How to Throw Tie Dyeing Baby Shower (Tie-Dye Onesies)

This post may contain affiliate links, sponsored content and products received at no cost.

6:00 AM

How to Throw Tie Dyeing Baby Shower (Tie-Dye Onesies)

If you’re looking for a baby shower idea that’s equal parts meaningful, memorable, and hands-on fun… this is it.
I recently hosted a shower with the theme “Tie Dyeing to Meet You” and it turned out to be one of the most interactive and heartfelt parties I’ve ever put together.
Instead of traditional games, guests created their own custom tie dye onesies for the new baby—and let me tell you, it was a total hit.

Not only did everyone have a blast, but the mom-to-be walked away with a whole collection of one-of-a-kind baby onesies made with love by her friends and family.
I handled the rinsing and finishing afterward, so she received a beautifully curated bundle of wearable memories.
If you want to recreate this experience, I’ve got you covered with a full, step-by-step tutorial—from setup to final wash.

🎨 Tie Dyeing to Meet You: Baby Shower Craft Tutorial

Why Tie Dye Onesies?

Tie dye is the perfect fun activity for a baby shower because:

It’s beginner-friendly
Everyone can participate (no skill level required!)
Each piece turns out unique
It doubles as a meaningful gift
It's something unique and different

Plus, there’s something really special about dressing a baby in clothes that were handmade by people who already love them.

Supplies You’ll Need for Tie Dye Party:

affiliate links

Before your party, gather all your materials and prep your crafting space.

Plain white baby onesies (100% cotton or cellulose fibre works best)
Optional: sibling shirts so older siblings can join in the fun
Tulip One Step Tie dye kit or individual dye bottles
Rubber bands (or zip ties)
Washable markers (like Crayola)
Extra gloves (trust me—you’ll need more than you think)
Plastic tablecloth to protect your workspace
Paper towels for quick cleanup
Large bucket or sink
Lukewarm to cold water
Plastic bag for each dyed item
Laundry detergent

You'll need a stunning hand painted banner for the party guests to enjoy the theme as well!
This banner is easy to make with Plaid Craft Paint and Kraft Paper.

See the full tutorial here!

Step 1: Set Up Your Tie Dye Station

Start by creating a designated dyeing area.
Lay down a plastic tablecloth over your tables to protect surfaces. Tie dye can get messy, so don’t skip this step.

Set out:

Dye bottles
Rubber bands
Gloves
Stacks of baby onesies

Have a roll of paper towels nearby for spills and sticky fingers.
If you’re hosting outdoors—highly recommended—it makes cleanup even easier.

Step 2: Prep the Onesies

For best results, your onesies should be slightly damp before dyeing.

Be sure to pre-wash the baby bodysuits before hand, then have a 5 gallon bucket near the tie dye station filled with luke warm water.

Wet the onesie and ring it out to dampen them right before guests begin tie dying.

These wet onesies absorb dye more evenly and create brighter, more vibrant results.

Make sure guests understand that the fabric should be damp—not dripping.

Step 3: Show Basic Folding Techniques

Before everyone jumps in, give a quick demo of a few simple tie dye styles.

Spiral Design:
Pinch the center of the onesie
Twist into a spiral
Secure with rubber bands (divide into sections)

Scrunch Design:
Scrunch fabric randomly
Secure with multiple rubber bands

Stripe Design:
Fold the onesie accordion-style
Add bands along the length
Encourage creativity—there’s no wrong way to do it!

Multiple Bullseye! Same as the target or bullseye, but smaller and in different spots on the shirt.

Step 4: Secure with Rubber Bands

This is where the magic starts.

Once folded, guests should use rubber bands or zip ties to hold their design in place.

The tighter the bands, the more white space you’ll have in the final design.

Adding a second, third and fourth rubber band to the gathered bodysuit will add more places for different colors, use as many as needed!

