Tie Dye T-Shirt

by Rit Dye |

Item # 13016900P56
Beginner Under 1 Hour

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

  • White cotton T-shirt
  • Rit® All-Purpose Liquid Dye in the color(s) of your choice. Navy Blue and Olive were used here. (Create the color formula for Olive with Taupe, Dark Green and Emerald)
  • Small container to mix the dye
  • Small squirt bottles
  • Measuring spoons
  • Salt
  • Liquid dish detergent
  • Rubber gloves
  • Plastic table cover
  • Rit ColorStay Dye Fixative (Recommended)

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Cover table with plastic and gather supplies.
  2. Pre-wash T-shirt with fabric detergent, rinse and leave wet.
  3. Place damp shirt on covered surface and smooth flat with hands.
  4. Decide the area on the T-shirt where you want the swirl to be. Pinch fabric at this point and twist fabric around into a flat spiral.
  5. Bind with rubber bands, creating 6 wedge shapes. Use more rubber bands as desired.
  6. Wearing rubber gloves, make up a small dyebath according to package instructions in your choice of colors. To enhance the color, add a pinch of salt.
  7. Pour each dye color into a different squirt bottle.
  8. Apply dye on wedges alternating colors as desired.
  9. Carefully turn T-shirt over, keeping spiral intact, and apply more dye if color has not completely soaked through fabric.
  10. Squeeze out excess dye but keep rubber bands in place.
  11. For a more faded look skip step 12. Remove rubber bands and rinse the T-shirt in cool water until rinse water begins to run clear. Wash in warm water with mild detergent, rinse and dry.
  12. Recommended: Use Rit ColorStay Dye Fixative immediately after dyeing and before washing, following instructions on the bottle. It enhances the color, increases color retention and prevents dye from bleeding into the white areas.
  13. Rinse T-shirt in cool water until rinse water begins to run clear.
  14. Wash in warm water with mild detergent, rinse and dry.

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