Creating Tie-Dye Fabric in Your Home using a 3 Color Dye Kit

Tying dying is a great creative method to revive old fabrics or give some distinctness to newly purchased materials. A 3-colour dye kit allows trying different patterns or colours blended together for beautiful home decor items. Great for making unique cushion covers, tablecloth throw blankets, or even wall art with DIY designs.

Now, let’s see step by step how to design tie-dye fabric using a 3-color dye kit to create fantastic, full-of-color finishes.

What You’ll Need:

3-Color Dye Kit- usually with primary colors like red, blue, and yellow

• 100% cotton fabric- white colors are best
• Squeeze bottles
• Rubber bands
• Plastic gloves
• Plastic table cover or garbage bags to cover the area
• Water
• Ziplock bags or plastic wrap

Step 1: Pick Your Fabric and Prepare It

Use 100% cotton or natural fabrics for a better result since they absorb the dye well. Before dyeing, wash the fabric for any chemical finishes or residue may get in the way of the process. Fabric softener is to be avoided since it will hinder bonding of dye to fibers.

Pro Tip: Soak the muslin or canvas before dyeing in water so that the dye spreads evenly.

Step 2: Set Up Your Workspace

Tie-dye is one of the most messy things you can do in your home so set up a plastic table cover, or garbage bag as a form of protecting your workspace. Wear old clothes and gloves to prevent stains from getting to your hands.

Step 3: Mix Up the Dyes

Your 3-color dye kit should also include dye powders or pre-made liquid dyes. In the case of using the powders, mix the dye with water in squeeze bottles according to the instructions in the package. You are only obligated to use primary colors, red, blue, and yellow, because all the other colors: purple, green, and orange can be made by mixing two primary colors together.

Tip: To do tie-dye, always be sure to test the colors on a scrap piece of fabric before applying them to your garment, to ensure you like the shade.

Step 4: Folding and Tying

There are so many folding techniques for different patterns. Here are some popular tie-dye methods.

Spirls Pattern Take a large portion of the material at the middle, twist spirally, then bind with rubber bands in pie shape. Color each portion differently for that final spiral look.
Bullseye Pattern Pull all the material at the middle to build this long, tube-like shape. Use the rubber bands at different distances apart then color the portions of it differently for that bullseye look.
You can have stripes or pleats: You fold the fabric into the accordion pleats and tie with rubber bands. Now you get bold stripes by the application of dye in alternating colors along the pleats.

Step 5: Apply the Dye

Pour a squirt of dye directly from the squeeze bottles right onto the fabric. You can use a section in one color or mix two colors together for some really cool combinations. Allow the dye to stay on the fabric but don’t let too much hang around as it will bleed too much.
Pro Tip: If you want to have a pastel finish you can just add a little more water to the dye.

Step 6: Wrap and Let It Set

Fold it into plastic wrap once you have put it in, or just seal it in a ziplock. This is an important step because the wetting of the fabric and this makes the dye sit well with the threads, as stated above. For most optimal results, let it stay for 6-8 hours. If you are going to leave it overnight, then you can be assured of much larger effects.

Step 7: Washing and Rinsing the Material

Remove it from the dye after it has set, and gently under cold running water to remove as much excess dye as possible. Do this until the water runs clear. Then, wash the fabric in its washing machine with a bit of soap and on a gentle cycle.

DIY Tip: Let the fabric air dry. You should probably not let it go under heat too much because this is liable to make your dye ooze out a bit too early.

Step 8: Using Your Tie Dye Fabric into Home Decor

Now that you have your tie-dyed fabric ready, you can probably find the following home decors:

Pillow Covers: Sew your tie-dyed fabric into pillow covers for a splash of color in your living room on the go.
Table Runners: Hang a strip of tie-dyed fabric at the end of any table for a very boho-chic look.
Wall Hangings: Stretch a piece of tie-dyed fabric over a canvas or frame a large one for a huge piece of wall art.

Conclusion:

Tie-dye is the most fun, creative way to add some DIY, homemade decor to your home with 3-color dye kit. Amongst so many folding techniques and color combinations, you are sure to create something rather unique that speaks strongly of one’s style. Cushion covers, tablecloths, or even curtains have never looked so colorful and creative.

So, grab your dye kit, choose your colors, and start turning plain fabric into fabulous home decors today!