Heart Tie Dye Technique
Follow the written instructions below to create a tie-dye heart design on fabric. The heart tie-dye technique from I Love to Create is fun to do and makes a wonderful shirt gift.
Before beginning a tie-dye project, read the instructions for the Tulip One-Step Fashion Dye or Tulip Permanent Fabric Dye. Refer back to them for standard steps.
After you master these heart tie-dye instructions, be sure to try you hand at making the Crowning Heart T-Shirt.
Fold Shirt:
Prewash shirt to remove sizing. Do not use fabric softener or dryer sheets. Cover work surface with a plastic tablecloth.
Lay shirt onto prepared surface. Fold shirt in half lengthwise.
Draw heart design:
Draw half of a heart on fold, using pencil.
Gather:
Accordion fold fabric along heart outline, forcing it into a straight line.
Secure with rubber band:
Secure with rubber band along area of gathers.
Apply second rubber band:
Apply a second rubber band about an inch away from the first band (towards the body of the shirt). This is an optional step but allows for an additional color to be applied in the middle banded area.
Apply Dye:
Wearing rubber gloves, add water to dye bottles. Replace caps tightly. Shake until dye is dissolved. Use full-strength for intense colors. For a lighter shade of color, add more water using extra bottle if needed.
Squeeze Purple Dye onto center of heart. Squeeze a line of Red Dye around Purple Dye (between rubber bands). Squeeze Fuchsia Dye onto rest of shirt.
Cover fabric with plastic tablecloth. Let set 4 to 6 hours. Remove rubber bands. Fill washer to large load setting with hottest water suitable for fabric and a small amount of non-bleach laundry detergent. Wash and dry separately.
More Tie Dye Techniques
Do you LOVE tie dye as much as we do? Check out these other awesome tie dye techniques:
Did You Know?
Cool tie dye patterns such as this one may be new and trendy, but tie dye is actually an ancient technique that dates back five thousand years. Although the fabric has long been lost or disintegrated, archeologists have learned that stamps and dyes were used to decorate clothing in India and Mesopotamia. In China, they learned how to fold and manipulate fabric to create designs on fabric, and the only people that could wear them were religious leaders and the wealthy.
The tie dye we know and love (like the one above) was popularized in the 1950s and both natural and artificial dyes were used. During the Vietnam War, people craved freedom and peace and started dyeing everything from t-shirts and pants to tapestries and curtains. They craved an outlet for artistic expression during the war. It sparked as much joy for them as it does for us today!
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clewis36 7388422
May 27, 2016
Wow, I would immediately make one of these for each of my grandchildren who live in Germany right now. Love them! #FaveCraftTieDye
cmaddox6688 222303 9
May 24, 2016
So Beautiful! Im gonna have so mich fun tie dying im gonna try doing it to everything in my house! Lol FavecraftsTieDye
ginny4theredsox
May 24, 2016
FaveCraftsTieDye Great color. Great idea for a heart shirt. I will do this with pink and red mixed.
christinacellis 83 99930
May 23, 2016
I would want to do this one for a Valentines themed party. My favorite pajama shirt has a tie dye hear design and now I know how it was done. Thanks! FaveCraftsTieDye
Mistress of All Ev il
May 20, 2016
This is just way too cute. I have to try it. Thanks! FaveCraftsTieDye
BetsyB993
Mar 11, 2016
To help you in lining up your pencil lines, I found it helped to turn the fabric/shirt, and you were gathering it. This gave you a better angle for alining the marks. Also when doing the design on a t-shirt, make sure you draw the heart on the front, otherwise your better looking heart will come out on the back.(Experience is the best teacher!)
No1sFool1127
Jan 27, 2016
We know that the finished product will be displayed in the video. But does the site creator stop to realize that not everyone looking up this tutorial can view the video? If I could SEE the video, I wouldn't be asking to see a picture of the finished shirt.
Kaylee
Jan 27, 2016
Hi No1sFool1127! You can see an example of a finished product for this technique here: http://www.favecrafts.com/Shirts/I-Heart-Tie-Dye-Tee-from-ILoveToCreate Hope that helps! - Kaylee, Editor of FaveCrafts
diannekoehler51 40 49817
Apr 19, 2013
video has overly loud music but NO instructions. printed instruction are OK. need to work on better presentations.
Patty Biehler
Jan 11, 2011
It's in the video . lol If ya watch the Video it shows the same steps but better and shows the ending results.
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