Tye Dye on 100% cotton only?

[KarlaG4Kids]

Can you tell me if the t-shirts HAVE to be 100% cotton for the tye dye to work? Also, can you tye dye on grey t-shirts. Last night I could only find 50/50 shirts....I don't want to waste my time and tye dye stuff if they won't work. Thanks.

 

[wdwcindy]

I have the same question.

TIA

wdwcindy

 

[ReAnSt]

You could use a blend shirt but the colors probably won't be as bright as in the 100% cotton shirt. I have found them at Walmart in the past. Both AC Moore and Michaels tend to carry shirts that are a 50/50 blend. I have used both shirt types and in the blend shirt the colors are not as vivid and bright as the 100% cotton shirt.

 

[bethbuchall]

I have tie dyed on both 100% cotton and on 50/50. Here is a comparison for you, though it is not a great one. The shirt on the left is 50/50. It is also 2.5 years old. The shirt on the right is 100% cotton. It is new from August. It is light on the dye, though, because I was the last shirt done, and we were running out of dyes. You can see that the 50/50 shirt is a little less bright than the 100% cotton one, but it still looks pretty good.

 

[bethbuchall]

I just found ds's shirts, too. The one on the left is the 50/50. Again, it is 2.5 years old while the 100% cotton shirt is new. He has worn the first shirt quite a bit over the last 2.5 years, so it has been through the wash many times. You can see that even the white areas are looking a bit dingy.

 

[KarlaG4Kids]

Thanks. That is great to know...it will work, but not as good. Also, have you ever tried it on a light grey shirt? That may look weird.

 

[bethbuchall]

I haven't tried it on a light grey shirt. That may make it look a little duller, too. If you do it, show us some photos!

 

[ReAnSt]

The shirt on the left was white, the one on the right was light pink. We were given light pink shirts for our Girl Scout Service Unit camp out and told to decorate them. The girls decided they wanted to tie dye them blue and put fabric painted yellow stars on them. The white shirt was worn at another one of our events as the girl couldn't find the shirt she made and happened to have an originally white shirt which was tie dyed similarly to the ones we made. The one with the white shirt even has tie dyed shorts that match.

I think the gray will depend on what shade of grey it is and what color dyes you are using. As long as they are darker than the color of your shirt and you cover most of the shirt with some color dye I don't think you will have too much of a problem.