Your summer wardrobe is bound to have some pieces you no longer want, so why not give your old clothes new life with this fun, easy DIY! Reverse tie-dye is a take on a classic craft and is an inexpensive way to revamp your clothes. So how do you get rolling?
What is Reverse Tie-Dye?
Reverse tie-dye is similar to normal tie-dye, with a few changes to the steps. Rather than dying white clothes, you use bleach to remove the color from clothes to create interesting patterns. Reverse tie-dye is more diverse in style options as it can work for an array of colors. And you can even use dye on your newly bleached clothes to bring out the patterns you’ve created!
Things you’ll need:
- 100% Colored Cotton Shirt(s)
- Rubber Gloves
- Squeeze/Spray Bottle or a Bucket
- Household Bleach Solution
- Ventilated Area
- Rubber Bands
- Dye [Optional]
Reverse Tie-Dye Steps
1. Fold and Tie the Shirt
Fold your shirt for your desired design and tie it in place with rubber bands. Different folding techniques produce different patterns, so fold with care!
Try some bleach tie-dye folding techniques like:
- Crumple Dye (easiest)
- Shibori
- Sunburst
- Spiral
- Pole Wrapping
2. Mix Water and Bleach in Bottle
Mix one part bleach and one part water in your spray bottle or bucket. Be careful handling the bleach and be sure to use gloves!
3. Spray Shirt with Bleach Solution
Go to a well-ventilated area to spray the shirt with your bleach-water solution. If you are using a bucket, place your folded shirt in the bucket.
4. Wait 20-30 Minutes
Leave your shirt to set for 20-30 minutes. In this time, the bleach solution will change your shirt’s color. Remove your shirt from the bucket after the allotted time.
5. Rinse Thoroughly
Use cold water to rinse the bleach solution out of your shirt. Remember, bleach is toxic and should not be mixed with anything other than water. If you want to add color, leave your shirt out to air-dry until damp.
6. Add Color [Optional]
After you wash your shirt, you can add colors! Fold and tie your shirt again and apply dye to desired areas. Let the dye set.
7: Wash the T-shirt
Put your shirt in your washing machine and wash with detergent.
8. Let Dry
Let your shirt air-dry, or machine dry your shirt at medium or low heat.
Your DIY is done! Enjoy your new shirt! If you liked this post, subscribe to our weekly blog! Be sure to connect with us @ecampusdotcom on Twitter, Instagram, & Facebook for more resources, tips, and some great giveaways! And when it’s time for textbooks, eCampus.com has you covered for all your course material needs at savings up to 90%!