A very simple way to try this colourful technique using inks and trusty baby wipes.
While at art college I created samples of tie dye using wet muslin squares and inks. After spending a happy hour on Pinterest last night I found this great tutorial that uses baby wipes. Perfect for a child’s introduction to this vibrant art technique.
This is a fun and quick tie dyeing activity needing only a few things you’re likely to have in the house already.
What you’ll need:
Baby wipes (we used Huggies as they’re made of natural materials and are pretty strong)
Watercolour inks (though you could try using food colouring)
Elastic bands
Pegs
Lots of warm soapy water and a towel to wash colourful hands!
What to do:
The simplest tie dye design is the circle pattern, this is a good one to try first.
Take a wipe and pinch it in the middle, wrap an elastic band around near the tip then repeat with two or three more along the wipe.
Squirt different colour watercolour inks or food colouring in between the elastic bands. Let it sink in for a few minutes.
Remove the elastic bands and unfold the wipe.
Leave to dry flat.
We had a happy accident where we lay one tie dyed wipe on top of another while wet and it produced a lovely effect: colour bled into the white, un-dyed sections making different patterns.
Take a look at the photos and comments below for more pattern ideas. Experiment and play to see what effects you can create.
Baby wipes (we used Huggies, they’re nice and strong), rubber bands, pegs and watercolour inks.
Circle tie dye: Take hold of the wipe in the middle and wrap an elastic band around near the gathered end. Repeat along the bunched together wipe. Squirt watercolour inks onto the wipe. Take off the elastic bands and unfold.
Long fan fold tie dye: Fold the wipe up like a fan concertina fold. Place pegs along the folded wipe, apply inks, take off the pegs and unfold. Triangle tie dye: Fold the wipe as before in a concertina fan fold. Starting at the bottom, fold a corner up to form a triangle and continue up until the wipe is a fat triangle. Place a peg at the top corner. Add inks, remove the peg then unfold.
Square tie dye: Fold the wipe in a concertina fan shape then fold up in another concertina fold until it makes a square. Peg all four corners. Add one colour ink in the middle and a different colour in between the pegs. Un-peg and unfold.
Stripe tie dye: Scrunch the wipe into a long ‘sausage’ and put elastic bands around at intervals. Apply different coloured inks to create stripes, remove the elastic bands and unfold. Circles tie dye: Pinch the wipe and wrap around elastic bands in lots of places. Add ink, remove elastic bands, unfold.
Quite by accident we laid some tie dyed wipes on top of eachother while wet which created a beautiful effect with different colours filling the white parts left by the elastic bands and folds.
Baby wipes (we used Huggies, they’re nice and strong), rubber bands, pegs and watercolour inks.
Circle tie dye: Take hold of the wipe in the middle and wrap an elastic band around near the gathered end. Repeat along the bunched together wipe. Squirt watercolour inks onto the wipe. Take off the elastic bands and unfold.
Long fan fold tie dye: Fold the wipe up like a fan concertina fold. Place pegs along the folded wipe, apply inks, take off the pegs and unfold. Triangle tie dye: Fold the wipe as before in a concertina fan fold. Starting at the bottom, fold a corner up to form a triangle and continue up until the wipe is a fat triangle. Place a peg at the top corner. Add inks, remove the peg then unfold.
Square tie dye: Fold the wipe in a concertina fan shape then fold up in another concertina fold until it makes a square. Peg all four corners. Add one colour ink in the middle and a different colour in between the pegs. Un-peg and unfold.
Stripe tie dye: Scrunch the wipe into a long ‘sausage’ and put elastic bands around at intervals. Apply different coloured inks to create stripes, remove the elastic bands and unfold. Circles tie dye: Pinch the wipe and wrap around elastic bands in lots of places. Add ink, remove elastic bands, unfold.
Quite by accident we laid some tie dyed wipes on top of eachother while wet which created a beautiful effect with different colours filling the white parts left by the elastic bands and folds.
