Here's something fun to make for your 4th of July parties this year! These red, white and blue t-shirts look so good you'll want to wear them all year round. And why stop at t-shirts? Try making tie-dye napkins, tablecloths, dresses or scarves (really, what CAN'T you tie-dye?). Just remember to machine wash them in cold so that the colors don't run!
Materials
- Pre-washed white cotton t-shirts
- Permanent dye
- Rubber bands
- Clothes pins
Directions
- Lay your t-shirt out flat.
- Using a clothes pin, pinch where you want the swirl to start.
- Twist the clothes pin in a circular motion until the entire shirt is swirled around the pin.
- Place a rubber band around the circumference of the swirled shirt to keep it in place.
- Next place a few rubber bands across the diameter of the shirt.
- Prepare your dyes according to the package instructions.
- Dip one side of your swirled shirt into the dye (make sure to keep a strip of white between the red and blue sections).
- The longer you keep the shirt in the dye, the darker the colors will be.
- Once you're happy with the color, gently squeeze out any excess dye from the shirt and let dry a bit before dipping the other side.
- Let your shirts sit for a few hours then rinse each color using cold water (do each side separately so the colors don't mix).
- Now you can unwrap your shirt and watch as the swirl unfolds!