Plain tie-dye is so last summer, this year beat the heat with ice dying. This new spin on a DIY classic uses all the same supplies as traditional tie-dye PLUS ice. Melting ice distributes the powdered fabric dye in a different way than liquid dye. Your new wardrobe will be just as colorful and fun to make.
Before you Begin be sure to not only gather all your supplies, but pre-wash your T-shirts. Brand new clothing has something called sizing in it which makes it harder for dye to take to. Wash and rinse your shirts before you begin or better yet use an older shirt that needs a makeover!
Ice Dying Supplies
- Pre-Washed 100% Cotton T-shirts
- Rubberbands
- Ice
- Cookie Cooling Rack
- Tin Tray
- Powdered Tie-Dye
This is the exact same powdered dye you would use for traditional tie-dye you just don’t add any water to the bottles. You want the dye to remain in powdered form for ice dying T-shirts.
Bind T-Shirts Using Tie-Dye Patterns
Using the exact same variations you would for regular tie-dye bind your shirts with rubber bands. Experiment with designs, twists and tools.
A Few of My Favorite DIY Tie-Dye Projects
- Fruity Fun Tie-Dye T-Shirts
- Tie-Dye Hawaiian Onsie with Appliqué Leigh
- Club Rad Dad Tie-Dye DIY Father’s Day T-Shirt
How to Ice Dye T-Shirts
Once you have your T-shirts bound with rubber bands place on a cookie cooling wrack over a bin or container to catch the melting ice dye water.
You can dye your shirt one of two ways: wet or dry. I experimented with using a wet T-shirt and a dry T-shirt. Either way you sprinkle the DRY powder onto the T-shirt then cover with ice. As the ice melts it activates the dye.
Be sure once one side is melted to flip to the other side and repeat.
You’re Almost Done!
Allow the dye to sit overnight on the T-shirts (you can also try tote bags, sheets, pillow covers – anything cotton). The next day remove the rubber bands and wash and dry.
Enjoy Your New Ice Dyed T-Shirts
How fun was that and how cute do those shirts look! Not too different than regular tie-dye but a little bit COOLer.
These fun T-shirts were originally part of a post for HGTV called Crafty Ways to Celebrate Holi With Kids.
Even More Ways to Play With Fabric Dye This Summer
Once you start playing with fabric dye, it is kinda hard to stop. I know from personal experience. Want to try your new skills and some different techniques? Check these out!
Its not necessary to use the rubber bands and its more environmentally friendly not to.