Create A Vibrant Mandala Tie-Dye T-Shirt

Creating a mandala tie-dye T-shirt is an easy and fun project that delivers impressive results. The mandala is a popular motif in tie-dyeing, characterised by its multiple lines of symmetry. To create a mandala T-shirt, you will need a T-shirt made from a natural fabric such as cotton, rayon or silk, as well as dye, rubber bands or string, gloves and scissors. First, you will need to fold the T-shirt into a triangle shape, before binding it with rubber bands or string. You can then apply dye to the T-shirt, being careful to match the colours on the other side. Once you have added your chosen colours, seal the T-shirt in a bag or plastic wrap and leave it for 6-8 hours, or overnight, for the dye to set. Finally, remove the rubber bands or string, and rinse, wash and dry the T-shirt.

Folding the shirt into a triangle

First, lay the shirt flat on a table and fold it in half lengthwise. Then, fold it in half again widthwise. At this point, your shirt should be folded into quarters. Following the natural creases of the fabric, fold the shirt in half along the diagonal line, creating eighths. Repeat this diagonal fold to create sixteenths. Your shirt is now a long, thin triangle.

For a more complex mandala design, you can continue to fold the shirt into smaller triangles. To do this, grab the bottom edge of the shirt and fold it over to the top right-hand side corner. This will create another triangle shape with your top layer. Repeat this fold once more to create a narrower triangle. Carefully flip the shirt over, keeping your triangle folds intact, and repeat the same folding process on the other half of the shirt, creating a mirror image.

Now that your shirt is folded into a triangle (or multiple triangles), you can begin the next steps of the mandala tie-dye process, such as securing the folds with rubber bands or string and applying the dye.

Wrapping the shirt with string

Materials Needed:

• Washable marker
• Wax string (or artificial sinew)
• Scissors

Step 1: Folding the Shirt

Before wrapping the shirt with string, it needs to be folded into a specific pattern. Here are the steps to fold the shirt:

• Start with your prewashed and damp T-shirt.
• Fold the shirt in half lengthwise, with the fold facing away from you.
• Grab the bottom corner of the shirt and pull it up towards the centre fold, creating a triangle fold.
• Repeat this triangle fold two more times, making it narrower each time.
• Carefully flip the shirt over, keeping the folded side intact.
• Repeat the triangle folding process on the other half of the shirt, mirroring the folds.

Step 2: Drawing the Guidelines

Once the shirt is folded, you'll draw guidelines for binding the fabric:

• Determine the edge of the sleeve within the folds.
• Using a washable marker, start at the bottom edge of the folded fabric closest to you and draw a zigzag line.
• Begin at the point where the sleeve meets the bottom edge, and draw the zigzag line up to the opposite edge, then back down to the bottom fold.
• Repeat this process until you reach the narrow tip of the folded fabric.
• Flip the fabric over and draw matching zigzags on the other side, aligning with the lines on the first side.

Step 3: Wrapping with String

Now it's time to wrap the shirt with string:

• Cut a piece of wax string and make a slip knot at one end.
• Starting with the largest zigzag line (opposite the tip of the fabric), loop the string around and tie a tight knot.
• Continue wrapping the string tightly around each zigzag line, making multiple wraps around each line.
• Pull the string as tight as possible to create a very defined mandala pattern after dyeing.
• Tie a knot and cut off any remaining string once you've wrapped all the zigzag lines.

Tips for Wrapping:

• Use waxed string or artificial sinew, as these materials help achieve a super tight bind and prevent dye from seeping underneath.
• Pull the string as tight as possible to ensure crisp and sharp mandala lines.
• Use a tool like a wooden gripper or a stout wooden spoon to help you pull the string extra tight.

Applying dye to the shirt

Now that your shirt is folded and bound, it's time to apply the dye! The type of dye you use will determine the specific steps you take, but here are some general guidelines to follow:

• If you are using a dye kit, follow the instructions provided to mix your dyes. If you are using powdered dye, add tap water to the fill line on each bottle, replace the nozzles with the caps still on, and shake each bottle thoroughly until all of the dye powder dissolves. Wait to mix your dyes until you are ready to apply them, as dyes can lose their concentration if left unapplied for more than 72 hours.
• Lightly spray the shirt with water to help the dye absorb more easily. This will prevent the water from beading on the surface and dripping onto areas that you don't want to be dyed.
• Start applying the dye to one side of the shirt, adding a generous amount to ensure that it penetrates the fabric and reaches the inner layers. You can use squeeze bottles or an eyedropper to apply the dye, or dip the shirt into buckets of dye.
• Continue adding dye until you can see it bleed through to the other side of the shirt. This will ensure even dye application on the inner layers.
• If you are using multiple colours, carefully apply the next colour along the tied parts of the mandala, trying to keep it as close to the lines as possible. Wait for the fabric to absorb the dye before adding more, and be mindful that thicker parts of the shirt will require more dye than thinner parts.
• Once the dye is applied to one side, flip the shirt over and repeat the process on the other side, mirroring the colours and patterns.
• If any part of the shirt remains undyed, you can choose to add additional colours or leave it as is for a more subtle design.
• Once you have finished applying dye to the mandala, scrunch up the rest of the shirt and secure it with string or rubber bands. Try to keep the scrunched sections even to avoid large blotches of colour or white areas in the final design.
• Place the dyed shirt in a sealable bag or wrap it in plastic wrap to keep it damp while the dye sets. Leave it for at least 6-8 hours or overnight for the best results.
• After the dye has set, remove the rubber bands or string by carefully cutting them away from the shirt. Rinse the shirt in cold water until the water runs clear, then wash and dry it according to the instructions provided with your dye kit.

Remember, the most important part of the process is to have fun and be creative! Feel free to experiment with different colours, techniques, and folding patterns to create unique designs.

Sealing the shirt in plastic wrap

Firstly, after you have applied all your chosen tie-dye colours to the shirt, place it on a flat surface. You may want to put down some old newspaper or a plastic sheet to protect your work area from any potential spills. Then, cut a large piece of plastic wrap and lay it out flat.

Next, carefully place the dyed shirt in the centre of the plastic wrap. Take one edge of the plastic wrap and bring it across the shirt, ensuring that it covers half of the shirt. Then, take the opposite edge of the plastic wrap and bring it over the other half of the shirt, creating a sandwich with the shirt inside.

Now, starting from one side, carefully fold and seal the edges of the plastic wrap together. You can use tape or a heat sealer to secure the edges. Make sure that the shirt is completely enclosed in the plastic wrap. If there are any openings, the shirt may dry out and affect the final result.

Once the shirt is sealed, leave it for 6 to 8 hours or overnight. This allows the dye to fully set and develop. After this period, you can carefully remove the shirt from the plastic wrap and proceed to the next steps, which include cutting away the string or rubber bands and rinsing, washing, and drying the shirt according to the kit instructions.

Rinsing the shirt

First, cut away the string or rubber bands from your shirt. Be careful not to cut the fabric of the shirt itself. You should now be able to unfold your shirt and see the unique mandala pattern you've created.

Next, thoroughly rinse the shirt in cold water. Keep rinsing until the water runs clear. This step is important to prevent the dye from staining other items of clothing in the future.

After rinsing in cold water, give the shirt a final rinse in warm water. Again, make sure the water runs clear. Expect the colours to lighten a little during this process. This is normal, especially when using Rit dyes.

Finally, give the shirt a wash in cold water with a mild detergent. Wash the shirt separately, as it may still stain other items. You can use Synthrapol detergent to help remove any excess dye.

Your mandala tie-dye shirt is now ready to wear and show off to your friends!

Frequently asked questions