How To Make Tie Dye Shirts With Food Coloring - EHow

Share

1. Get Crafty
2. Art Projects

How to Make Tie Dye Shirts With Food Coloring By Isaiah David eHow may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Learn more about our affiliate and product review process here.

Things You'll Need

• Shirt

• Food coloring

• Bowls

• Water

• Salt

• Condiment bottles

• Rubber bands

• Vinegar

The look of tie dye Image Credit: Michele Andersen

Food coloring is a great way for kids to tie dye. Although it doesn't necessarily hold as well as other sorts of dyes, it is kid-safe and requires little supervision. Soaking the shirts in salt water after tie dying and washing them in cool water will make the dye set a little better, giving it a cool faded look.

Advertisement

Step 1

Soak shirt in water and vinegar Image Credit: Michele Andersen

Soak the shirt in a mixture of half white vinegar and half water. After it's soaked through, wring the shirt out.

Advertisement

Related Stories

Video of the Day

Step 2

Tie knots in the shirt Image Credit: Michele Andersen

Tie knots in the shirt, or twist up parts of it and hold them with rubber bands. This will create bands and spiral patterns in the shirt.

Advertisement

Step 3

Add the dye Image Credit: Michele Andersen

Mix food coloring and water in bowls or condiment bottles. If you use bowls, dip the shirt in it. If you use condiment bottles, squirt the coloring on the shirt. (Kids love using the bottles!)

Advertisement

Related Stories

Step 4

Wrap the newly dyed shirt in plastic Image Credit: Michele Andersen

Wrap the shirt in plastic and place it somewhere and let it sit undisturbed for about eight hours.

Advertisement

Step 5

Fill a tub with water and salt Image Credit: Michele Andersen

Fill a tub with cool water and add salt, stirring until you can't get any more to dissolve.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Step 6

Set dye in cool water Image Credit: Michele Andersen

Wash the shirt in the cool salt water to set the dye.

Advertisement

Step 7

Ready to wear! Image Credit: Michele Andersen

Wash and dry the shirt as you normally would. It is now ready to wear.

Tip

Consider using actual clothing dye. Food coloring works well for food, but it can bleed and fade quickly in clothing, and it can only be used with certain fabrics. Follow the link below for how to tie dye with actual clothing dye.

Get a wool or silk shirt. Both of these textiles work fairly well with food coloring. Nylon also usually works well, but it sometimes has a synthetic coating on it that stops it from absorbing the ink. Cotton will not hold food coloring as well.

Advertisement

Video of the Day

references

• Paula Burch: All About Hand Dyeing

eHow may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Learn more about our affiliate and product review process here.