How to Make Tie Dye T-Shirt Party Favors

The tie dyed t-shirts created for your next party, sets the mood and décor. Choose a theme, such as hippie party, beach party or just bright and happy surroundings. Adults and kids, alike, will enjoy making and wearing these shirts. Plain, white t-shirts can be purchased inexpensively from a department store, discount store or craft store. Your party guests and you will have as much fun making and wearing these party favors as you will at the party.

Supply all of your guests with rubber gloves and make shift clothing covers. Large garbage bags with cutouts for the head and arms work perfectly. Consider the location you use as a work area. There are bound to be some spills and splashes. The dye can ruin furniture, carpeting and other flooring. Spreading a large sheet of plastic on the garage floor or outdoors, is your best bet.

Do a trial run and create your own tie dyed t-shirt, days before the party. You will be able to start the party wearing your shirt, while helping your guests with your experience. Besides parties, this is a great summer family craft. Include a couple of your kid's friends and you will be the new favorite hangout home.

Step 1

Pre-wash all the new t-shirts. This removes fabric sizing (a finish that stiffens the fabric), which may inhibit dye penetration.

Step 2

Lay each wet t-shirt flat, front side up. Grab the shirt's center and twist. Keep twisting until the whole t-shirt is a round spiral, with a cinnamon roll shape. Wrap 3 or 4 rubber bands around the spiral for containment. Work a rubber band vertically, then one horizontally. Add others diagonally.

Step 3

Saturate each t-shirt in a soda ash water (found at craft stores) bath, careful not to disturb the spiral pattern. Gently, ring out as much moisture as possible. This helps the die adhere to and stay on the t-shirt. Wear plastic gloves to protect your hands.

Step 4

Place a plastic tablecloth or large garbage bag over your work area for protection. Place a tub, onto the work area. Add a rack to the inside of the tub. Baking racks, for cooling baked goods, work well.

Step 5

Choose the die colors. Consider color combinations. Because this may be a one time project, you might choose just 3 or 4 colors. It's difficult to make any 2 shirts alike, even using the same color pallet.

Step 6

Mix the die in squirt bottles (both found at craft stores). Put your plastic gloves on. Pour a tablespoon of die into the bottle and add water to nearly the top. Add more die, if you prefer a very saturated color. Add less die, if you prefer a lighter or pastel color. Place the cap onto the bottle. Shake the bottle to mix the dye.

Step 7

Place a t-shirt, with the backside of the spiral up, onto the rack. Squirt one color over the entire surface, while wearing your plastic gloves.

Step 8

Turn the shirt over to the front side. Visually, section off the t-shirt into pie shaped-cuts. Some sections may be wider than others. Squirt a different color dye in each section. As you finish the dyeing process set each shirt on your plastic covered work area. Leave the shirts to absorb the die for a 4 to 12 hour period, the longer, the better. The ideal temperature in the room would 70 degrees Fahrenheit, to help the dye set.

Step 9

Remove the rubber bands. Rinse the shirts with warm water and then cool water, until no more dye comes out. Run the shirts though a no-soap, cold cycle, in your washing machine. Run them through another cycle with a small amount of soap. Dry the shirts on a cool setting in your dryer.

Step 10

Fold each tie dyed t-shirt into a roll. To do this, place the shirt face down on your work surface. Fold the arms back, along with a 4 or 5 inch section of the sides. This is just how you might start to fold the shirt ordinarily. Now, from top to bottom, roll the shirt, much like a tootsie roll. With 8 inch lengths of ribbon, tie the roll a few inches from the ends, at both ends. This completes the perfect packaging for tie dye t-shirt party favors.

Tips

If you only have 4 hours to allow the dye to set, place them in a plastic bag.
Place the finished tie dyed t-shirts in a basket (to hand out) or next to each table place setting.

Make a couple of extra shirts for late or unexpected party guests.