We saw this old trend beginning to come last summer, with social distancing measures, there’s been a huge increase in at-home dyeing. Google searches for “how to tie-dye” have skyrocketed more than 1,000%, so it looks like I’m not the only one picking up a new hobby. To help you get started, artist, professor of textile, and tie-dye expert Shabd Simon-Alexander is sharing her favorite methods to tie-dye your own colorful patterns at home. The beauty of tie-dye is that it doesn’t have to be perfect! Accidental drips and splatters are A-OK in this at-home craft, so it’s a perfect outdoor activity to do with the kids while you’re taking a break from online learning. Simon-Alexander is also sharing her best tips for keeping things mess-free: “If you’re worried it’s too complicated or messy to tackle with kids, don’t be,” she says. “It’s virtually impossible to tie-dye incorrectly, and with these single-color designs, it’s easy to keep things tidy.” Then grab a white shirt (you can get a pack of six plain t-shirts for $15 from Walmart, or opt for a more fitted women’s shirt and a patch of grass in the backyard and get to dyeing with her favorite method.
How to Tie-Dye Shirts
Supplies Needed
White shirt Plastic tarp Bucket Glass jar with a tight-sealing lidRubber gloves Measuring spoonFiber-reactive dye powderSoda ash fixative
Step-by-Step Directions
Follow these simple how-to instructions to tie-dye your own white fabric. You should be able to prep your shirt and dye in about 20 minutes, and then it’ll need to soak for an hour. Note that none of the supplies for this project can be used for food after.
Step 1: Tie a White Shirt
The key to tie-dyeing is creating the pattern. Use one of these five methods from Simon-Alexander to start your dye project. In the above photo, the methods used (from left to right) create the following tie-dye patterns: Nebula, Polka Dots, Sunburst, Sailor Stripes, and Ringer.
Step 3: Add Water and Soda Ash
Then fill the jar halfway back up with hot water and add six teaspoons of soda ash, which is a form of sodium carbonate: It’s what reacts with the fiber dye powder to actually dye the fabric. It’s fairly inexpensive and can be found at most craft stores. Close the lid and shake again, then pour that mixture into the bucket and stir again. If you can’t find these materials, you can use Simon-Alexander’s method with a tie-dye kit (Tulip Tie-Dye Kit, $25, Michaels) instead.
Step 4: Dye Shirt
The shirt should be wet before you dye it, so if your shirt has dried out while you were mixing dye, get it wet again before putting it in the dye (the shirt should be totally wet with clean water to help the dye saturate and spread over the fabric). Then, gently place the shirt in the bucket of dye and let it soak for one hour. When time is up, put your gloves back on and rinse the shirt out either in the sink or in the backyard with the hose until the water runs clear. Then remove the rubber bands to reveal your tie-dye designs before washing and drying the shirt (we recommend washing it by itself the first time). Now that you’ve mastered how to tie-dye a shirt, try using this technique on other clothing items or cotton fabrics.
