It’s summertime and the kids are out of school. You don’t want them to play video games and watch TV all day. So, it’s time to do a fun activity.
The classic 60s clothing dye trends have come back into fashion over the last year or so. One recent study found that searches for at-home tie dye have increased over 400%!
So, how can you get in on this colorful and entertaining trend? Keep reading to learn how to make t-shirts and other items that will have your kids looking groovy all summer!
Choosing Items to Dye
T-shirts are the most common items to dye. But, you can customize lots of crafts with this method! Choose items made with 100% cotton and wash them before you put any dye on them to get the best results.
Setting up a Dye Station
This is not a project you want to do on your white carpet. To prevent as much mess as possible, consider going in the garage or outside. Protect anything in the area with plastic sheets and make sure to wear gloves.
Plan Your Design
Use rubber bands or twine to bundle and tie the item to achieve the pattern you’re looking for. How you tie the shirt will affect the final effect. You can go online and look at various videos to get ideas for tying patterns.
Prepare the Dye Colors
Ok, everything is ready to go. Now, it’s time to mix up your colors. If you’re using a premium tie dye kit, you’ll get a wide variety of colors to choose from. If not, you may need to custom-mix colors to get what you want.
Make sure you follow the dye instructions so you add the right amount of water. Another tip, add a pinch of salt to help the colors appear more vibrant.
Tie Dye Time
Now that everything is ready to go, it’s time to dip! Help your kids dip the shirts into the different colored dyes one by one.
Start with the lightest colors first and end with the darkest one. You could also spray or squirt dye onto the shirt for a different look.
After you have all the colors on the item, leave it to dry laying flat on the plastic sheet. Do not remove the ties until it’s dried.
Wash Before Wearing
Once the shirt is dry all the way through, remove the ties and rinse in cold water until the water runs clear. After that, throw it into the washing machine by itself and wash with cold water.
Your Kids Are Dying To Show Their True Colors
Kids love having a wearable item at the end of an art project! Let them choose the colors and dye patterns, so they can feel proud of themselves.
Keep in mind that the dye will stain almost anything it comes into contact with. If you can, try to do this outside or use lots of protective coverings.
We hope you loved reading this article and that you learned how to help your kids create a killer tie dye t-shirt. For more helpful articles about crafting, parenting, home tips, and much more, check out the rest of our blog today!