff, I've noticed.

Step 7: SHARPIES:

You can also add details to your design with a Sharpie or fabric paint. For the moon and bats, I just drew half a circle and pleated it into a straight line, tied it off with bands and then added details with the Sharpie.