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Craft Tutorials | Adult Crafts | DIY Gift ideas | Drip Dye Tees

Drip Dye Tees

Author by Amanda Davis on June 15, 2012 Updated on August 6, 2021

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How to Make Drip Dye Tees

 

I’m getting a little old for traditional tie dye designs. Sure they’re cool, but when your kids have all reached the age of high school and some are off to college, well, tie dye just seems a bit young. However, that doesn’t mean that I can’t create something fun and colorful to wear using a traditional tie dye kit! I saw some gorgeous tees on Pinterest where it looked like the dye had been dripped on instead of wrapping the tee in rubber bands first. I’m absolutely loving the result! Want to see how you can make some too?

How to Make Drip Dye Tees

Drip dyeing actually a lot easier than traditional tie dye methods because there’s no gathering, folding or banding involved. Just protect your surface, lay your tee down and drip away! I used Tuilp Tie Dye and love how it came out!

Drip Dye Tee

I actually liked this method so much that I ran to WalMart and bought a couple more tops so I could use up some more of the dye. I experimented with using dry shirts then dripping on dye, then dripping on some water.

Drip Dye Tee

I really like how these came out too!

How to Make Drip Dye Tees

Start off with Tulip’s Tie Dye Kits, I used Tropical Twist and Paradise Punch. You’ll also need something to cover your surface with.

How to Make Drip Dye Tees

Grab a white tee, I bought mine from Dollar General for $8.00. Choose a base color, it’s best to pick the lightest one. Refer to the actual package for what colors will look like when dry. Obviously this green looks a lot darker than it’s final result! Squeeze out some dry at the top of the tee, then taper off by dripping the dye instead of filling in solid areas.

How to Make Drip Dye Tees

Drip other colors, I found it easiest to hold the bottle pointing straight down and gently shaking it side to side. Be careful not to overdo it. I was actually afraid I went a bit crazy, so I drizzled a few drops of bleach over the finished dye job as well, to add a little white.

How to Make Drip Dye Tees

Follow the package directions for dry times. Tulip recommends you let the fabric site for 6-8 hours for the most vibrant results. I waited three as I really didn’t want to be too flashy.

How to Make Drip Dye Tees

I made the tee above and a tank. Notice the bleach drips too?

How to Make Drip Dye TeesI’m really happy with the results and think this would be fabulous on a hoodie too!

Here’s a quick guide from Tulip for other tie dye techniques too! Tulip Tie Dye Kits are available at Walmart, Walmart Canada, Michaels, JoAnn, A.C. Moore, Hobby Lobby, Hancock Fabrics, Meijer. Tie dye kit contents and colors may vary by store.

You can find out more about ILovetoCreate here:

  • Twitter: http://twitter.com/ilovetocreate (@ilovetocreate)
  • Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ilovetocreate and http://www.facebook.com/ILoveTulipFashionArt
  • Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/ilovetocreate

While I did write this post as part of a paid campaign with iLoveToCreate.com and Blueprint Social, all opinions in this post are 100% true and my own.

To see what some of the other crafty minds came up with, check out the thumbnail links below for their projects!

More Tie Dye Shirts

  • Rainbow Tie Dye Shirts
  • Sunshine Ombre Shibori Tie Dye Top
  • Shibori Tie Dye
  • Fabric Painted Tie Dye Shirts
  • Tie Dye Beach Towels
  • Drip Tie Dye Backpack



  • Author
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Amanda Davis
Amanda Davis is the crafty, entrepreneurial mother of four children. She loves to bake, cook, make kid's crafts and create decorative items for her home. She is a crafting expert and guru in the kitchen and has appeared online and in print publications many times over the years.
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Filed Under: DIY Gift ideas, Easy Crafts for Kids, Wearable Crafts for Adults, Wearable Crafts for Kids Tagged With: adult, adult craft ideas, adult crafts, adults, clothes, crafts for adults, kid's crafts, t-shirt, tie dye, wearable

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Comments

  1. Marsha says

    October 11, 2021 at 10:25 pm

    Love your shirts. They are gorgeous!!! My WalMart closes at 11pm or I would be in the car diving to pick up some white shirts, right now. Can’t wait to make a few.! Thanks for sharing

    Reply
  2. Mary Martin says

    August 20, 2017 at 10:44 pm

    Gorgeous!

