Couples Rainbow Tie-Dye

Couples Rainbow Tie-Dye

We’re here to help celebrate your true colors with our vibrant dyes. Whether you’re part of the LGBTQIA+ community or a dedicated ally, here’s a colorful way to show your support.

Supplies
  • T-shirt (Cotton,linen, silk, wool, ramie, and blends less than 35% syntheticmaterial)
  • Rit All-Purpose Liquid Dye in Golden Yellow, Scarlet and Teal
  • Rit ColorStay Dye Fixative
  • Rit Tie-Dye Accessory Kit
  • Measuring Cup and Spoon
  • Baking Rack and Tray
  • Paper Towels
  • Gallon ZipLoc Bag
  • Dish Detergent
  • Salt
  • Plastic Table Cover

Time: 1 Hour

Difficulty: Beginner

Instructions:
Prewash shirt in warm, soapy water. This helps to remove any finishes that may interfere with dye absorption.
Lay fabric out on a flat surface.
Carefully pleat and fold sweatshirt back and forth on a diagonal. Continue until entire sweatshirt is pleated and secure with rubber bands.
Wearing rubber gloves, mix 2 tablespoons of well-shaken liquid dye with two cups of hot tap water. Add 1 tablespoon of salt. Pour into a squirt bottle. Shake well.
Repeat the same process laid out in step 4 to create Golden Yellow, Scarlet andTeal squeeze bottles.
Place top of shirt in a gallon Ziploc bag and secure with rubber bands. Repeat with the bottom of shirt so that only the middle of the shirt is exposed.
Place bound and covered shirt on a baking rack with a tray under it. This keeps the dye from puddling under the fabric
Squeeze dye onto exposed bound fabric in sections starting with Golden Yellow, then Scarlet, and then finally Teal. Overlap the colors slightly to create the rainbow.
To set the dye, do the following while the fabric is still tied up:
  • Apply Rit ColorStay Dye Fixative with a squeeze bottle, which will enhance the colors and reduce bleeding. Mix 2 tablespoons of well-shakenColorStay Dye Fixative with water and apply liberally to both sidesof the fabric.
  • We strongly recommend using your microwave, as long as the fabric doesnot have any metal parts on it. After applyingColorStay Dye Fixative, wrapthe fabric in plastic wrap and seal the edges or place it into our microwave tray. Place the wrapped fabric on a paper towel in the microwave and heat for 2 minutes. Plastic will puff up, creating a heat chamber that helps bond the dye with the fabric. Once the microwave is done, remove the fabricand open the plastic, letting it cool down.
  • If a microwave is not available or feasible to use and it is a hot sunny day, lay the wrapped fabric out in the sun for an hour.
Rinse in cold water until rinse water begins to run clear. This is very important to prevent unabsorbed dye from bleeding into any white areas. If possible, rinse with the fabric bundle sitting flat on the baking rack. If it is held vertically, some of the unabsorbed dye could run into white areas as it is rinsed off.
Carefully remove rubber bands and Ziploc bag with scissors and unfold the shirt.
Wash in cold waterwith a mild detergent, rinse and dry.

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