Q&A for How to Tie Dye a Shirt

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.)

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.

Yes, you can, but it'll only come out white and whatever color you are using.

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.

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.

Watercolor works best. Regular paint will leave fabric hard if it is not diluted properly.

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.

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!

You don't have to use soda ash, but it will help the colors bond with the fabric and stay brighter longer.

It depends on the pattern of the shirt. Over all, tie dying only takes about 2 to 4 hours, including the washing and drying.

Try using kool-aid packets. It sounds kind of weird but it does, in fact, work. You could also use food coloring.

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.

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.

Yes, because letting the dye sit in the water will cause the dye to be less vibrant and will not have as much effect.

If you scrunch it up less and if it gets more sunlight, it will look stronger. Other than that, not really.

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.

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.

No, because rubber bands are more effective. You could give it a try and see how it works out though.

Yes, you can.

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.

You could try using masking tape to create stripes of blank canvas. They won't be perfect, though, since some dye will seep through.

Yes, always pre-wash your new shirts. It helps pre-shrink them and removes manufacturing chemicals.

You do not need it, you can just soak the garment in cold water and that's all you will need to do.

Yes, you will have to do so.

You can hand wash it in lukewarm water using a mild soap, like laundry detergent or dish soap.

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.

Yes, the color will be permanent, although it might fade over time as you wash the shirt more and more.

Wash your hands with Oxiclean and the dye should come right off. Wash again, if needed, with a mild soap.

Yes. You may need to wash whatever body part multiple time though before it will come off.

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.