• White T-Shirt (cotton, linen, silk, wool, ramie, and blends less than 35% synthetic material)
• Rit All-Purpose Liquid Dye in Fuchsia and Cherry Red
• Rubber Bands
• Washable Fabric Marker
• Rit ColorStay Dye Fixative
• Squeeze Bottles
• Measuring Cup and Spoon
• Wire Rack and Tray
• Paper Towels
• Dish Detergent
• Salt
• Plastic Table Cover

Time: 1 hour

Difficulty: Intermediate

Instructions: 

1. Prewash shirt in warm, soapy water. This helps to remove any finishes that may interfere with dye absorption.
2. Fold shirt in half lengthwise and lay on a flat surface.
3. Draw half a heart at the centerfold of the shirt.
4. Carefully pleat along the drawn line end to end.
5. Place rubber bands to secure the pleats down the length of the shirt. Set aside
6. 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 to create multiple colors as desired.
7. Place bound shirt on a wire rack with a tray under it. This keeps the dye from puddling under the shirt.
8. Squeeze dye onto shirt in sections created by rubber bands. Flip over and repeat.
9. To set the dye, do the following while the shirt is still tied up:
   1. Apply Rit ColorStay Dye Fixative with a squeeze bottle, which will enhance the colors and reduce bleeding. Mix 2 tablespoons of well-shaken ColorStay Dye Fixative with water and apply liberally to both sides of the fabric.
   2. We strongly recommend using your microwave, as long as the fabric does not have any metal parts on it. After applying ColorStay Dye Fixative, wrap the 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 fabric and open the plastic, letting it cool down.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. Carefully remove rubber bands with scissors and unfold the tote.
13. Wash in cold water with a mild detergent, rinse and dry.