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How to tie-dye like a real ‘70s hippie
Tie-dye — the swirling, colorful, groovy, homemade fashion statement — was far out in the 1970s.
Still a summer staple in plenty of kids’ wardrobes, here’s how to make your own, adapted from the Sarah Maker blog.
What you need
- White cotton T-shirt or other white clothing
- Gloves
- Fiber reactive dye
- Rubber bands
- Plastic wrap
What you do
1. Lay out a few pages of newspaper or a plastic bag. Then place your white shirt on top, and fold, twist or scrunch it up. Secure with rubber bands.
1. Lay out a few pages of newspaper or a plastic bag. Then place your white shirt on top, and fold, twist or scrunch it up. Secure with rubber bands.
How you fold will determine the end result — for a classic swirl, hold the middle and twist until it looks like a spiral galaxy. For a bull’s eye, grab the middle, then attach rubber bands going down so it looks like a rocket.
2. Apply dye. You can dip your shirt into a bucket of dye, or pour or squirt dye onto the shirt. How will you choose your colors?
2. Apply dye. You can dip your shirt into a bucket of dye, or pour or squirt dye onto the shirt. How will you choose your colors?
The colors you use will likely mix a little, so think about the new colors they might create. Red and yellow next to each other will make orange, for example.
3. Wrap your tie-dye in plastic wrap and leave it alone for at least 8 hours, then rinse it in the sink until the water runs clear. Put it in the washer alone, and it’s ready to be worn!
3. Wrap your tie-dye in plastic wrap and leave it alone for at least 8 hours, then rinse it in the sink until the water runs clear. Put it in the washer alone, and it’s ready to be worn!
1. Lay out a few pages of newspaper or a plastic bag. Then place your white shirt on top, and fold, twist or scrunch it up. Secure with rubber bands.
2. Apply dye. You can dip your shirt into a bucket of dye, or pour or squirt dye onto the shirt. How will you choose your colors?
3. Wrap your tie-dye in plastic wrap and leave it alone for at least 8 hours, then rinse it in the sink until the water runs clear. Put it in the washer alone, and it’s ready to be worn! (Molly Duffy/for The Gazette)
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