How to tie dye an old white shirt!

Take an old white shirt suffering from the "dingies" and turn it into a rainbow masterpiece! I'll show you how.

Step 1 The shirt, fit to be dyed!

The shirts that work best are 100% cotton, although you can use 50% cotton/50% polyester (although the results will not be so vibrant. I once tried to dye a 100% polyester garment and when it was unwrapped - all the dye washed off! The dyes only bond well with natural fabrics, like cotton, silk and rayon - but we're talking cotton here....

Comments

[alittlestranger]

just wanted to say thanks so much for the instructable, i used it to make this tie dye shirt for my boyfriend to wear to my rainbow birthday party :)

It was really easy to follow and now i want to tie dye everything!! :)

[frenzy]

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[kariaist]

I think the colors are in the wrong spots here in the photo as the instructions describe if you want to achieve the cool spiral pattern.

[lakramer]

RIT dye works, probably better than the procion dye if you're working with children. :) Really nice instructable! Thank you!

[slivie]

rit dye often requires boiling hot water. I've tried both and I'd rather cover my nieces and nephews with garbage bags and give them squirt bottles. (Adults should mix dyes and soda ash solutions)

[WhyHello]

WHy soda ash? Is that baking Soda? Would it be found in the same area as baking soda in a grocery store?

[slivie]

Hello:

Soda Ash isn't the same as baking soda. you can buy it from a dye store or get it at a pool and spa store. It is caustic so be sure to protect your hands and eyes.

As for banding. Once you twist your shirt into a bun. (I use a fork and twirl like its pasta) Just take your rubber band, hold it open and slide it under , and around the shirt while it's sitting flat. Do that 2 more times and you'll have your triangles. (almost looks like a pie chart at this point.)

Once you've allowed the garment to sit dyed for 24 hours, rinse, then wash with the hottest water for the garment in the machine...with Syntrapol or similar product. The shirt is amazingly color fast. I have one dress I bought about 5 years ago that the colors are still vibrant... the fabric is showing wear... but the colors are still awesome.

[WhyHello]

So, like, say you wear this evey day. And wash it ever night. How much more would the die wear out? =(

[WhyHello]

i heard you can use rubberbands a certin way to make triangles. Do you know how to do that

I'm not DIY Im WHOPDIF (WHatch Other People Do It First)

[PennisFuxx]

Thanks for sharing...
I am thinking about doing a tie dye party for about 25 children and wanted to know if you could tell me how much dye will a 2 oz bottle of procion fiber reactive dye make?
Do you have any suggestions for mixing them? How much dye to water?
Mahalo...

[garrettanderson983]

if u want it to look freaking awesome, dip one side in black cotton dye, twist it off center(possibly with rasta colours:D), or do a DOUBLE SPIRAL!!!! double spirals for the win!

soda ash isnt necessary... i didnt use it

[caseyst]

A tip on doing the spiral - instead of a dowel, use the bottom of a walking cane that has a rubber tip. Makes a great, fast spiral and doesn't slip off like a dowel does - also easy starting too!

[ANTQNUT]

I LOVE TIE DYE!!!!! Great instructable, all the tie dye looks beautiful! I love it! it will completely pull off my seventies look I've been going for . hah I like your username!

[JoseAAV]

dude I don't wanna be annoying but its the 60`s the 60`s were the hippie ones

[ANTQNUT]

dude I don't wanna be annoying but when someone screws up it's not your problem so let it be.

[JoseAAV]

ok dude sorry peace lets not turn this into a flame war

[ANTQNUT]

ok dude

[stinkymum]

tie dye has never gone out of style, you can still buy them today!

[Mehehehful]

 so true. 

[kristinanndowns2]

can i do more then one shirt at a time? sizes would be, 4T,2T,12mo, and 18mo.

[shannon di]

I have a really ugly quilt that my 9 year old daughter and I would really like to use the back of to tye dye, due to it is hand made and extremely comfy, it does hold kool aid stains amazingly well, lol, and i believe that it is cotton, it is a queen size quilt, how do you recommend i go about doing such a large task, especially since i have no idea what i am doing, but i do follow direction extremely well. PLEASE HELP US, thank you for your time. I would love to show the final product.

[stinkymum]

this would be a very difficult task.    I would do a spiral fold - it will be enormous!    It will take a lot of dye and you would have to put the finished circle into a large plastic bag.  Lay the quilt flat and begin spiralling from the middle and hope for the best - then put the dye on as shown in this instructable.  The largest thing I have ever done has been a full sized white cotton sheet, which is thinner than a quilt.   I have also done a shower curtain or two.   I really don't recommend you do this, but that's up to you.

[eagleye]

 can u give me tips on how to tye dye white t's?

[stinkymum]

this instructable tells you how to do this

[hatlover]

HI, Love your tie dye instructable! I'm going to be doing a group tie dye session this summer. After dyeing, do you usually rinse and wash all shirts for attendees?Or do you have them take items home to finish up? What has worked best in your experience??? Thanks,
hatlover

[stinkymum]

I have them take them home with full instructions on how to wait at least 24 hours and then wash them.  I always suggest that friends get together and wash their shirts together.   My best experience is always seeing the finished results

[kenny94]

 Nice 'ible. I'm going to do this sometime with a white undershirt and a white button-up shirt of mine and wear them at the same time :D

[hazgirl22]

Wonderful tutorial, thanks for sharing! I can't wait to give it a shot for myself. :) I don't have dye in the bottles like that, though. Oh well, experimenting is half the fun!

[sumbrero]

ooooooooooo THAT IS SO AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! =P

[micky-t]

great intructable im still waiting for the dye to set. however instaed of using the liquid dyes you used i used powder that you mix with tap water and the fix. i might post pictures up once i have washed the shirt.

[stinkymum]

The dyes I use come in powder form from Dharma and I mix them with the required amount of urea and warm water.

[Polarize]

Ahhh ok thanks. But you should put that in the instructable, i thought i was doing something wrong. it worked perfectly, thank you =)

[CMDCARSON]

Can this method be used with "RIT" dyes instead??

[idsurferchick]

When does the urea come into play?

[stinkymum]

The urea is mixed with the dye powder. It helps to fix the dye. You need to follow the instructions for the amount needed per fluid ounce of dye.

[ardonskids]

Thank you so much for your tips! Do you keep your left over mixed dyes?

[stinkymum]

I always try to use all the dye up asap. After a couple of weeks it doesn't work as well and the results seem to come out blurred - I don't know why. Last time I did a tie dye with a group, I finished all the dye up by using about a dozen pairs of old white socks! It always seems a shame to waste the dye and the socks came out great!

[Sunbanks]

I tie dyed some shirts yesterday and I'm so happy about how they turned out! Thank you for this instructable!

[Mr. Chris]

Just recently me and my girlfriend decided to tie dye, so thanks! Very helpful instructable. =)

[bustedit]

hi, mom. very pretty. do you have any tips on other tying methods? i like the design of the shirts in the 1st pic of step 14, the mirror image half spiral.