Step 5: Apply the Dye

Now for the fun part—adding color!
Have guests:

Put on gloves
Choose their dye colors
Apply dye to each section

Tips:

Use a little bit of dye at first—you can always add more
Rotate the onesie to ensure full coverage
Avoid oversaturating (too much dye can lead to muddy colors)

Encourage guests to experiment with color combinations.

If you are tie dying a shape, use a washable marker to draw the basic shape on the shirt as it is folded in half, seen with this half heart below.

Then gather the fabric on the marker line and secure that exact shape with rubber bands or zip ties.
Then add color.

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!

Step 6: Let the Onesies Set

Once dyed, carefully place each onesie into its own plastic bag.

This step is important because:

It keeps the fabric damp
Helps the dye set properly
Prevents colors from bleeding onto other items

Label each bag with the guest’s name if you want to remember who made each piece.

Let the dyed items sit for at least 6–8 hours, or overnight for best results.

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!

Step 7: Rinse Out the Excess Dye

After the dye has set, it’s time for rinsing.

This is the part I handled after the party so the mom-to-be didn’t have to worry about cleanup.

Steps:

Remove the onesie from the plastic bag
Rinse under cold water
Keep rinsing until the water runs mostly clear

This removes the excess dye and prevents bleeding during washing.

Step 8: Wash and Dry

Once rinsed:

Wash all onesies together in cold water
Use a small amount of detergent
Avoid mixing with other laundry

You may notice a little bit of dye still releasing during the wash—that’s normal.

After washing:
Dry as usual
Press or fold neatly

Messy Spiral! Same start as the pie swirl above...but add some of each color in each section

Whether the baby gender has been revealed or not, tie dyed onesies work for all babies.

They add a little pizzazz to an ordinary white onesie, which is the wardrobe staple of every infant.

Step 9: Present the Finished Gift

This is my favorite part.

Once everything was clean and dry, I bundled the finished tie dye onesies together and gifted them to the mom-to-be.

You can:
Fold or roll them into a basket
Tie with ribbon
Add a tag explaining the theme

It becomes more than just clothing—it’s a collection of love from everyone who attended.

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.

Hosting Tips for Success

Keep It Simple
Not everyone is crafty, so keep instructions easy and approachable.

Have Plenty of Supplies
You’ll go through more rubber bands, gloves, and dye than you expect.

Encourage Creativity
There’s no “perfect” design—every piece will be unique.

Plan for Cleanup
Have trash bags, wipes, and paper towels ready.

Why This Baby Shower Idea Works So Well

This wasn’t just a craft—it was an experience.

Guests:

Laughed, chatted and stepped out of their comfort zone
Got creative
Made something meaningful

The mom-to-be received something far more special than store-bought gifts.
Each onesie tells a story.

Optional Add-Ons

Add matching sibling shirts
Include burp cloths or swaddles
Offer pastel dyes for a softer look
Include Dimensional Fabric Paint or Paint markers for something besides tie dye.

Rainbow! Learn how to tie dye a rainbow with the full explanation and pattern technique posted above)

If you’re planning a baby shower and want something interactive, meaningful, and just plain fun, tie dye is such a great option.

These tie dye onesies are:

Practical
Adorable
Completely unique

And the best part? Every time the baby wears one, it’s a reminder of the people who were there to celebrate them before they even arrived.

It’s simple.
It’s colorful.
It’s full of love.

And honestly… it might just be the best baby shower activity ever. 💕

That's it!

And just like that, what started as a simple fun activity turned into a heartfelt collection of tiny, wearable memories. Each of those colorful tie dye onesies carries a story—little moments of laughter, creativity, and love from everyone who gathered to celebrate that sweet new baby.

It’s such a special way to turn a baby shower into something interactive and meaningful, while still keeping things easy and stress-free. Whether you’re rinsing out that last bit of excess dye or folding up the finished pieces for gifting, you’ll see how something so simple can become incredibly sentimental.

So grab those rubber bands, lay out the plastic tablecloth, and don’t forget the extra gloves—you’re about to create something truly unforgettable. 💕