If you're looking for a fun activity to do at home with your kids, tie-dye is a great choice. Not only does it give children a chance to practice their creativity, but they'll feel so accomplished in making something that they can eventually wear, too.
Of course, there's plenty of options when it comes to tie-dye patterns. We've rounded up eight different tie-dye patterns, complete with step-by-step instructions to make sure that your colorful creations come out just right. From classic bull's-eye to a groovy rosette, check out our handy guide here. Happy dyeing!
Bull's-Eye Pattern
This tie-dye pattern looks like a target or bull's-eye! Here's how to make it:
- Lay the T-shirt flat.
- Pinch the center of the garment and rubber-band both layers, about 1 to 2 inches from the center.
- Continue applying rubber bands in this pattern about 1 inch apart.
Nebula Design
Even very young kids can help make this cosmic tie-dye design. Here's how:
- First, wet the shirt and lay it flat.
- Then, scrunch and wrinkle the fabric with your fingers, gathering it into a tight disk.
- Finally, wrap several rubber bands around the disk. The tighter you bind it, the more white there will be in the final shirt.
Diagonal Stripe Design
Consider multi-colored diagonal stripes if you're looking for a unique tie-dye shirt pattern. To make it:
- Lay the T-shirt flat and fold it accordion-style from the bottom corner.
- Once folded, wrap with rubber bands every 1 to 2 inches.
Polka Dot Pattern
Here are step-by-step tie-dye instructions for this polka dot design:
- Gather a handful of plastic beads or dried beans.
- Cut plastic wrap into squares that are about four times larger than the beads or beans.
- Place a bean or bead inside the shirt, then place a piece of plastic wrap on top of the shirt.
- Working with just the front layer of the shirt, wrap a rubber band tightly around the plastic- and shirt-covered bead or bean, as shown.
- Repeat to make more dots.
- Wet the tee before dyeing it.
Rosette Pattern
This tie-dye idea ends up looking like fun, funky flowers. Here's how to do it:
- Start by laying a T-shirt flat.
- Next, pinch a 2-inch section through both layers and rubber-band it.
- Finally, push your finger down through the rubber band to make a donut shape.
- Repeat as many times as you want.
Sunburst Design
This spiral pattern will have you and your kids doing the twist. To make it:
- Choose a spot in the center of the shirt, between the armpits.
- With your thumb and forefinger, press down and twist the fabric clockwise. Try to keep the resulting folds at approximately the same height, creating a shape like a flat cinnamon roll.
- Wrap the shape tightly with rubber bands, as shown. The tighter you bind the shirt, the more white there will be in the design.
Sailor Stripe Design
Tie-dye doesn't always mean groovy spirals and circles; you can make straight-line stripes too. To get this effect, follow these steps:
- Starting at one side, gather the T-shirt to create accordion-like folds that run vertically from neck to hem.
- Wrap a rubber band tightly around the shirt.
- For more stripes in the tie-dye pattern, add rubber bands as shown.
Ringer Design
A circle shirt couldn't be simpler to create. Follow these steps for the ringer effect:
- Pinch the top layer at the center of the T-shirt between the armpits.
- Pull the fabric up to a point, letting the rest of the shirt fall away.
- Smooth the fabric evenly from your pinched point, creating a skinny cone shape.
- Wrap a rubber band tightly around it. Move the rubber-banded ring up or down to make the circle smaller or larger. For a wider line, wrap a few bands around the same spot. Or create a bull's-eye by adding bands above and below the first one.
- Wet the tee before dyeing it with this creative tie-dye technique.