How to Host a Tie Dye T-shirt Party!
Tie Dye is the first signs of Summertime. The bright colors and hippy look are perfect for Summer barbecue's, parades, Summer camp and Family reunions.
Learn everything you need to know about tie dying shirts so you are ready to host a fabulous tie dye event!
Tulip tie dye is the best dye! It's one step process makes it so easy to use!
Dyes are permanent and color-fast...so if applied properly, they wont fade in the wash!
I have only ever used Tulip One Step Dyes with 100% cotton shirts.
If you use other products, they might not turn out the same.
Products received at no cost from Tulip and Gilden for this post! Huge packs of tie dye and 20 t-shirts!
Supplies Needed for Tie Dye Party:
Here's my favorite dyes in various party sizes:
(they sell out FAST in the Summer time!)
Would you believe that I have never tie dyed before?
Raise your hand if you have NEVER tie dyed before...it's time to try it!
This was my first go at it...and you know what?
I love it and I am completely obsessed. Just watch out...anything and everything that is white is soon to be tie dyed!
Tie dying is a fun family activity! Great for all ages too.
Some set up in advance, and even the littlest toddler could make their own shirt!
Overview for Tie Dying Shirts:
Begin by dipping the shirt in warm water and ringing it out. Then fold, twist or gather the shirt together.
Tie it off with elastics or zip ties. Then add the dye (mixed according to package directions).
My 5 year old son is always super reluctant to do any type of "craft".
He was hesitant to come and make a shirt...but he did a camouflage one and loved it!
It was his idea to make it army colors!
This post has been updated since 2015...this guy is now 14!
I think he did great!
I love how it looks almost camouflage!
We live far away from extended family. This would be the funnest family reunion activity!
So I invited over a bunch of other families to come tie dye with us! It's a great way to have neighbors over.
How to host a Tie Dye Party:
I had enough dye rated for "65 projects".
Because we did large child and large adult shirts it ended up making 40 shirts total.
(hopefully this helps when you are planning ahead for your party!)
5 Tips for Tie Dye Party:
- Wrap the table with garbage bags, so the clean up is easy.
- Have a basket of pre-washed and wet t-shirts.
- Use baking cookie racks to keep the dye from pooling under the shirts.
- Washable markers are great for tracing out shapes or patterns to follow.
- Have a large supply of disposable gloves and plastic grocery bags for wrapping later.
- Crowd Control. We have a swimming pool...so we only had a couple kids make shirts at a time while other activities were going on. This crowd control is essential!
How to Tie Dye a Rainbow Shirt:
Step 1: Draw
Let's start with a rainbow! I drew a curved line on the shirt with a washable marker...
Step 2: Gathering
Then...wearing gloves, gather the shirt along that line... so the blue marker line matches up in a straight line.
Step 3: Zip Ties
Then use a zip tie to tie off that blue marker line. This gathering will make the arch on the shirt...
Now, just add zip ties down the shirt, keeping the gathering the same as the first time.
Until you have enough for the colors you want!
Place on top of your baking rack.
Step 4: Tie Dye
Use the dye according to directions. Squirt the colors you want on the shirt. There will most likely be some bleeding...
I added 2 shades of blue sky!
Turn the shirt over on the baking rack and dye the back of the shirt the same colors.
See how excess dye can just pool up on the plastic table instead of turning your shirt into a muddy mess?...yes, do this!
Step 5: Wrap
Next, take the shirt and wrap it in plastic.
I used plastic wrap...
You need to make sure the shirt isn't overlapping other colors or they will bleed together still.
I overlapped the blues...no big deal. Then I put it in a grocery bag.
Step 6: Wait
Wrap it carefully and let it sit for 6-8 hours. We waited overnight.
Step 7: Wash
Take it out of the wrapping...and rinse in the sink. I rinsed a few minutes...then remove the zip ties carefully with scissors.
Then continue to rinse until the water runs clear.
This is the BEST part! You finally get to see how your shirt turned out!
(note: the shirt in the sink is not the rainbow shirt...but you get the idea)
Then throw it in the washing machine and run a regular cycle.
I even used regular soap!
It will fade out a little...but as long as you use 100% cotton shirts, you'll end up with this!
That's it!
It was a fun activity for all ages!
This would be great for summer camp shirts...girls camp, family reunions...birthday parties--you name it!
And we used lots of dye! All in all, we ended up making about 40 shirts!
Here's how to do some of the other fun tie dye patterns!
Heart:
Same technique as the rainbow...fold shirt in half, draw half heart, scrunch the line so it all lines up...zip tie and dye!
Target or bullseye!
Just grab the shirt where you want the center of the target to be. Then zip tie it and repeat for as many rings as you want!
Rainbow
(full explanation above)
Pie shaped swirl
Grab the center of the shirt and twist it in a spiral until it's all wound up.
Add a few rubber bands...color each "pie" section a different color.
Multiple Bullseye!
Same as the target or bullseye, but smaller and in different spots on the shirt.
Messy Spiral!
Same start as the pie swirl above...but add some of each color in each section
That's it!
Give Tie Dye a try!
Like, Pin and Share!
Check out my other Tie Dye posts!
Captain America Tie Dye Shirt
Tie Dye Party!
Halloween themed Tie Dye!
Galaxy Scarf!
Galaxy Dress!
Bleach Resist Tie Dye Galaxy!
Mermaid Scale Tie Dye Shirt
How did you do the red, white and blue one that looks like a flag sorta?
ReplyDeleteHow do you do the Red White and blue one??? I agree with the personn above please help!
ReplyDeleteIf you click on the picture you will be redirected to a page with full instructions.
ReplyDeleteOn the patriotic one, how do you keep the color from bleeding on to the white sections?
ReplyDeletethese are great so glad you showed this for i had not done these before and want to now i will ...thank you very much for showing this ...love it ...keep up the wonderful things you do with the kids this is great...
ReplyDelete