Q&A for How to Tie Dye a Shirt

Return to Full Article

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    Will this technique work on a sweatshirt also?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Yes, however it might be a bit harder to bunch up if it's a very thick sweatshirt. Some fabrics won't accept dye, though, so check the type of fabric. (Cotton works best.)
  • Question
    Can I tie die a colored shirt?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Yes, this is possible but the color combinations will look a lot different and it can be hard to tell how they'll meld until it's already done. Once done, it's impossible to undo.
  • Question
    Can I do this with only one color?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Yes, you can, but it'll only come out white and whatever color you are using.
  • Question
    What kind of string do I use for tie dyeing?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Any size rubber bands will work. Some packages have small bands but if you want to wrap the shirt, a larger band may come in handy.
  • Question
    Can I use bleach to tie dye a colored shirt?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Yes. This is known as "reverse tie dye." You will want to dilute the bleach and keep a close eye on your shirt, as bleach as cause fabric to deteriorate.
  • Question
    Will tie-dyeing work with paint?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Watercolor works best. Regular paint will leave fabric hard if it is not diluted properly.
  • Question
    What should I do if the color bleeds onto the white when I wash it the first time?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Start by using good quality dye, and don't wash the shirt straight away. Consider soaking the garment in white vinegar diluted with cold water for 30 minutes before washing it; this will help set the dye.
  • Question
    Are there alternatives to using regular dye?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Beetroot juice will colour red-pink; coffee or tea - brown; nettle (watch out for stinging so wear gloves) or spinach juice - green; turmeric -yellow/orange; carbon - grey; and gentian violet - purple. Water based paints could work too, namely poster, powder, and dilute PVA (house paint). Note PVA may leave the fabric hard if not sufficiently diluted darker colours work better. As there are a number of variables, it is best to test on a fabric scrap first. With natural dyes you may want to slow the fabric to dry with the colour to allow a higher concentration. With most dyes adding salt to the rinse step and Ironing will aid the setting. Wash tie dye items separately!
  • Question
    Do I have to use soda ash?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    You don't have to use soda ash, but it will help the colors bond with the fabric and stay brighter longer.
  • Question
    How long does it take to tie dye a shirt?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    It depends on the pattern of the shirt. Over all, tie dying only takes about 2 to 4 hours, including the washing and drying.
  • Question
    How can you make dye?
    Paper Person
    Paper Person
    Community Answer
    Try using kool-aid packets. It sounds kind of weird but it does, in fact, work. You could also use food coloring.
  • Question
    Can I use food coloring to dye my shirt?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Yes. You will want to squeeze the whole bottle of food coloring into a condiment bottle and then fill it with vinegar instead of water. It also helps to add about a tablespoon of salt to the dye. For brighter colors you should soak the shirt in sods ash first. After applying the dye solution, wrap the item in a plastic bag or 2 and microwave for about 2 to 3 minutes and let it cool completely before removing rubber bands and washing.
  • Question
    Can I tie dye a colored shirt?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Yes, but the colors may not show up well. Dye is translucent, so if you try to tie dye a red shirt blue, you might get purple. Darker colors, such as black, don't give you any results at all. If you must use a colored shirt, choose a light color, such as pastel, grey, or yellow.
  • Question
    Do I have to use up all the tie dye soon after I put the water in the powder?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Yes, because letting the dye sit in the water will cause the dye to be less vibrant and will not have as much effect.
  • Question
    Is there a way to make the colors a lot stronger?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    If you scrunch it up less and if it gets more sunlight, it will look stronger. Other than that, not really.
  • Question
    Can I do more than one shirt at a time and then wash them all together in the machine, or will it make a mess of all?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    I successfully washed three tie-died t-shirts together with no problem. I let them sit in the bag 24 hours and individually rinsed each one before putting them into the washing machine together.
  • Question
    Could baking soda be used as an alternative to soda ash?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Washing soda can be used instead of soda ash. Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate and washing soda, to be used with clothes, is sodium carbonate.
  • Question
    Can I use string instead of rubber bands?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    No, because rubber bands are more effective. You could give it a try and see how it works out though.
  • Question
    Can I do the tie dye process on ironed fabric?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Yes, you can.
  • Question
    Which color should I use?
    Paper Person
    Paper Person
    Community Answer
    You can use whatever color you want. If you like reds and blues, use those. If you like greens and yellows, go for it. A lot of times, the colors mix, creating more colors on the tie-dyed cloth you are using, which is pretty cool most of the time.
  • Question
    Is there a way to make stripes?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    You could try using masking tape to create stripes of blank canvas. They won't be perfect, though, since some dye will seep through.
  • Question
    Should a new white shirt be pre-washed?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Yes, always pre-wash your new shirts. It helps pre-shrink them and removes manufacturing chemicals.
  • Question
    Should we not use the ash solution?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    You do not need it, you can just soak the garment in cold water and that's all you will need to do.
  • Question
    Do I have to soak the fabric in water for the full 20 minutes?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Yes, you will have to do so.
  • Question
    What other alternatives are there to washing it in a washing machine? What can I replace that process with to have the same results?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    You can hand wash it in lukewarm water using a mild soap, like laundry detergent or dish soap.
  • Question
    Will tie dye stain a bathtub? If I don't use a tub, where do I dump the water?
    Tylah Jackowski
    Tylah Jackowski
    Community Answer
    Do not use a bathtub if you are worried about staining. Use a metal sink or a bucket, or something else that won't stain. If you're applying the dye using a squeeze bottle, you won't really even need a tub.
  • Question
    Will the color stay after washing the shirt?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Yes, the color will be permanent, although it might fade over time as you wash the shirt more and more.
  • Question
    How do I get tie dye off hands?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Wash your hands with Oxiclean and the dye should come right off. Wash again, if needed, with a mild soap.
  • Question
    Will tie dye come off your skin?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Yes. You may need to wash whatever body part multiple time though before it will come off.
  • Question
    After shirts are dyed, can I wash multiple shirts at a time?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    It depends on what color the shirt is. Bright shirts can be washed with other bright clothes. Don't wash a bright shirt with dark clothes.
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit

Return to Full Article

You Might Also Like