Tie Dye Shirts – How-To and Patterns

Home » Blog » DIYs and Craft Projects » Tie Dye Shirts – How-To and Patterns

Daniela Kretchmer
Updated: Mar 17, 2025
Clothing, Dyeing, Rainbow, Tie Dye

Learn everything you need to know about making tie dye shirts. Learn different tie dye shirt patterns so you can impress family and friends with your custom tie dye shirts!

If you want to get started with tie dye, chances are you’ll want to make some tie dye shirts. They’ve become the go-to when it comes to tie dyeing. I mean, let’s be honest, when you think of tie dye, you’re probably picturing a tie dye shirt.

Tie dye shirts are a fantastic craft project for both kids and adults. Kits are readily available or you can start collecting your own dyes. The best part is there’s really no way to “mess up” and there are tons of tie dye shirt patterns and designs you can make. I use an easy crumple tie dye method to show you the step by step process, but I’ve also included how to make an easy rainbow bullseye tie dye pattern.

You can also make a tie dye sweatshirt, tie dye socks, tie dye shorts, and even tie dye Crocs or tie dye shoes to match. And here’s how to make a tie dye crop top.

Be sure to check out this guide on the best tie dye kits.

Note: Some links in this post may contain affiliate links, which means at no cost to you, I may earn a commission.

What's the Best Type of Shirt to Tie-Dye?

The material is the most important thing when it comes to making tie dye shirts. Ideally you want 100% cotton, but definitely at least 60%. Less than that and your colors won’t be as vibrant, but the pastel tie dye look is also something you might be going for.

Tip: Polyester is the enemy of tie dye. Traditional tie dye kits that you’ll find can’t be used on polyester so try to avoid it if you can.

You can also tie dye colored shirts, but the lighter the better. And keep in mind that the dye colors may not show up as expected on a colored shirt.

When getting shirts to dye, I like to get them in large packs since dye kits will dye multiple shirts.

Gildan Women's Softstyle Cotton T-Shirt, Style G64000L, Multipack, White (2-Pack), Medium

Gildan Men's Crew T-Shirts, Multipack, Style G1100, White (6-Pack), Large

Fruit of the Loom Big Cotton T Shirt, Boys-7 Pack-White, Medium

Be sure to pin it so you can come back to it later!

Materials to Tie Dye Shirts

White Cotton Shirt (these are the ones I have)
Tie Dye Kit or Tie-Dye Dye and Soda Ash (I used the Jacquard Tie Dye Kit that has both soda ash and tie-dye dye, which you can get here for 20% off with code ABCRAFTY or on Amazon)
Rubber Bands (this the pack I have)
Plastic Wrap
Rubber Gloves (these are the ones I have)
Paper Towels

31%

Gildan Men's G2000 Ultra Cotton Adult T-shirt, White, Medium

$6.99

Jacquard Large Tie Dye Kit for Kids and Adults, Pre-Measured, Highly Concentrated Procion MX Dye Colors in Magenta, Turquoise, and Yellow, Soda Ash Dye Fixer Included, Dyes up to 15 Shirts

10%

BAZIC Assorted Dimensions 227g/0.5 lbs. Rubber Bands, Multi Color

$5.89

MED PRIDE Medical Vinyl Examination Gloves (Medium, 100-Count) Latex & Rubber Free, Ultra-Strong, Clear Disposable Powder-Free Gloves for Healthcare & Food Handling Use

Basic Instructions for How to Tie Dye Shirts

Prepare the Shirt for Dye

It’s best to first wash your shirt prior to even starting. This removes any chemicals, oils, or anything else that may prevent your shirt from accepting the dye. This is a do as I say, not as I do kind of thing as I am way too impatient to wash things before dyeing!

Once washed, you can either take it directly out of the washing machine. Or if you already washed it or are too lazy like me, soak your shirt in water.

Getting the shirt wet makes it easier to shape and tie.

Squeeze out the water and scrunch, fold, and/or twist the shirt however you would like.

In this example I used the classic and easy crumple method. There’s really no wrong way to do it!

