Tie dye with food coloring is a creative way to dye clothes, ties and bandanas that usually don’t cause harm to the body. This is because you are able to add children to the process without the necessity of strict supervision. But more importantly, it might not always hold up well to clothing simply because it’s not permanent like all the other forms of dyeing. If you are using food coloring with a child, you must be very careful. You have to make sure that your child will not get allergic to certain chemicals used. Otherwise, you won’t be able to get the desired effect from the dye.
To begin, you must make sure that the clothes are properly cleaned – Wash them with the least 12 hours of water so that any chemicals that might cause irritation are removed. When tie dyeing a shirt, you have to make sure that the fabric is completely dry before you start applying the food color. When choosing the color, stick to lighter shades. Choose dark colors when mixing white and light color shades.
To begin, you have to gather some accessories – You will need to color mix, plastic cups and syringes for applying the coloring to the clothes or tie dyeing cups and containers. Make sure that the colors are appropriate to the event. White is generally seen as the best choice of coloring. It is widely used by people who are planning a party. For tie dyeing a shirt, use the primary colors – light blue, light green and dark blue.
Fill a clear plastic bag with tap water and mix the t-shirt and wash it in hot water – Let it dry. While still wet, pull the banded area at the front of the shirt towards the wearer and tie the elastic bands. This will create the first line on the shirt. As you move to the next stage, you have to repeat the same process – pulling the elastic bands and then tie the colorful lines according to the design and the style of your t-shirt.
For the colors to dry – place the t-shirt inside a rack inside the fridge for about three to four hours. When you are through with the shirt, wash it in hot water and hang it to dry. Once again, place the elastic bands and rubber bands at the back of the shirt. The tie-dye will dry according to the instructions printed at the back of the t-shirt.
In order to make a more advanced tie-dye experience – you can try out a squirt bottle filled with the food coloring that is available in your nearest shopping mall or drug stores. Use the squirt bottle and squirt some color on the t-shirt using your hands. Once the color dries, you can start rubbing the t-shirt with your fingers in any direction.
If you want to add a design or pattern to the shirt, then you should use your imagination. You can draw a smiley face, a heart, a flower or just about anything else.
