Ten Simple Steps to Tie Dye Your Wardrobe

I am a strong believer tie-dye should be an all year round thing, but as to follow social convention, now it's nearly summer time, it's officially appropriate to start wearing tie dye! Therefore, I thought I'd show you how to make the best tie-dye t-shirts.

You will need;

Fabric dyes (Dylon dyes recommended)

Empty bottles (one for each different colour dye)

Elastic bands

Bin bags

Bleach (optional)

Spray bottle (optional)

A t-shirt, preferably white, preferably cotton

STEP 1

Soak the t-shirt (or jumper, socks or whatever else you decided to tie dye) in salt water for about half an hour. You can do this in a bath, sink or bucket; whatever is easiest for you.

STEP 2

Whilst the clothes are in soak, it is the perfect time to get your dyes ready. They come in powder form, so empty the powder into a bottle, add roughly 500ml of warm water, put the lid on and shake. Repeat for each colour.

STEP 3

It's best to dye outside. Cut open the bin bags and lay them out on the ground. If you don't have a garden, you can do it in the shower or the bath; it doesn't make a huge amount of difference. Once you've got your dying station ready, you can start the fun part.

STEP 4

Ring out the t-shirt until basically no water drips from it. To get the swirl pattern shown below, use your fingers to pinch the middle of the t-shirt between both sleeves. Gently twist it and the pattern will start to work. You can feather the sides to make it more swirly or you can leave it as it is. Practise this and you'll find your own way of doing it.

STEP 5

Now it's time to put the elastic bands on. It's an elastic band per colour. I decided to have two colours so I used two elastic bands and crossed them in the centre. Until you get a little more experienced, three colours is probably the maximum per clothing item.

STEP 6

Using the elastic bands as a guideline, slowly pour the first colour on adjacent sections of the t-shirt. Then do the same with the second and third, if desired.

STEP 7

Leave the clothes for around three or four hours, until the dye has roughly dried.

STEP 8

Cut the elastic bands off and hang the clothes on the washing line or over the radiator until the t-shirt is completely dry. If you decide to have white splatters on your t-shirt, now is the time to fill the spray bottle up with bleach and spray three or four times across the t-shirt.

STEP 9

Clean up. The worst part.

STEP 10

ROCK IT. The best part.