Even before the COVID-19 craze, tie-dye was having a high-fashion moment, with psychedelic swirls gracing the runways of S/S20. A few months ago, the trend evolved from high fashion to "home fashion," with tie-dye sweat suits becoming the unofficial quarantine garment (opens in new tab). You don't have to buy "high-end loungewear" for this trend. Sweatshirts, sweatpants, socks, sheets, shirts, even shoes. So grab your old clothes and let's get started!

I suggest getting a tie-dye kit. This kit (opens in a new tab) has everything you need and comes in 15 colors. Here are the items you will need:

Tie-dyeing is a messy process. We recommend working outdoors or in a garage or unfinished basement. If done indoors, protect the space with towels or plastic.

If outdoors is not possible, try using a bathtub or shower. [Tie-dye comes in a variety of swirls and patterns. You can go bold and bright with several shades or stick to one color. The beauty of tie-dyeing is that the basic procedure is the same no matter which design you choose. Once you learn the steps, the way you twist, fold, and place the rubber bands on the shirt will determine the design.

Here, we'll break down the classic spiral of the T-shirt, because nothing beats the classics.

Classic tie-dye spiral

Prepare your items. First, prepare a washed T-shirt that is still damp, but not dripping with water. Lay the shirt flat where it can get dirty.

Twist the fabric. Select the center of the shirt. Pick up the fabric and twist it into a spiral. Continue twisting the shirt until it looks like a cinnamon roll.

Use rubber bands. Grab a rubber band and wrap it around the shirt to create six or more wedges. This will complete the spiral design. The position of the rubber bands and the way the shirt is twisted will determine the final design.

Dyeing. Wearing gloves and holding a squeeze bottle filled with dye, apply color to each wedge.

Lay the item down. The shirt must be placed in order to absorb the dye. Place the shirt in a Ziploc bag and let sit for 8 to 24 hours (the longer it sits, the darker the color). Rinse until the water becomes clear. Remove the rubber bands and rinse again.

Wash. There is still dye on the shirt. Put it in the washing machine separately from the rest of the clothes so that the dye does not bleed onto other items.

Dry. Finally, dry the shirt. You can put it in the dryer or hang it.

Now you are done! Finished! Enjoy your new tie-dye item!

Tie-Dye Socks

Four Tie-Dye Patterns: Spider, Bullseye, Spiral, and Stripe

Bleach Tie-Dye

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