Can you use anything at home to tie dye t shirts?

Question

like food coloring, grape juice, sunkist, etc.? or will it just wash out?

Answer 1

If you're looking for vibrant colors, use commercial dyes. The things you mention will work, for a while, but they'll be kind of pale/pastel, maybe muddy/sad/dull, and will fade, especially if machine washed. But hey, if you want to experiment a bit, that shouldn't stop you - you'll have fun anyway and you might find a look you like, maybe not someone else's look. And if it really tanks and fades out too much, you can always try re-dying with commercial dyes once the "natural" stuff has faded some.

Try looking into mordants on the web or at the library to see if you can find something readily available that will help set your natural colors or alter their normal tone.

Answer 2

Vinegar helps to set colors in fabric. Use 1/2 cup to one gallon water and soak the T-shirt after you have dyed it and it has dried. Let dry again, than wash out the bad smell of vinegar.

Boiled onion skins work to die yarn, I don't see why it wouldn't work for fabric. Many types of vegetable skins can also be used. Beet juice stains well.

If the T-shirt has any other fiber than cotton (like a blend of 50/50), it will not take the colors as well as 100% cotton.

Your best bet is to cut up an old shirt (the same type fabric as the one you want to dye), and just experiment.

Answer 3

You can use the above, but it's not going to be the same as the commerical dyes.

For an antique look, use strong tea, Beet juice will work, too. The color may fade with washing.

Rit is cheap and available at any store. There may even be directions inside or on their website.

There is a way to set to set dyes using salt. Again check with Rit.

Answer 4

Any type of dye, other than one formulated for fabrics will not give you satisfy results. Kool Aid has been used and various dyes made out of vegetable skins will tie, but very light colors will result. A tie dye kit is the way to go. It contains all you need and instructions how to do it.

Answer 5

a good number of cases in case you purchase a white shirt and circulate to a walmart or craft shop you need to purchase the tye dye components, it is going to comprise crimson yellow and blue dyes and all you're able to desire to do is fold the shirt placed the rubber bands around the shirt dye it then wash, and dry and you need to have a private tye dye shirt.

Answer 6

You can get a kit at hobby lobby maybe even walmart to do it then all you need is water and a white t-shirt