Spirals to Dye for

Transcript:How to Tie Dye Spirals

Hi, I'm Jen D'Amore for About.com, and today I'm going to show you how to tie dye spirals.

Supplies to Tie Dye Spirals

You'll need:

• White t-shirts
• Fabric dye
• Rubber bands
• Plastic or rubber gloves
• Plastic bags
• A tray with a grate
• A bucket of water

And you probably want to wear clothes that you don't mind ruining or splashing dye on.

Prepare to Make Tie Dye Spirals

Damp fabric will ease the spreading of the dye. So first, dunk that shirt and squeeze it out. Lay the shirt on a clean and flat surface. Choose where you’d like your spiral to begin, hold it, and twist the entire shirt around that point. Carefully wrap two or three large rubber bands across the spiral. This will create quadrants for the dye. Make sure the rubber bands cross directly over the center of the spiral before adding dye.

Tie Dye Spirals into a T-shirt

Each section gets a different color. Take note of where the neck of the shirt lands, and use your favorite color in that section. Flip over the shirt, and dye the back the same way as the front. You can use as many or as few colors as you want as long as you follow the grid. Wrap it in plastic bags or saran wrap and let it sit overnight to set. 

Wash it out until the water runs clear…and see what you’ve got. Tie dye spirals. Wash them in hot water with a little detergent. Other ways to set the dye include adding vinegar to the wash, or using a hot iron when they're dry.