#SPIRAL TIE DYE HOW TO#

Continue adding rubber bands further down your shirt, creating a long tail. Secure a rubber band about an inch below your pinch. Bull’s Eyeĭecide where on your shirt you want the center of your bull’s eye and pinch your shirt there, picking it up as you do. You can put a different color on each slice (do the front and the back), stick to a color “family” and pattern just 2 to 3 colors or even just use one color.

Use each “slice” as guidance for where to put dye. With the rubber bands in place, your shirt will look like a sliced pizza. Secure with several rubber bands that overlap in the center. Keep twisting until your shirt is in a tight circle. You’ll notice that as you twist/rotate, your shirt will gather and the wrinkles will look like a spiral. Once you find it, pinch the center and then slowly twist your shirt. Remember: No rule says the center of your spiral must be in the center of your shirt. Spiral Dyeĭecide where you want the center of your spiral to be. If you’re not working from a kit, you’ll want to make sure you have rubber gloves, rubber bands (or string) and a plastic bag handy, as well. Other than that, the most important thing to keep in mind is something you probably already know: Dyeing is messy! Try to dye outside or plan on putting down a leak-proof drop cloth. Always wash your shirt (or any other material you’re dyeing) first and leave it slightly damp for the process. Prepping for tie dye is easier than you’d think.

#SPIRAL TIE DYE HOW TO#

Here’s how to start: Prepping for Tie Dye

With such a rich history behind it, this is a great way to have some fun and sneak in a history lesson to your little ones. RELATED: 26 Fun Indoor Games For Kids With Cabin Fever So You Can Catch A Break 500 to 800 but was also found in Japan, China, South Asia, and Africa. A reference to the process can be found in a 1941 book about the Philippines in which members of the Bagobo tribe are described as wearing “highly decorated clothing made of hemp fiber, all tied-and-dyed into fancy designs.” The practice of this ancient tradition even dates back to Peru as far back as A.D. Tie dyeing emerged and became a mainstay in pop culture in the 1960s, but the art is actually much older and meaningful. (Unpopular opinion: It’s also a great time to teach your kids how to use the washing machine on their own. Keep in mind, you can always use your coloring options as a chance to teach some science too. They’re going to keep those shirts or pillowcases around for as long as possible and always remember the giggle fits you had while tackling this fun project. And, honestly, the mess might be worth the fun, especially if you’re stuck in quarantine and social distancing during COVID-19. The tie dye process is proof that there is more than one way to earn a “green thumb” and let’s face it - your kiddos are “dyeing” to do it. But, just like when you tried to dye your hair purple at home, it can go wrong very quickly. Tie dyeing is so much fun and never seems to go out of style.

Raise your hand if you’ve ever bought a tie dye kit with the best of intentions and then left it sitting in your laundry room for three years because you just didn’t have the emotional capacity to deal with the mess.

Spiral tie dye