Tie Dye Instructions for Spiral Mickey Shirt

[angiepangie8]

I made the shirt and then waited until it was almost dry but not quite. It hadn't been washed yet. Then I did the swirly when the shirt was still a little damp so the bleach bled into the design enough that it looked like part of the design and not just a hard line. Then I let it sit until it was completely dry before I washed it.

I didn't realize I was starting something new LOL I thought that was how the pastey mickeys were made when I saw the picture of them!

ahh thanks I knew this had been answered already!


ok now have to go back to find out what the crystal dye method is.

 

[Marshay]

Yeah Marshay They look great!

You're DH's Sunburst looks like a Mickeyburst ~cool!

I was all set to order from Dharma but then with the $15 shipping charge decided to just get a couple kits from Michaels using 40% off coupons. The dyes may not be as good but we will just have to give it a shot. I also bought some soda ash to soak the shirts in before dying. I hope to start sewing the Mickey heads this week.

I still need to get a bleach pen (i better put it on my list) I know someone probably said this already ~ but do you use the bleach pen after letting the shirt dry or while it is damp?

thanks

I'm not the expert but can let you know what we did.

After dying the shirts, we put them in a bag for 24 hours. Then rinsed the shirts so most of the dye came out. Then we laid them flat while wet and did the bleach pen. We put a piece of cardboard between the shirt so that the bleach wouldn't bleed to the back. Then because we had MH on both the front and back, we flipped the bleach MH over on top of the open side of a box (so that the MH wasn't touching anything) and put bleached MH on the other side.

I think our 'mistake' was waiting too long. We went ahead and had dinner and then took a walk before coming back to rinse out the bleach.

I was afraid to wait to do the bleach until the shirts were dry, since someone mentioned that if you do it while wet the bleached lines will be more integrated into the shirt and look like they belong there, not just added after the fact.

Please let me know what you do and I hope this helps!

 

[Marshay]

ahh thanks I knew this had been answered already!


ok now have to go back to find out what the crystal dye method is.

I think pages 17-20 are where I talk about the crystal dye method.

The short instructions are that instead of mixing your dye with water, you make sure the shirt is wet (either plain water or a soda ash solution) and then you sprinkle the DRY dye onto your bundle like you would salt on your french fries!

The pattern of the dry dye(s) will be splotchy or stony or like water and I think it really gives a cool effect.

The water pattern was illustrated better in the light blue shirts I did last year (see previous page).

 

[angiepangie8]

I also used the Tulip brand from Michaels (with the weekly 40 percent off coupon I got the large kit (five dye colors for 14 items) for about 12 bucks). I did five shirts, two adult, one teen, two child sizes. There was no extra dye, it only did these five shirts.

The colors are very vibrant (i used the soda ash soak first). I used shirts I picked up at goodwill (thrifty), and the girls shirts have some decorative trim, and DH now has a tye dye Old Navy polo shirt. They are very bright and turned out great.

I didn't cover the mickey part before dying the rest of the shirt, so the mickey head is a little multicolored, too, but you can still tell it is mickey. I think I will embellish just a bit around the mickey outline to make it really stand out. I really soaked the shirts in dye. I wasn't sure if you turn them over and do the back of the spiral too, which I did, but that is when the colors bled onto the mickey head. Be sure to wrap that in plastic if you want it to stay one color! They were sopping wet with dye and it was very messy, but fun.

If I can master the adding photos part, I will post them here, before and after the extra mickey embellishment. I did the boys shirts in blue,yellow and green. The girls shirts are mainly pink, purple, yellow, with a little blue and green. (thrifty me, didnt' want to "waste" any dye, so I used the rest of the blue and green on the girls shirts, too)

This sound a lot like what I am doing! I bought the Tulip dye and got most of our shirts from Salvation Army. Unfortunately I didn't see any that would work for DH in a 2X and so I am buying those from a friend that sells shirts.
Thanks for the advice on wrapping the Mickey head in plastic ~good to know! I am doing 15 shirts and have 2 kits one that is supposed to make 20 shirts and one that is supposed to make 8. Hmmmm... I'm wondering if that will be enough.

 

[Marshay]

Thanks for the advice on wrapping the Mickey head in plastic ~good to know! I am doing 15 shirts and have 2 kits one that is supposed to make 20 shirts and one that is supposed to make 8. Hmmmm... I'm wondering if that will be enough.

I would go out and buy another dye kit (or two) and keep the receipt. From what I've read about tulip dyes, they just require more dye and you absolutely cannot go by what they say.

For 15 shirts (you are brave to do that many, I hope you have help), you probably will need at least twice the amount they call for. If not, then you can always return the unopened kits. but better than running out in the middle of doing them to get more.

 

[Miz Diz]

Was anyone on this thread at Vero Beach the week of April 6? I saw someone on the beach with one of these on.

