Basic Instructions & Supplies

Basic Supplies

Rubber gloves
Rubber bands, string, or 2-inch wide strips of cloth
Plastic to cover your work surface - you can split open a large heavy trash bag
A 3-gallon bucket or tub for each color
Long-handle stainless steel spoon
Scissors
Laundry detergent
Clean towel that you won't mind wrapping around dyed items
Paper towels
Cleanser or bleach for cleanup

Basic Tie-Dyeing Instructions

Follow these basic steps for creating vibrant tie-dye patterns! See our Tie-Dye projects for specific directions on how to achieve different tie-dye patterns.

The first thing you should do is choose your colors. You can choose one, two, or three colors. When using more than one color, it's usually best to start with the lightest color.
Next, refer to the color wheel. When tie-dyeing with two or more colors, plan to put adjacent primary or secondary colors next to each other. In the areas where they run together, they will create a third, great-looking color. For instance, Scarlet and Golden Yellow will produce Orange; Royal Blue and Kelly Green will make Aqua; Fuchsia and Royal Blue will create Purple.
Prepare all the dye baths before starting to tie-dye. Wear rubber gloves before handling dye. They prevent colorful fingers and offer protection from the hot water in the dye bath. Dissolve 1 package powder dye or 1/2 cup liquid dye in about 2 - 3 gallons very hot water (at least 140ºF). If water is not hot enough, heat water in a tea kettle or the microwave. The hotter the dye bath, the stronger the colors will be. For dark or bright colors, double the amount of dye used.
When you begin your project, immerse your garment in the lightest color dye bath for 4 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove when the color is a little darker than desired. Rinse well and repeat with next darkest color. Repeat until you have used all your colors.
Remove garment from dye bath and rinse in cool water until water runs clear. Using scissors, release the ties very carefully to avoid cutting the garment.
Wash garment in warm water with mild detergent. Rinse thoroughly in cool water. Gently squeeze out excess water by rolling garment in a clean old towel. Machine dry or hang to dry.