What Do I Need to Know About Tie-Dyeing Bed Sheets?

Supplies

• Most people who are new to tie-dyeing start with regular fabric dye, usually found in the laundry detergent aisle of the supermarket. Special fabric-reactive dyes yield brighter colors, but beginners need not spend a lot of time and money searching for the perfect products while they are in practice mode. You also need white or light-colored bed sheets, a long-handled spoon for mixing, several squeeze bottles, dozens of plain rubber bands, water, vinegar, and several large containers dedicated solely to your craft. Don't forget to grab some rubber gloves also unless you want to dye your hands.

Technique

• The most important thing to know about tie-dyeing is that the twisting and the rubber bands prevent the dye from fully penetrating the fabric. So, artistic twisting, pleating and rubber band placement are key to the finished design. Lay the sheets out flat and then grab sections of the sheet, twist tightly and wrap the twist with a rubber band. Continue twisting and banding until the entire sheet is done. Dye is applied by either immersing the fabric in several dye baths or squirting the dye on the fabric from squirt bottles.

Workspace

• Give yourself plenty of room to work. Tie-dyeing outside on a lawn is ideal, but if you can't make that work, move the furniture out of the way and cover the floor with plastic sheeting covered with newspaper. Or, work on the largest table available, covering the floor beneath you to catch spills.

Tips for Successful Dyeing

• For best results, use 100-percent cotton sheets as polyester does not take the dye as well as cotton. Sheets that are at least 60-percent cotton can be successfully tie-dyed. If you are dyeing new sheets, wash them a few times to remove any fabric finish applied by the manufacturer. The water needs to be very hot to dissolve most fabric dyes. If your tap water isn't hot enough, boil some water in the microwave or on the stove. The longer the sheets stay in the dye, the deeper the color will be. Let the finished product air-dry before laundering to prevent excessive color run-off in the wash.