How To Make Your Own Tie Dye T-Shirt

Early dyes were extracted from roots, flowers, leaves, and berries. These include blackberries, lichen, safflower, marigold, onion, red cabbage, sage, and indigo. Although these dyes are still used today, synthetic dyes have been developed that are permanent, quick-setting, safe, easy to use, and are ensured by accurate formulas. As in ancient times, we still use natural fibers for tie-dyeing. Silks from China, cottons from Egypt, and rayon from Bali are still highly prized. Hemp has always been used as a durable and dyeable natural fabric.

Tie-dye became fully developed in China during the T'ang dynasty (618-906 A.D.) and in Japan during the Nara period (552-794 A.D.). The availability of silk and hemp, which are very receptive to the resist technique, made these countries' art outstanding. Some early tribes in Western China, South East Asia, and Central America tied and dyed the threads before weaving their cloth. When it was woven into material, beautiful designs appeared where the white lines of the tie contrasted with the colored dyes. This method is known as ikat.

Source: Harmonytie-dyes.com

Materials: old T-shirt, string, package of dye

Tools: Large old pan, clean stick for stiring, iron

This is how you do it:

Spread an old T-shirt out flat. Gather it in the center, gathering front and back in the same handful. Wrap string around the gathered piece several times. Tie the string, with a bow so that you can untie it later.

Continue gathering and tying, as many times as you can. Show how to get balanced design - you match each tie on the left side with one of the right side.

Mix dye in an old pan, following the directions that come with the package. Use very hot water.

Put the whole T-shirt under water, stir with a clean stick until the T-shirt is as dark as you want it. Rinse in cold water and wring out. Until the strings and hang the skirt up to dry. Have the shirt ironed to make the dye more permanent. Whenever you wash the shirt, use cool water.

Photo Courtesy of John Daharsh