Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 4: Choose fabric and let it soak
• Part 2 of 4: Tying the fabric
• Part 3 of 4: Dyeing the fabric
• Part 4 of 4: Finishing your paper
• Tips
• Necessities

The tie-dye technique is popular to use when the weather is warm and produces beautiful, colorful results. Dyeing fabric this way is fun for all ages, although some parents prefer not to use fabric dye around very small children. Fortunately, you can also use food coloring for the tie-dye technique. The colors won't be as bright and vibrant as with fabric dye, but it's still a fun and excellent introduction to the tie-dye technique.

To step

Part 1 of 4: Choose fabric and let it soak

1. Choose a white garment or accessory to treat with the tie-dye technique. T-shirts are the most popular for dyeing this way, but can also treat scarves, socks, bandanas and similar items with the tie-dye technique. Cotton is fine for temporary dyeing, but if you want the color to last really long, use something wool, silk, or nylon.
   • Food coloring is an acid-based dye. It does not work well with cotton, linen and other fabrics made from plant fibers.
2. Mix equal amounts of white vinegar and water. Pour equal amounts of water and white vinegar into a bowl or bucket. The vinegar may stink, but it will help the dye adhere properly to the fabric. Work outside if you find the smell bad.
   • For smaller amounts of fabric and children's T-shirts, use 120 ml of water and 120 ml of white vinegar.
   • For larger amounts of fabric and adult T-shirts, use 500 ml of water and 500 ml of white vinegar.
3. Let the garment soak in the mixture for an hour. Put the fabric you want to dye in the water and vinegar mixture. Push the fabric completely under water and then let it soak in the mixture for an hour. If the fabric floats to the surface, put a heavy pot on top to keep the fabric submerged.
4. Wring out the excess mixture. When the hour is up, remove the substance from the water and vinegar mixture. Squeeze, twist and wring the fabric until you have removed all excess moisture. The garment should be damp when you dye it, so get to the next step quickly.

Part 2 of 4: Tying the fabric

1. Decide what pattern you want. The pieces of fabric that you tie will remain white. The pieces of fabric that you don't use will get a color. If there are a lot of folds in the fabric, know that those spots probably won't get painted either. Some of the patterns you can try are:
   • Spirals
   • Stripes
   • Star patterns
   • Random patterns
2. Spiral the fabric if you want a traditional spiral pattern. Choose a spot on the garment. This does not have to be the center. Pinch the fabric and make sure to pack all the layers together. Twist the fabric into a tight spiral like a cinnamon bun. Wrap 2 rubber bands around the fabric so that you get an X and the spiral is held together.
   • This method works best with T-shirts.
   • You can make several small spirals on a large T-shirt.
3. Wrap rubber bands around the fabric if you want stripes. Roll or compress the fabric into a long tube. You can roll up the fabric vertically, horizontally and even diagonally. Wrap 3 to 5 rubber bands around the tube. The rubber bands should be tight enough to compress the fabric and leave marks in it. You can put the rubber bands evenly spaced around the fabric, or wrap them around the fabric at random.
4. Gather and tie pieces of fabric if you want little star patterns. Lay the garment flat. Grab a handful of fabric and wrap a rubber band around it so that you get a raised piece of fabric. Do this with your T-shirt as often as you want. All pieces of fabric that you have tied will have a star pattern.
   • This method works best with T-shirts.
5. Crumple the fabric and tie rubber bands around it if you want a random pattern. Crumple the fabric into a ball. Wrap 2 rubber bands around it in a cross-shaped pattern. If necessary, wrap more rubber bands around it to keep the bundle of fabric together. The rubber bands should be tight enough to compress the fabric into a tight ball.