Marshay - love your new shirts. I might try the Spiral one this year, too.

 

[angiepangie8]

I would go out and buy another dye kit (or two) and keep the receipt. From what I've read about tulip dyes, they just require more dye and you absolutely cannot go by what they say.

For 15 shirts (you are brave to do that many, I hope you have help), you probably will need at least twice the amount they call for. If not, then you can always return the unopened kits. but better than running out in the middle of doing them to get more.

Thanks Marshay ~i just got another 50% off coupon for Michaels so maybe I will go and use it on another of the larger kit that makes 20.

I was going to try to make 3 for DD, DS, DH and myself as well as one for DM, DA(aunt), and DC(cousin). I may not do the Mickey Head on one of our shirts (to cut down on sewing) and then if we want a mickey head on those I could just make a tranfer of one. I've also bought two other same color Tshirts for my family and am going to put transfers on those.

man oh man I better get busy!

 

[jordancej]

Here is my 2006 shirt:

Here are my current ones i did last night, in this picture they are still wet, i havent made it to the washing machine with them yet. I will post another pic when im totally finished with them (the red shirt, its really red, but with the flash they its looks pink). Cant decide if i'm going to do the bleach method like i did last time, or use some crystal embellishments! Gotta have that bling!!

 

[Marshay]

Here are my current ones i did last night, in this picture they are still wet, i havent made it to the washing machine with them yet. I will post another pic when im totally finished with them (the red shirt, its really red, but with the flash they its looks pink). Cant decide if i'm going to do the bleach method like i did last time, or use some crystal embellishments! Gotta have that bling!!

Love them!!

 

[jordancej]

Love them!!

Ah.... thanks! Yours turned out cool as well!!! I totally love the mickey head swirl!!

Have a Great Trip!!

 

[sjlupin]

I haven't been on this thread in a while, but wanted to report that our shirts were a HUGE hit during our January trip. Many people commented and asked where they could buy them. The cruise director on the Wonder LOVED them and said we could sell them they were so good!!!

Here is one pic ...

 

[Imagoofy1]

I really like your shirts - they came out GREAT.

 

[Marshay]

I really like your shirts - they came out GREAT.

Hey, sjlupin -- I agree!

 

[nts4wdw]

I haven't been on this thread in a while, but wanted to report that our shirts were a HUGE hit during our January trip. Many people commented and asked where they could buy them. The cruise director on the Wonder LOVED them and said we could sell them they were so good!!!

Here is one pic ...

You guys look great!! I can't wait to do ours this weekend!!

 

[tyniknate]

We did our shirts on Saturday and they were so much fun! We all chose our own colors and they turned out great. I think the trick is to pull the floss REALLY tight and to make the rubber band REALLY tight. Didn't have any trouble at all. Thanks to everyone for the ideas and instructions.

 

[lynette j in la]

AS I rinsed the shirts my red, white and blue shirts turned into red blue and pink...no white left. I tried rinsing still bundled up and it still bled. I used rit dye...Any suggestions...They look nice, but not RED WHITE AND BLUE like I wanted...Should I start over with another brand of dye? I only did 3 shirts....I let the dye completely dry and it still turned my white very pink after rinsing...

 

[Twingle]

AS I rinsed the shirts my red, white and blue shirts turned into red blue and pink...no white left. I tried rinsing still bundled up and it still bled. I used rit dye...Any suggestions...They look nice, but not RED WHITE AND BLUE like I wanted...Should I start over with another brand of dye? I only did 3 shirts....I let the dye completely dry and it still turned my white very pink after rinsing...

Did you rubber band or cover with saran wrap the parts you wanted white? I'm no expert, but I think if you want to have some white left in your shirt, you need to cover it up so the dye won't bleed onto it, no matter what brand you use.

Hopefully some of the more regular posters will have some tips for you - good luck!

 

[Corjack]

Here are our pics.

SEVERAL ladies came up to us while we were wearing our shirts and complimented them and told us they had either just worn theirs the day before or were going to wear them the next day. DH thought it was VERY cool.

Jackie

 

[MNRMommy]

I love your daughters pose. Too cute!

 

[Marshay]

Reporting live from WDW ... the tie dye shirts are another HUGE success!!!

We met so many more dissers this time b/c they saw the shirts. It's much easier to see the tie dye shirts than the LGMHs (although I did make a 7" LGMH to hang from my Bagallini, too)

Anyway, if anyone out there is on the fence about making the shirts-- let me say -- JUST DO IT!! We have 2 different ones now and I'll definitely make another one for our next trip!

(I suggest that you do different styles of shirts, if you like change or going in hot weather...I have a regular t-shirt, a v-neck with a little frill around the neck this time...next one will be a tank top!) Even May is hot!!