23 Tie Dye Ideas (things to tie dye that are not t-shirts)

What can you tie dye that is not a shirt? Here are a bunch of fun ideas for you

Here comes the warm weather, the pool parties, the mosquitos … what says Summer to you?? Do you love picnics and lightning bugs? Watermelon or fresh tomatoes from the Garden?

Well, I tell you one thing that speaks Summer to me … it’s is TIE DYE!! So, I have found for you some really cool and fun tie dye ideas to get you started.

Yes Tie Dye … the iconic colorful hippie t shirts from the 70’s. But, you don’t have to be a hippie or a teen to enjoy making and wearing a fun tie dye shirt.

On the contrary, tie dye shirts and other wearables are now main stream. These days you even see tie dye shirts and hats emblazoned with company logos.

What else can I tie dye?

While T-shirts are the classic choice for tie-dye, there are so many other fun and creative items you can transform with this vibrant technique.

When I started tie dyeing more than 25 years ago, we all dyed just the proverbial tees, right? And, high quality fabric dyes had to be special ordered from California.

We have come a long way since then, however. Nowadays you can go to your local big box store and buy dyes that are almost as good as the professional product.

So, for those of you ready to tackle something else, here is a list of fun alternatives to tie dye:

1. Socks: A pair of white cotton socks can turn into a delightful splash of color.
2. Pillowcases: Bring a psychedelic touch to your bedroom decor.
3. Scarves: Lightweight fabrics like silk or cotton make beautiful, flowy scarves.
4. Tote Bags: A plain canvas tote can become a stylish accessory.
5. Bandanas: Great for a retro look or a fun pet accessory.
6. Face Masks: Add some cheer to safety essentials.
7. Tablecloths: A tie-dyed tablecloth can be a showstopper for your dining table.
8. Curtains: Light fabrics can create a dreamy, colored light effect in a room.
9. Baby Onesies: Perfect for a unique baby gift.
10. Aprons: Ideal for adding some fun to cooking or crafting sessions.
11. Hand Towels: Jazz up your bathroom or kitchen.
12. Canvas Shoes: White canvas shoes can be transformed into wearable art.
13. Bed Sheets: For a bold bedroom statement.
14. Leggings: Create your own unique workout gear.
15. Long Johns: These are super fun to dye and wear under your jeans.
16. Skirts: A simple skirt can become a stunning piece.

That list is only the beginning. Honestly, any and all clothing items that are made of cotton or other cellulose fibers can tie dyed. Just make sure to match the dye to the fabric.

Meaning, if your fabric is made of cotton, you need to use dyes specifically for cotton. Most tie dye kits are designed to work on cotton.

As a general rule, synthetic fibers don’t dye very well. However, RIT now has a dye which is supposed to work well on synthetics. Personally, I have not tried it so if you have, please let me know how it works.

What colors go well together for dyeing?

I get this question a lot! Remember when you learned about the color wheel back in high school art class? Those lessons still apply to color combinations.

If you are just starting out with mixing colors and are not sure where to start, here are some general rules. But by all means, experiment! You can always test some combinations with watercolors and paper.

Also, if you purchased a tie dye kit, there should be an instruction sheet to give you some ideas.

You can’t go too far wrong with these basics:
Mixing two primary colors (i.e. Blue and Red = Purple)
Colors of the same family generally work well (i.e. Various shades of blues)

To learn more about using a color wheel, check out article.

23 fun things to tie dye:

2. Dyed Baby Bodysuits

by Tip Toe Fairy
Dyed Baby Onesies make great DIY Gifts for Baby Showers

3. Patriotic Dip Dye Baby Onesies

by Tip Toe Fairy
How about a dyed Red, White & Blue Onesie?

Want to throw a Tie Dye Party? See our Tips and Tricks!

4. Dyeing with Turmeric

by Pink Fortitude
Natural Dyes also work great for Tie Dye Projects

5. How to Tie Dye a Heart Shape

by FiberArtsy
This tie dye technique works for any shape!

6. Sunburst Tie Dye Baby Mat

by Swoodson Says
Here’s a fun tie dyed baby blanket tutorial

7. Fun Dyed Dish Towels

by Organized 31
These rainbow dyed towels will brighten up your kitchen!

8. Minions Tie Dye T Shirt

by Diana Rambles
Why not make a Tie Dyed Minions Shirt?

9. Easy Tie Dyed Long Johns

by FiberArtsy
This tie dye tutorial shows you how to make the accordion fold

10. Indigo Tie Dye Blanket

by Swoodson Says
I love the geometric pattern on this Indigo dyed blanket

11. Americana Dyed Towels

by Amy Latta Creations
These dyed towels are perfect for your Summer BBQ

12. Bomb Pop Tie Dyed Shirts

by The Shirley Journey
Your Kids will love making these fun Bomb Pop Shirts

13. Indigo Dyed Curtains

by Swoodson Says
I’m in love with these Shibori Dyed Curtains!

14. Tie Dyed Friendship Bracelets

by California Unpublished
These dyed bracelets are a great idea for a tie dye party.

15. Easy Tie Dye Socks

by Diana Rambles
Who doesn’t love a pair of fun, colorful socks?

16. Shibori Dyed Tea Towels

by FiberArtsy
I make a bunch of these dyed tea towels for Christmas Gifts each year.

17. Salt Resist Tie Dye

by For The Love Of Food
This tutorial shows you how to ‘Resist Dye’ with Salt

18. Upcycled Tie Dye Garden Flag

by Happiness Is Homemade
Turn an old Tee into a Tie Dyed Garden Flag

19. Watercolor Dyed Shorts

by The Makeup Dummy
Give your plain shorts a makeover with this watercolor tie dye technique.

20. Reverse Tie Dye with Bleach

by FiberArtsy
Instead of adding color or dye, this technique takes it away

21. Snow Dye Tie Dye

by FiberArtsy
Learn how to use snow or ice and traditional tie dye patterns to create awesome patterns.

MOCK TIE DYE LINKS

To continue your tie dyeing education, here are some fun fake or mock tie dye ideas. These projects are technically not what you would call “tie dye”. Instead, they create the look without using the actual process of tie dye.

22. Homemade Tie Dye Soap

by One Crazy Mom
Here’s a fun craft project for kids

23. Sharpie Tie Dye Shirts

by Natural Beach Living
A less messy way to make your Tie Dye Shirts with Sharpies

24. Mock Tie Dye Shoes

by Organized 31
Sharpies also work great to make colorful dyed shoes

A huge Thank You to the wonderful ladies for allowing me share their creative tie dye ideas and projects! If you have a favorite tie dye project or method to share, please let me know! I would love to see it 🙂

Enjoy!
Annette
FiberArtsy

How do you reverse dye a shirt?

Reverse tie dyeing has become pretty popular lately, hasn’t it? Well, in case you are not familiar with this dyeing technique, it involves removing color instead of adding color. This is usually done with chlorine bleach.

This step by step tutorial shows you exactly how to reverse tie dye using a liquid bleach and water solution.

Tie Die, Tye Die or Tie Dye?

If you’ve ever searched for tie dye ideas or instructions online, you’ll notice it’s spelled many different ways. It can get confusing, right? I see it spelled Tye Dye or Tye Die and Tie Die. Well, being in the dyeing business lol, I did my research. The correct way to spell it is TIE DYE.

Related Fabric Dyeing Posts

How to Paint Tiger Stripes on a T Shirt
Decorating Fabric with a Bleach Pen
How to Marble Dye a Silk Scarf
Dyeing Fabric with Acorns
Shibori Dyeing Silk

23 Tie Dye Ideas (things to tie dye that are not t-shirts)