Part 3 of 4: Dyeing the fabric

1. Choose 1 to 3 colors that go well together. With very few colors you can go a long way if you use the tie-dye technique. If you use too many colors they will mix and you will end up with a dirty cloudy color. Instead, choose 1 to 3 colors that you like. Make sure the colors look nice when mixed. Do not use colors from opposite sides of the color circle, such as red and green.
   • For a bright, bright combination, use red / pink, yellow and orange.
   • For a cool combination, use blue, purple and pink.
2. Fill a water bottle with 1 cup of water and 8 drops of food coloring. You need 1 water bottle for each color you use. Close the water bottle and shake it to mix the food coloring. Don't be afraid to mix different colors to get beautiful new colors. For example, with red and blue you make purple. Check the food coloring packaging for the correct amounts to use.
   • If your water bottle has a regular flat cap (and not a drinking cap like a drinking bottle), poke a hole in the cap with a thumbtack.
   • You can also use plastic squeeze bottles. You can find these on the shelf of baking supplies or tie-dye supplies at a hobby store.
3. Choose the first color and spray it on the first part of the fabric. Place the fabric on a tray or in an empty bucket. Spray the dye on the first part that you tied with a rubber band. Make sure to cover the entire area with food coloring.Since the T-shirt is already wet from the water and vinegar mixture, the dye should spread quickly.
   • Food coloring can stain your hands. It may be a good idea to wear plastic gloves for this step.
4. Repeat the process on the other parts of the fabric that you tied. Use one color for each section that you have tied. You can make a random pattern or a specific pattern like blue-pink-blue-pink.
   • If you are only using 1 color for the entire garment, use that color for all areas.
5. If necessary, paint the back of the fabric. When you have finished dyeing the fabric, turn the bundle over and check the backing. If there are white spots on the back, paint them with food coloring as well. You can use the same pattern as for the front or choose a different pattern.

Part 4 of 4: Finishing your paper

1. Place the dyed fabric in a plastic bag. Put the fabric in a plastic bag and tie the bag. Make sure to push all the air out of the bag. You can also put the fabric in a large resealable plastic bag (such as a freezer bag) and then pull the bag closed with the drawstring.
2. Let the fabric sit in the bag for 8 hours. During this time, the dye will soak into the fabric. Do not try to move the bag during this time, or the colors may be ruined. It is best to place the bag in a warm, sunny place. In this way, the heat from the sun ensures that the dye absorbs better into the fabric.
3. Remove the fabric from the bag and remove the rubber bands around it. If you have a hard time getting them off, cut them with scissors. Food coloring can stain your hands, so wear plastic gloves. If you plan to place the fabric on top of something, cover the surface with plastic wrap, wax paper, or aluminum foil first so that you don't stain it.
4. Soak the fabric in a mixture of water and salt. Mix 150 grams of salt with 120 ml of water. Dip the fabric into the mixture, then take it out and squeeze out the excess water.
5. Rinse the fabric with clean water until the rinse water is clear. Hold the garment under a tap and turn on the tap. Let the water run over the fabric until it stays clear. You can also dip the garment in a bucket of water, but then you will need to keep changing the water until the water remains clear after you submerge the garment in it.
6. Let the fabric dry. You can hang the fabric to dry on the clothesline or put it in the dryer to speed up the process. The heat from the dryer can even help the dye absorb into the fabric.
   • Note that the colors will be faded when the shirt is dry. This is because you used food coloring instead of fabric dye.
   • Use the tumble dryer not if you used a silk, wool or nylon garment.
7. Wash the T-shirt separately for the first 3 washes. Food coloring is translucent and not opaque like fabric dye is. It is also not as permanent as fabric paint and will fade over time. The fabric can also run off the first few times you wash the garment. To prevent stains on the rest of your laundry, wash the garment separately for the first 3 washes.

Tips

• It is not recommended to use garments made of linen, bamboo, viscose and synthetic fabrics (except nylon).
• Food coloring is edible, but don't let your child think that coloring is okay to eat. Your child can try to eat fabric dye later.
• Food coloring can stain, so it's a good idea to work outside or cover your workspace with plastic or newspaper. Wear old clothes or an apron.

Necessities

• White matter
• Food coloring (1 to 3 colors)
• White vinegar
• salt
• Water
• Bowl or bucket
• Rubber bands
• Plastic bag
• Water bottles (1 per color)
• Plastic gloves (optional but recommended)