How to make a trendy tie-dye print on clothes with your own hands (+ bonus video)

The tie-dye technique is a way of dyeing clothes with a vintage touch. It is now one of the most popular prints in women’s, men’s, and children’s fashion, often featuring bright, saturated colors and bold patterns. You can buy ready-made tie-dye clothes, or let your imagination run wild and create your own. Do you want to complement your style with something original and creative? Learn the tie-dye technique here and do it yourself at home.

Bonus video how to make a DIY tie-dye print

Coloring materials

In addition to the clothes you choose to dye, you will also need additional supplies. It is advisable to have clothes in light colors so that the dye is visible in the design.

You will need:

• Cloth
• Dyes for fabric in different colors
• Disposable gloves
• Rubber bands
• Cling film
• Large capacity
• Paper towels

Preparation for staining

When working with dyes, wear something old or dark in color, as the dye can get on your clothes. Cover the area you will be working on with cling film and put on gloves and an apron. Prepare dyes as instructed so they are ready to use. Prewash garments to be dyed in hot water and rinse several times to remove any foreign material from the fabric that may interfere with dyeing and to prevent further shrinkage.

You can treat the fabric to make it more receptive to dyes. To do this, dilute soda ash in warm water – 1 cup of soda per 1 liter of water. The fabric is soaked in this solution for about 15 minutes.

Dyeing begins with you laying out the fabric on a flat surface and ends with you repeating the process, turning the material over and repeating the design on the back. The cloth should be damp beforehand, but not wet. This allows the paint to soak through the material more easily, resulting in a more even coverage.

Techniques for tying clothes “Spiral”

Lay the damp shirt in the middle of the work surface. To create a spiral, pinch the middle of the shirt with your thumb and forefinger and rotate clockwise until the entire fabric is twisted. Tie it in a circle, pull three or four elastic bands around the fabric to make several sectors.

For a spiral design, apply dye to one sector and alternate colors, working clockwise. Then turn the shirt over and repeat on the other side. Don’t forget to paint on the sides as well.

After dyeing, wrap clothing in polyethylene (or place in a ziplock bag) and leave for at least 6-8 hours. This processing time helps the dye to be well absorbed into the fibers of the fabric. If you have more time, you can leave the dye on for up to 24 hours.

Before washing tie-dye garments in the washing machine, rinse them under running water until the water runs clear. Place the newly dyed fabric in the washing machine and run it on a cold or delicate cycle with a color-safe detergent. For added safety, wash tie-dye garments several times separately before mixing them with the rest of your laundry.