A Tie-Dye Tutorial

*for Christina Ü*
I've had a love affair with tie-dye since I was in high school...learning how to first tie and dye at Young Womens...in the leaders back yard...with buckets. I've went years without wearing it, but consistently have bought clothes for my girls in fabulous color. And lately, I've been lucky enough to be re-taught by Em...the tie-dye tycoon....how to do certain other patterns of tie-ing.

I received a request last week...asking if I could tell her how to tie dye. I thought it would be easiest in Tutorial form. But really...this is more a TIPS post than an actual tutorial...because I buy the kits and they have fantastic directions.
I buy my kits from Walmart. This one has 3 colors and costs $9.98, comes with everything you need...even gloves! There are several different colored kits to pick frm. I bought this one for the red and blue....for examples of tie dye for the 4th! I've had nothing but good results come from these kits. The colors are so vibrant.

You can also buy these packets of dye for $2ish (at WM). These packets are great. You can reuse the bottles from the above kits with the dye and a bit of salt...you could probably get 2-3 bottles worth out of one of these packets.

Gotta cover your work space. The dye will stain like clothes crazy (which is a good thing, but not)....Ive had great luck using a Magic Eraser on the tub and floor. Pick out your shirts....get them damp.

Pick out the style you want. Like I said before...the kits come with inserts with several examples and descriptions.

Fold it from the bottom....

Tie it....

Fold it from the side....

I wanted a white center for the Red, White and Blue shirts...so I hung them and added the dye. Depending on how you fold it....you'll get a different result. It's all in the fold!!
(Note to self: no white middles...unless you can handle splotchy, my OCD self obviously can't) My favorite pattern to do is the swirly one. So...in stead of taking 500 pictures...I did a little video.

After you swirly it....you can do however many sections you can fit. The smaller the shirt, the less sections. Dye each section the color you want it. I put them in plastic baggies for 24 hours (the box says 8 hours, but I think they are brighter colors after 24). And then rinse before throwing them into the washer SEPARATELY in cold. I don't want any ugly bleeding!

I hang them to dry...then wash separately again after wearing for the next couple of times. I absolutely love the color!!! This is Emma's shirt, Bella's friend that had a birthday last week....it was a hit! :) Try it! It's fun! Peace, love and COLOR.