Name: Shannon

Country or region: USA

Message: I am trying to tie dye a shirt. How can I use 3 different colors and make it come out right?

The key is to buy the right type of dye. Don't even try to do this with any sort of all-purpose dye, such as Rit dye, because the colors will run and blend together when you wash the shirt. The right kind of dye is called fiber reactive dye or Procion MX dye.

If you use the right kind of dye, along with soda ash or washing soda as a dye fixative, the dye will react with the fiber in your shirt and bond permanently. After allowing at least overnight for the dye reaction to take place, in a warm place (70°F or warmer), you can remove any excess unattached dye by washing in very hot water, leaving your colors distinct, clear, and bright.

You must also choose a good shirt for dyeing. It should not contain any polyester, and it should not be stain resistant. It's easy to find 100% cotton or rayon shirts for dyeing. Just be sure to check the label for fiber content, and to make sure there is no stain-resistant or water-resistant coating.

Good tie-dyeing kits are usually pretty easy to find. Avoid the Rit tie-dyeing kits, since they contain the wrong type of dye for tie-dyeing. Brands of tie-dyeing kits other than Rit are pretty reliable, but don't confuse them with fabric paints, which are not as good as dyes. Many crafts stores sell Jacquard Products' kits, including a large kit or a smaller "Funky Groovy" tie dyeing kit. These kits are the best. Tie-dyeing kits made by Rainbow Rock, Tulip, or Dylon are usually very good. Tie-dyeing kits normally contain three colors, yellow,  turquoise, and magenta, because these are the brightest colors and they can be mixed to make any other color. Some tie-dyeing kits contain a different selection of colors, which work well, too, for a slightly different effect.

Serious tie-dyers usually mail-order their dyes from a good dye supplier, such as PRO Chemical & Dye or Dharma Trading Company. The prices are better, and the selection of different dye colors is much larger. For contact information and many more company names, see my page of Sources for Dyeing Supplies Around the World. These companies also sell their own tie-dyeing kits, which are very similar to the Jacquard kit. All of these are good choices. You will probably want to buy a kit for your first attempts at dyeing.

If you are using the right kind of dye, all you have to do is soak the shirt in water with soda ash or washing soda dissolved in it (unless you have one of the kits in which the soda ash is already mixed with the dye powder), then squirt the dye onto the shirt using the plastic bottles that were included in your kit. You can tie the shirt first to make different designs, or just drip the different colors on in different places. Cover the shirts with plastic wrap to keep them moist overnight, then, the next day, wash them first in cool water, and then at least twice in very hot water, preferably 140°F or above. That's all there is to it.

If you've ever tried to tie-dye using all-purpose dyes, you will be amazed at how much better the results are when you use fiber reactive Procion MX dyes. The dyeing itself is easier, since no heating is necessary; the colors are much prettier and brighter; and the dyes stay bright on your shirt for years longer.

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