Once you shape your shirt, wrap it with rubber bands, string, or zip ties.

You simply want to make sure it’s secure. But whatever you use will also affect how your tie dye shirts look. They act as “resists” because where they are placed resists the dye.

Prepare the Soda Ash Mixture and Shirts for Tie Dye

If you’re using a one-step tie dye kit, you don’t need to do this part so you can skip ahead to the next step. That being said, I still do recommend doing this step since the colors can be more vibrant.

However, if your kit has soda ash, now is the time to mix it with water until it’s completely dissolved. Mix 1 cup of soda ash for each gallon of water.

Then soak your tied up shirt in the soda ash mixture for at least 20 minutes.

Tip: It’s a good idea to squish the shirt and flip it over to make sure it gets all throughout.

(You’ll see I was soaking the shirt along with a sweatshirt and socks that I would also tie dye)

Prepare the Dye

You can follow the instructions in your kit, but typically you add warm water to the dye bottles. These bottles have powdered dye in them so you just need to fill them to the indicated line and shake them up! (This is the kit I used, which can get for 20% with code ABCRAFTY)

Tip: When shaking them, hold a paper towel over the top as I have yet to find a single dye bottle that doesn’t leak at least a little bit.

Tip #2: Wear gloves when mixing the dye!

Dye the Shirt

Once your dyes are ready, remove your shirt from the soda ash mixture (if you used it). Then place it onto some plastic wrap.

Put on some gloves (your kit will likely come with some, but I like to use my own since I have tiny hands).

Start with the lightest color and apply the dye where you want it. Be sure to flip it over and get the opposite side as well.

Then move on to the next color.

Tip: When adding dye, be sure to get between the folds. This way you have enough dye.

Tip #2: Squish the dye into the shirt to help spread it. This also helps colors mix together and blend.

Tip #3: Wipe up the plastic between colors so you don’t get colors where you don’t want them.

Finish off with your darkest color – in this case it was blue.

Once you’ve added dye how you like it, lift up the plastic wrap off the table and use it to wrap your shirt.

Leave it to set wrapped up for at least 6 hours. And even though I say 6, I actually recommend leaving it for at least 24 hours to get the most vibrant colors.

While it’s setting, make sure it doesn’t dry out. The moisture from being wrapped in the plastic helps the dye process.

Once the time is up, rinse the tie dye shirt.

I like to use cool water first to get out the main dye while it’s still wrapped up.

Then increase the water temperature and remove the rubber bands. If you don’t want to save the rubber bands, you can cut them off with scissors to make it easier.

Keep rinsing until the water runs clear.

Then throw it in the washing machine with all of your other tie dye shirts. You want to wash it first without your normal clothes, just in case there’s still some extra dye left.

Lastly, toss it in the dryer and your tie dye shirt is ready to wear!

You can even add a design or words on top of it using the sublimation technique!

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More Tie Dye Shirt Patterns and Designs

You can make any type of pattern on your tie dye shirts, but here are a few of my favorite tie dye shirt patterns. You can also see my full collection of tie dye designs and patterns that includes all clothing types.

Click on the names or images to jump to the instructions for each pattern.

Rainbow Bullseye Tie Dye Shirt

Striped Tie Dye Shirt

Pumpkin Tie Dye Shirt

Ice Tie Dye Shirt

Corner Bullseye Tie Dye Shirt

Circle Burst Tie Dye Shirt

Bat Tie Dye Shirt

Star Tie Dye Shirt

Rainbow Bullseye Tie Dye Shirt Pattern

Pinch the middle of the shirt and lift up, gathering the rest of the shirt.

Wrap a rubber bands around the shirt about and inch or two apart.

Each rubber band will be a white ring in the final tie dye shirt so the more rubber bands you have, the more white and rings your shirt will have.

Add red to every third section. And yes, I broke the “lightest color first” rule, but I wanted to start at the top of the rainbow.

I didn’t plan ahead for mine so I had one extra section that I also dyed red.

Then add yellow to the section to the right of the red. Then blue next to yellow.

