Tie-Dyeing made easier
Dylon Tie-Dye Kit
What you will need
The Dylon Educational Tie-Dye Kit is designed to make multicolour tie-dyeing a quick and easy
process. The three primary dye colours in the kit produce a wide range of colours, no two designs
and colour combinations are ever exactly the same.
12 rubber glove and elastic band sets, plus an ideas leaflet with full instructions are included in
the kit, with 4 bottles of dye of each colour (Red, Blue and Yellow). The contents of the kit will
dye approximately 20 T-shirts, depending on their size and the technique used.
Dylon Educational Tie-Dye Kit
Pre-washed T-shirt or fabric
Tray or bowl
Airtight plastic bag
Dyeing method
Vibrant effects achieved with Dylon Tie-Dye Kit
Effects that can be achieved using the Dylon Tie-Dye Kit include stripes, circles, swirls and
heartburst. Experiment by using these techniques with different colour combinations.
Swirl Effect
●
●
●
Place fabric on a flat surface.
Pinch up the centre and twist
into a spiral.
Secure the shape with
2 rubber bands to form
4 sections.
Striped Effect
●
●
●
Place fabric on a flat surface.
Starting with a wide edge,
pleat the fabric in opposite
directions in 5-7cm deep
folds forming a concertina
effect.
Bind tightly at regular
intervals along the length of
the folded strip with string or
rubber bands.
Heart Effect
●
●
●
●
●
Place fabric on a flat surface.
Fold your fabric in half
lengthwise. Draw half of a
large heart shape with a soft
pencil in the centre of the
design area.
Carefully finger pleat in
small folds following the
drawn pencil line exactly.
Hold in place and tie up
tightly with one or more
bands on the gathering line.
Repeat gathering and tying
to achieve more white lines.
1.Using a jug, add warm water to the mark indicated on each bottle, replace the caps securely
and shake well until all the dye powder is completely dissolved. Once the dye solution has
been made it should be used within the hour.
2.Place your prepared tied fabric or garments onto a tray (to prevent excess dye from spilling
over work surface or floor) and wearing rubber gloves, unscrew the nozzle tip from each dye
bottle. Squeeze each colour onto different areas of the fabric, opening up the folds of the
fabric and squeezing dye into them.
3.Place the finished articles into individual plastic bags,
seal them and leave for at least 4 hours, preferably
overnight.
4. Wearing rubber gloves, remove the ties then rinse
articles thoroughly in cold water.
5.Machine wash on a 30°C ‘delicates’ cycle or hand
wash in lukewarm water. Dry away from direct heat
or sunlight. Wash separately for the first few washes
after this process to ensure that any excess dye is
removed.
Colour mixing rules
Suitable fabrics are cotton, linen or viscose. Polyester/cotton mixes can also be used but the
resulting colours will be paler, as polyester does not pick up dye. Do not try to dye any other
types of fabric. Best results are obtained on white fabric. The original colour of the fabric will
affect the final result. For example if you dye yellow fabric with red dye it will come out orange,
blue will give green, etc.
Yellow Fabric + Blue Dye = Green Fabric
TIE-DYEING MADE EASIER
Red Fabric + Blue Dye = Purple Fabric
Yellow Fabric + Red Dye = Orange Fabric
Blue Fabric + Yellow Dye = Green Fabric
Secondary Education Factsheets by Dylon International Ltd. For more information and ideas visit www.dylon.co.uk
Teachers’ Notes and Classroom Assignments
Make a set of tie-dye samples
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
Cut fabric into squares approximately 30cm x 30cm.
Number each piece in a corner with a Black Dylon Fabric Pen, iron
to make the number permanent.
Wash the fabric squares, rinse and leave damp ready for tying.
Try thinking up some tying techniques of your own, maybe knotting
or stitching the fabric, or using pens, paper clips or bulldog clips in
addition to, or instead of, elastic bands. See how many different
effects you can achieve. You could use the ideas in the instruction
leaflet from the educational Tie-Dye Kit as a starting point.
Make a note of each technique you have used, including where the
different colours have been applied.
Try different weights and textures of fabric for your samples,
provided it is cotton, linen or viscose. You could use muslin, calico or
even velvet.
Keep back a small undyed piece of each type of fabric, to display
with the sample dyed pieces.
When each sample has been completed, iron and trim to a uniform size with pinking shears to
prevent fraying.
Stitch or bind the samples together on one edge to produce a swatch.
Write out a list, including the reference number for each sample, with detailed instructions of
how each effect was achieved.
Put a star against the one you think was the most successful.
Dyeing notes
When using the Dylon Educational Tie-Dye Kit prepare your fabric or garments (by pre-washing
and leaving damp then tying, using your chosen technique) BEFORE mixing the dye solutions.
Once the dye solution has been mixed it should be used within an hour.
If you are tie-dyeing fabric rather than T-shirts, you should be able to dye approximately
1.5 metres of 122cm wide fabric with every 3 bottles, depending on the thickness of the fabric
and the techniques chosen. Prepare plenty of fabric so that you use up the whole of the contents
of the bottles.
Always wash and rinse fabric or garments to be dyed, even if new, and remember it is important
to leave them damp. This allows the fabric to absorb the dyes well and achieve the best results.
TIE-DYEING MADE EASIER
Assignment 1
KEY STAGE 3 (1a, 1c, 2c, 4a)
An interior design television programme is planning a ‘make-over’
of a 7 year old child’s bedroom and requires a list of display items
that would be suitable for tie-dyeing.
What type of fabric are pillowcases and duvet covers usually
made from, and what results would you achieve if you were to
use the Tie Dye Kit on them?
They also want the child whose room it is to be involved in
making a tie-dye item and to be filmed doing so.
List items you consider to be suitable for the display.
Suggest an article for tie-dyeing and a technique you think would
be suitable for a child of seven.
Make 2 tie-dye cushion covers for the room display.
Assignment 2
KEY STAGE 3 (1a, 1c, 2a, 2c, 4a, 4b)
A primary school football team is going to play a match
during the annual sports day. They don’t want to spend a
lot of money on new kit, but would like to have brightly
coloured T-shirts to easily identify team members. One
team is already equipped with red shorts, and the other
team with blue.
Find out how much a cotton T-shirt would cost for an
average-sized child of nine. Decide which two tie-dyeing
techniques would be suitable, and which colour or
combination of colours you would use for each.
How many Tie Dye Kits would you need to make T-shirts for
both teams? Add the cost of the T-shirts to this, and write
out a detailed estimate of the total costs.
Tie-dye two sample T-shirts, one for each team, to present
with your written estimate at a parent/governor meeting.
Secondary Education Factsheets by Dylon International Ltd. For more information and ideas visit www.dylon.co.uk