Make Kool-Aid Tie Dye
Topics: Fourth Grade, Arts and Crafts, Outdoor
This activity may send you back to the 60's and 70's. But did you know that some tie dye techniques date back to Pre-Columbian times to Peru in 500-800 A.D.? Shibori is another form of tie dye that originated in Japan in the 8th century. The wonderful colors and designs of this method have intrigued many generations but can be made relatively easily and with simple household ingredients. Plus, it's a kid-friendly activity that never gets old (unlike your bell-bottoms)!
What You Need:
- White T-shirt
- Assorted Kool-Aid packages (different flavors/colors)
- Vinegar
- Small plastic bowls
- Plastic gloves
- Rubber bands
What You Do:
- For every color you wish to use, put 1 package Kool-Aid and 1 oz. vinegar in individual plastic bowls. Mix until dissolved.
- Pull and twist T-shirt into different shapes (see below) and secure with rubber bands. Dip the areas gathered by the rubber bands in bowls of color. Wear gloves so that your hands don't stain. Keep rubber bands on and set in the sun to dry.
- To set colors, iron on medium-high using an ironing cloth (a cotton rag will work) between the shirt and iron. Let the shirt set for 24 hours before washing. To be safe, wash separately the first time. Launder T-shirt as usual and it's ready to wear!
Spiral Pattern
Spiral patterns are made by pleating the fabric into a bundle around a central point. Extend the gather out from the center, using rubber bands every so often. Different wedges of the bundle are then dyed with different colors.
Spiral patterns are made by pleating the fabric into a bundle around a central point. Extend the gather out from the center, using rubber bands every so often. Different wedges of the bundle are then dyed with different colors.
V Pattern
The V shape is made by folding the shirt in half vertically, then a line is drawn diagonally from the shoulder area down to the center fold of the shirt. The fabric is then accordion-folded along the line and bound into one or more areas to which the dye is applied.
The V shape is made by folding the shirt in half vertically, then a line is drawn diagonally from the shoulder area down to the center fold of the shirt. The fabric is then accordion-folded along the line and bound into one or more areas to which the dye is applied.
Random circles
This is made by tying knots with rubber bands in different places. The more fabric that is in the bundle the larger the circle will be.
This is made by tying knots with rubber bands in different places. The more fabric that is in the bundle the larger the circle will be.
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