Crumple Tie Dye Technique: Sweatshirt Edition

Crumple Tie Dye is super popular right now. Lucky for you, it’s also super easy!

After I shortened this too-long (for me!) sweatshirt, I looked at it in the mirror and thought…

Meh.

There was nothing wrong with it, per se, but it’s not very fun, now is it?

I decided not to settle for a bland and boring sweatshirt…and nor should you!

Here’s how to Tie Dye using the Crumple Technique!

What Fabric should I use?

I chose a 60% cotton/40% polyester sweatshirt for this project.

You’ll want to make sure whatever fabric you use is at least 60% cotton. The higher the cotton ratio, the more dramatic your end result will be.

Since I wanted a slightly faded look (very trendy right now), I was okay with my 60/40 split.

Make sure you wash your shirt before you start this project, even it’s new! New clothing can sometimes have a slight residue that will keep it from dying well.

Keep your shirt damp for this project! If you dry it after washing it, just dampen it again.

What Dye should I use?

I prefer Rit dye for tie dye projects. Tulip also makes dye specifically for tie dying (and even kits), but I prefer Rit for the following reasons:

1. It’s cheaper (because you only use a little for this project and end up with tons left over for other projects).
2. It has a much shorter cure time (2 minutes vs. overnight-24 hours)

Time to gather your supplies!

Here’s what you’ll need to create your own Tie Dye masterpiece!

• Bottled Rit Dye
  I chose Coral and Teal (my favorite colors), but you can go with however many (or few!) colors you want.
• One Bottle of Rit Colorstay Dye Fixative
  This will help keep your colors from bleeding into each other.
• Squeeze Bottles
  You’ll need one for each color, and another one for your dye fixative.
• Rubber Gloves
  This project can get a little messy!
• Rubber Bands
  They put the “tie” in “tie-dye”!

Once you’ve gathered your supplies, it’s…

Time to crumple your shirt (or whatever else you’re dying)!

This seems pretty self-explanatory, but you just want to crumple your shirt with your hands (as opposed to say…your mouth or knees).

When you’re done, it’ll look something like this:

Bundle your crumpled shirt with rubber bands.

Just wrap the bands around your crumpled fabric enough to to hold it together.

Mix your dye.

The recipe for this is 2 tablespoons of dye + 2 cups of hot water (from the tap is fine).

Shake your bottles well when you’re done, and they should look something like this:

Put a baker’s rack in your sink or in a plastic tub.

I have a MASSIVE kitchen sink, so that’s what I’m using.

The baker’s rack will help keep the dye from pooling on the bottom of your shirt.

Add the dye!

Time for the fun part!

Start squirting dye in whatever size splotches/locations you wish.

This is an exercise in restraint, my friends. You’ll want to make sure to leave some white spaces between the dyed parts for contrast. It’s harder than it sounds.

Once you’re done with one color, go on to the next one!

Once you’re done with that side, flip it over and dye the other side!

Let your shirt sit for 30 minutes.

You can use this time to eat a snack, contemplate the mysteries of the universe, or fantasize about how awesome your new shirt is going to look!

Mix your Color Fixative.

Just like with the dye, you’ll be mixing 2 tablespoons of fixative with 2 cups of hot water.

Cover both sides of your shirt with the fixative.

Now for the part where some of you are going to think I’m nutty.

Wrap your shirt in plastic wrap.

I’m serious, you guys.

Do it.

Make sure to wrap it really well so it doesn’t leak.

Line the bottom of your microwave with paper towels.

Put your plastic-wrapped shirt inside and microwave for two minutes.

This is to heat cure the dye! Because no one should have to wait 8+ hours to wear their sweet newly tie dyed sweatshirt.

Unwrap your shirt and remove the rubber bands.

Let your shirt cool for a minute or two. Then unwrap it from its plastic cocoon and remove the rubber bands.

Rinse it out!

Rinse out the excess dye with cold water.

Wash it!

To make sure the colors in your shirt don’t bleed, wash it in cold water with an old towel in your washing machine.

Wear it!

After your shirt is washed and dried, it’s ready to be released out into the world!

I LOVE how this turned out, and think it’s a BIG improvement from that plain white sweatshirt!

Here’s what it looks like from the back!

As it has been frrrrrreezing everywhere as of late, including South Carolina, I styled my new tie dyed sweatshirt with my camel coat (a consignment store find!).

Of course, I had to brave the cold to take a few pics sans coat as well!

I’m glad I went with the two-color approach, as I really like how the coral and teal work together.

This is such an easy DIY project that doesn’t require any artistic skill but is still fun and creative (and kid-friendly)!

Have you tried this technique in the past? I’d love to know how it went! And if you haven’t, I hope you’ll give it a try soon!

Cheers!