Wrap it up in the plastic wrap and roll it to help blend the colors.

And voila! You have tie dye rainbow bullseye shirt!

Corner Bullseye Tie Dye Shirt Pattern

This tie dye shirt pattern is similar to the rainbow bullseye. However, instead of pinching the shirt in the middle, pinch it in the corner.

You also can make a tie dye shirt in a single color or multiple shades of the same color, like in this all blue tie dye shirt.

Striped Tie Dye Shirt Pattern

Accordion fold the shirt. Then add rubber bands every 1-2 inches, evenly spaced apart.

Alternate the colors of dye to get different colored stripes.

Circle Burst Tie Dye Shirt Pattern

I absolutely love this unique tie dye shirt pattern! To make it, start by folding the shirt in an accordion fold.

Next, pinch and lift the top corner and add a rubber band. Then move a few inches down across the top and repeat. Continue across the top. Then repeat along the bottom edge, but place the rubber bands between the rubber bands on the top.

You can use the guide below as an example.

Pumpkin Tie Dye Shirt

Click here to see the full step by step instructions to make this pumpkin shirt.

But the short version, is you want to fold the shirt in half and draw half of a pumpkin using washable markers.

Sew a running stitch along the lines. Pull the threads and tie them off.

Crumple the rest of the shirt and tie to secure it.

Add orange dye to the pumpkin section and green dye to the stem. Then the rest is black.

And you’ll get a beautiful pumpkin tie dye shirt, perfect for fall and Halloween!

Bat Tie Dye Shirt

Click here to see the full instructions to make a bat tie dye shirt design.

But similar to the pumpkin shirt, fold the shirt in half and draw a bat design.

Then sew along the design and pull on the threads to create the small folds.

Cover it completely in black dye.

Then you have your tie dye bat shirt!

Ice Tie Dye Shirt

Click here to see the full instructions to ice tie dye.

To ice dye, you want to crumple the shirt and elevate it in a dish or pan. Then cover it with ice.

Instead of preparing the dye like normal, leave it in the powder form and sprinkle the dye over the ice.

As the ice melts, it creates this beautiful watercolor and marble effect.

Star Tie Dye Shirt

Click here to see the full instructions to make this fun star tie dye design.

Similar to the other shape designs, fold the shirt in half and draw half of a star with a washable marker. You can use the free downloadable star template to make it easy.

Then you’re going to fold the star from the centre of the fold so that the top corner lines up with the center of the next corner.

Fold it back on itself so that you’re not rolling the shirt up, but instead making accordion folds. Then line up the points again, continuing until the shirt is folded and all of the marker lines line up.

Fold along this line and secure it with a zip tie or rubber band. Then add more zip ties to the rest of the shirt.

The first section will be the main center star so start with that section and add dye. Then add dye to the rest of the sections in whichever order you would like.

Then you’ll have your star tie dye shirt!

Dyeing Colored Shirts

Yes, you can dye already dyed shirts!

If it’s light colored, you can simply add dye on top and treat it like a white shirt.

If the shirt is dark, then you want to use the bleach tie dye method. Instead of adding dye, you use a bleach solution to remove dye from the shirt. This leaves a fun color underneath (typically a shade of orange or red) and you get a fun reverse tie dye effect.

How to Wash Tie Dye Shirts

After dyeing, rinse the tie dye shirts in warm water until they run clear. Then simply toss them in the washing machine with other tie dye clothing. This way if they still have some dye, it won’t stain your other clothes.

Once they’re washed once, they’re completely fine to wash with your regular clothing.

More Tie Dye Projects

And be sure to find the right tie dye kit for your projects with this guide of the best tie dye kits.

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Tie Dye Shirts

Learn everything you need to know about making tie dye shirts.

Yield 1 Tie Dye Shirt

Print Pin

Project Time 20

Setting Time 1

Total Time 1 20

Materials

White Cotton Shirt
Tie Dye Kit or Tie-Dye Dye and Soda Ash
Water
Rubber Bands
Plastic Wrap
Rubber Gloves
Paper Towels

Equipment

Bucket or Plastic Bin