Tie-dyeing the summer away

Tie-dyeing+the+summer+away

With splashes of color getting everywhere, tie-dye can make wonderful summer project to complete on a boring day, and here’s how.

This is what you will need to be successful and not a complete disaster from having the dye get all over everything but what you are tie-dyeing.

  • Water
  • White Vinegar
  • Food coloring
  • A decent size container (bowl)
  • White shirts
  • Squeeze bottles
  • Rubber Bands
  • Rubber Gloves (optional)
  • Gallon Plastic resealable bags
  • A towel (optional)
  • Salt (at least 1/2 cup)
  • A measuring cup
  • Whisk
  • Timer

 

Crack open a fresh container of white vinegar and pour 1/2 cup over the shirt as well as a 1/2 cup of water to get it ready for the dye. Let the shirt sit for at least 30 minutes for this to work.

When the timer buzzes, signifying that your shirt is saturated, snap on some rubber gloves and wring the mixture out of the shirt.

Put the shirt down on a flat surface and pinch it in the middle. Twist it so that it starts to form a circle, and make sure that it doesn’t crumple.

Grab 3 rubber bands and put them on the shirt, making it look similar to a pizza with 6 pieces.

Once you have done this, put the shirt on the towel. Make sure that it is folded at least once to stop bleed through. Then go at it with color. Make sure you get both sides. Otherwise, your tie-dye will be a tie-don’t.

Once the shirt is soaked, open the bag and seal it for at least 12 hours for the colors to soak into and stain the shirt.

After the 12 hours have passed, rip open the bag and take it out. Pour 1/2 cup of salt and 1/2 cup of water into a bowl (I used 2 cups of each because of my bowl’s size.) and make sure that the bottom does not have a bunch of goop. Plop the shirt into the mixture and mix it up a little, making sure to get all of the shirt and let it sit.

Take your shirt out and rinse in your sink until the water is clear. Be careful; otherwise, the clothes that are being worn could end up being the next tie dye project. Then, hang dry.