Easy and Fun T-Shirt Tie Dyeing Using RIT Dye

Making T-shirts are a wonderful way to create unity for a large group. If you are involved with a class of school kids on a field trip, matching T-shirts makes taking a head count very easy. Show your family pride giving all family members matching T-shirts for a family reunion. Tie dyeing T-shirts is an easy project to accomplish and can be a fun project for a group to craft together. Starting everyone out with a white T-shirt that they provide can also make this a very cost effective alternative to ordering matching T-shirts. Before you begin, decide on what design you would like for your tie dye T-shirt.

Splattered design-Wad the T-shirt into a ball. Twist several rubber bands tightly around the T-shirt ball.

Bubble design-Place marbles, randomly, on the inside of the T-shirt. Gather the shirt around each marble and secure with rubber bands.

Bull's-eye design-Gather about 2 inches of the T-shirt with a rubber band in the center of the shirt. Move 2 inches farther down from the first rubber band and secure another. Repeat until several rubber bands have been added and you have run out of T-shirt.

Supplies you will need:

White cotton T-shirt

Rubber bands

RIT dye

Rubber gloves

Large plastic trash bags

Newspaper

Protective clothing

Plastic bucket

Large mixing spin

Plastic close hanger

Steps to tie dye a T-shirt:

1. Cover your work surface with plastic garbage bags and many layers of newspaper. Put on protective clothing and gloves. This project can be very messy, if possible do it outside.

2. Wrap your T-shirt with rubber bands using one of the suggested designs.

3. Following the directions on the RIT dye package, mix the dye in the plastic bucket.

4. Immerse the shirt into the dye being careful not to splash. Soak for the recommended time in the directions for the RIT dye.

5. Take the shirt out of the dye and ring the excess out over the bucket. Wash out the remaining dye by rinsing it in cold running water until the water runs clear.

6. Remove the rubber bands from the T-shirt. Hang the shirt on the plastic clothes hanger and hang from a clothesline until dry.

That's it, you are done. Some of the dye may still come out during the first couple of washings, so it is better to wash it by itself.

While the mess is still out, and you have leftover dye, tie dye extra accessories such as socks, bandannas, shorts and sun dresses.