Tie-dyeing is among those DIY projects that are constantly coming back stronger than ever every few years. It’s a fun activity and you also get fashionable items out of it. 

Some people find tie-dyeing a bit complicated, as the dye washes out easily or the patterns don’t come out pretty. This is mostly because they don’t know the correct procedure to successfully tie-dye their clothes.

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This post is a step-by-step guide on how to tie-dye an old white shirt. 

There are some things you need to purchase to successfully tie-dye your shirt. You might already own some of these things. 

Fabric type matters in this project. Certain fabrics like Polyester and Acetate don’t hold the dye. Cotton on the other hand is the best material for tie-dyeing as it holds the dye well. 

Using a 100% cotton t-shirt is preferred, but you can also use a shirt with 80% cotton or more. It’s better to stay away from 50/50 blends. 

It’s easier to buy a tie-dye kit. The kits come with pretty much all the items you need for the project. Most of them come with rubber bands, gloves, a drop cloth, and of course the dye, mostly in squeeze bottles. 

You can purchase your fabric pigments separately. In this case, you’ll need to buy the other items on their own including soda ash or any commercial dye fixer. Rit Colorstay dye fixative and Dharma dye fixative are good options.

Bring all the items that you need to your work area. You also want to lay something on your table to protect it from stains. You can use a tarp, plastic bag, or the drop cloth that comes with tie-dye kits. 

You might as well wear gloves and an apron to prevent your skin from staining. 

If you’re using new shirts for tie-dyeing, you’ll need to wash them first. This helps to get rid of any chemicals on them that will prevent the dye from soaking in. 

In the case of using an old t-shirt, you still want to soak it in warm water. Working with a wet shirt helps the dye to absorb better and blend smoother. 

Things change a little bit when working with powder pigments. You’ll most likely need to soak the shirts in warm water with soda ash or any commercial dye fixative for 10 to 15 minutes before starting the dying process. 

Keep in mind, some dye fixative should be applied after the dying process, so make sure to read the instructions on the packaging carefully. You won’t deal with this if you’re using a tie-dye kit as most kits have pigments that are already mixed with soda ash. 

Prepare your dye according to what kind of fabric dye you’re using. If you’re using a tie-dye kit, fill up the squeeze bottles with warm water and shake it well. Make sure the water is warm and not too hot or too cold. 

If you’re using powder pigments make sure to read the instructions on the packaging well to create and activate your colors. 

There are several techniques to tie-dye a shirt. The crumble and the spiral are two of the classics. 

To create a crumble pattern start by laying your shirt flat on your work surface and start crumbling and scrunching up your shirt until you get a pancake shape. Then, hold it in place using several rubber bands. 

The more patterns you want to get the more rubber bands you should use. If you want a messier pattern then go with fewer rubber bands, a minimum of three. 

If you want to create the spiral pattern, pinch the center of the shirt with your thumb and pointer finger, then start twisting it into a spiral shape. Secure the spiral with rubber bands. 
The trick here is to create pizza slice-like sections according to the number of colors you’ll be using. Six sections will work well.

If you’re using just a few rubber bands then you’ll need to go over each band with another one to make sure the spiral keeps its shape.

You don’t have to start from the center of the shirt unless you want the spiral to be in the center. Some like to have their spiral closer to the shoulder. 

After choosing a specific pattern for your shirt and securing it with rubber bands, it’s time to have fun with the dyes. 

Apply a generous amount of your dye on one side of the shirt, flip it over and repeat. Don’t stick to one color, especially if you’re creating a spiral. 

Now put the shirt in a ziplock bag and let it sit for a minimum of eight hours. 

Get your shirt out of the ziplock bag and take off all the elastic bands. Make sure to wear your protective gloves. 

Rinse your shirt with cold water until you don’t see any dye rinsing out and the water runs clear. It’s easier to do this step in the bathtub. 

If you’re concerned about staining your bathtub, then fill a bucket with cold water and rinse your shirt in it. You might need to dump the water and refill the bucket multiple times until the water runs clear. 

Toss your shirt in the washing machine at the highest water temperature your fabric can handle. Make sure the shirt is washed alone because it’ll bleed. If you created multiple shirts, wash them separately as well. 

The last step you need to do is to hang dry your dyed shirt. And now, it’s time to put it on and welcome a new clothing item in your closet.


How to Tie Dye an Old White Shirt

Now that you know how to tie-dye, go to your closet and bring out your old, boring white shirt, and have some fun turning it into a trendy piece. 

How to Tie Dye an Old White Shirt

How to Tie Dye an Old White Shirt

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