Tie-Dye

Tie-dye is a colorful way to decorate fabric. You twist, fold, or tie the fabric with rubber bands. Then you add bright dye. When you untie it, beautiful patterns appear. Tie-dye shirts are fun and easy to make.

How Tie-Dye Works

First, you take a white shirt or piece of fabric. You scrunch, fold, or twist it into a shape. Then you wrap rubber bands tightly around it. Next, you squirt dye onto different parts. The rubber bands block the dye from reaching some spots. This makes the cool patterns.

The History of Tie-Dye

People have been dyeing fabric for thousands of years. In Japan, a style called shibori uses folding and tying. In Africa and India, people tie fabric with string before dyeing it. Tie-dye became very popular in America in the 1960s when young people wore bright, colorful clothes.

Fun Facts

• Tie-dye has been around for over a thousand years.
• The spiral is the most popular tie-dye pattern.
• Japanese shibori tie-dye can make very detailed patterns using special folding.

Did You Know?

In the 1960s and 1970s, tie-dye shirts became a symbol of peace and love in America!