How to tie dye!

Are you eager to get crafty and are you up for some awesome upcycling? Tie dye is the answer to your prayers!

If you think that tie dye is outdated and belongs to the heydays of the hippies, you’re wrong. Tie dye is making a comeback and is actually very popular right now. And we can see why! With its happy colours, spiral patterns and hypnotising shapes, tie dye screams festive times and brightens up your life!

Okay, you’re still reading, so we’ve probably convinced you. Here are the things that you’ll need to turn an old t-shirt with stains into your new favourite item to wear.

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What you’ll need:

  • - An old white t-shirt (preferably 100% cotton, but 50% cotton and 50% polyester will also do)

    • - Rubber bands
    • - Plastic gloves
    • - Fabric dye
    • - Plastic sheet to protect surfaces
    • - Tap water
    • - Plastic bag

     

  • Or, if you want to go for the easy solution, grab one of our tie-dye kits, which includes plastic gloves, fabric dye and rubber bands.

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Instructions:

    1. 1. Wash the fabric you want to dye. The fabric can either be damp or dry when you start dyeing. If you dye damp fabric, the colours will fade into each other. If you dye dry fabric, the colours will be more even.
    2. 2. Cover the work surface in plastic or carry out the process on a non-absorbent surface (e.g. in a large bucket).
      3. Put on protective gloves before mixing the dye. Add water to the dye bottle. The lighter the shade you want, the more water you will need to add. Put on the cap and the shake the bottle thoroughly. Once mixed, the dye needs to be applied within 45 min.

      You can choose between 4 different patterns. The outcome depends on where you place the rubber bands:

The Classic

The Camouflage

The Tiger

The Sun

  • The classic:

     

  1. 4. Roll, twist or fold the fabric to get the pattern you want. Attach rubber bands to the fabric with a couple of centimetres between each one to hold the fabric in place.
    5. Apply the dye to the fabric. Press the dye into the fabric with your hand. Allow the dye to dry for 1 hour in a sealed plastic bag.
    6. Afterwards, take the fabric out of the bag. Remove the rubber bands and hang the coloured fabric out to dry for 24 hours.
    7. Now, rinse the fabric thoroughly in the sink with lukewarm water until all the surplus dye has rinsed out. Remember to wear protective gloves to avoid dyeing your hands.
    8. Once the fabric is dry, you can wash it at a maximum temperature of 40 °C. It should be ironed both outside and inside-out. Note: The fabric should be washed separately for the first few times to avoid transferring the colour to other fabrics.

  • The camouflage:

     

  1. 4. Roll, twist or fold the fabric to get the pattern you want. Attach rubber bands to the fabric with a couple of centimetres between each one to hold the fabric in place.
    5. Apply the dye to the fabric. Press the dye into the fabric with your hand. Allow the dye to dry for 1 hour in a sealed plastic bag.
    6. Afterwards, take the fabric out of the bag. Remove the rubber bands and hang the coloured fabric out to dry for 24 hours.
    7. Now, rinse the fabric thoroughly in the sink with lukewarm water until all the surplus dye has rinsed out. Remember to wear protective gloves to avoid dyeing your hands.
    8. Once the fabric is dry, you can wash it at a maximum temperature of 40 °C. It should be ironed both outside and inside-out. Note: The fabric should be washed separately for the first few times to avoid transferring the colour to other fabrics.

  • The tiger:

     

  1. 4. Roll, twist or fold the fabric to get the pattern you want. Attach rubber bands to the fabric with a couple of centimetres between each one to hold the fabric in place.
    5. Apply the dye to the fabric. Press the dye into the fabric with your hand. Allow the dye to dry for 1 hour in a sealed plastic bag.
    6. Afterwards, take the fabric out of the bag. Remove the rubber bands and hang the coloured fabric out to dry for 24 hours.
    7. Now, rinse the fabric thoroughly in the sink with lukewarm water until all the surplus dye has rinsed out. Remember to wear protective gloves to avoid dyeing your hands.
    8. Once the fabric is dry, you can wash it at a maximum temperature of 40 °C. It should be ironed both outside and inside-out. Note: The fabric should be washed separately for the first few times to avoid transferring the colour to other fabrics.

  • The sun:

     

  1. 4. Roll, twist or fold the fabric to get the pattern you want. Attach rubber bands to the fabric with a couple of centimetres between each one to hold the fabric in place.
    5. Apply the dye to the fabric. Press the dye into the fabric with your hand. Allow the dye to dry for 1 hour in a sealed plastic bag.
    6. Afterwards, take the fabric out of the bag. Remove the rubber bands and hang the coloured fabric out to dry for 24 hours.
    7. Now, rinse the fabric thoroughly in the sink with lukewarm water until all the surplus dye has rinsed out. Remember to wear protective gloves to avoid dyeing your hands.
    8. Once the fabric is dry, you can wash it at a maximum temperature of 40 °C. It should be ironed both outside and inside-out. Note: The fabric should be washed separately for the first few times to avoid transferring the colour to other fabrics.

Tadah! Now you’re ready to wear your tie-dye masterpiece out in the real world!  

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