    Reply
  3. Destry Howland says

    March 30, 2015 at 11:39 am

    Hello! You said you added water to one of them. I was wondering how you applied the water, and to which one you applied water to so as to see the difference. Thank you! I am a student minister and think it will be a fun project for our middle-high school girls :)

    Reply
    • Amanda Formaro says

      April 2, 2015 at 7:33 am

      It’s been a while since I made these, so I’m not completely positive, but I do remember how I dripped the water on. I simply dipped my hand in water and let the water drip onto the dye on the shirt. You can see how the top section of the shirts is more blurred, that’s where the water was added.

      Reply
  4. Pam Austin says

    August 8, 2014 at 12:04 pm

    Does it ‘bleed’ through enough to get good coverage on the back of the shirt? Or should I do the same on the back?

    Reply
    • Amanda Formaro says

      August 10, 2014 at 8:01 am

      It definitely does bleed through enough :)

      Reply
  5. Kristie says

    August 7, 2014 at 9:34 pm

    Hi Amanda,
    do you make and sell these shirts by any chance? Sorry if there is an obvious place on the site for this – I could’t see it if there was.
    I love the shirts..but have no crafty ability (nor interest in developing one more to the point!) myself.

    Reply
    • Amanda Formaro says

      August 10, 2014 at 8:03 am

      Hi Kristie! I’m afraid I don’t sell the shirts. It’s really easy to do though, no crafty ability needed! Maybe you have a friend or relative that would want to try it with you?

      Reply
  6. pamela says

    August 6, 2014 at 11:39 pm

    I hung t-shirts outside on clothes line.Then I had my grandchildren and great nephews fling the paint bottles toward the shirts. They turned out well and the kiddos loved them. This is what they done last Easter

    Reply
    • Amanda Formaro says

      August 7, 2014 at 7:55 am

      That sounds os fun Pamela! I did something similar. If you search for “Jackson Pollock” on this blog you will see it :)

      Reply
  7. Karen Butterfiwld says

    July 15, 2014 at 10:55 am

    Hello, I was wondering if there was any place where we can print this out. I tried this site aand it didn’t work, we are all going on a camping trip and I would like to bring the stuff to make these.

    we will be without electricity

    Reply
  8. Roslyn says

    January 18, 2014 at 3:48 pm

    Looks as though we won’t need hot water, as with other tie-dyes! Thanks for this great DIY!

    Reply
  9. Anna Bujarski says

    September 3, 2013 at 10:40 pm

    I agree about the age thing & Tie dye. I’m 55 & don’t go to town wearing traditional tie dye. But recently my husband brought me #3 as a gift. Two of them were liked splashed with one color. He bought a pink one with the symbol for breast cancer awareness on lower right side. I wear the 2 single colored ones to town and I am excited to try your dripped ones & will wear to town. My youngest daughter getting married next march and you have given me some great ideas. In fact she had pinned the doily mason jars. Thank you for the great ideas!!

    Reply
    • Amanda Formaro says

      September 4, 2013 at 6:43 am

      I’m with ya Anna and so glad you liked them! It’s a fun project :)

      Reply
  10. Sarah says

    May 1, 2013 at 8:14 am

    Ahhhh so cool! Thanks so much! I’ve been looking all over online for how too do this! I just want mine to be more like Crayon Art, if you’ve ever seen it. Then I also plan on doing a Ombre dye shirt too!
    Thanks again! :D

    Reply
    • Amanda Formaro says

      May 8, 2013 at 7:39 am

      Ombre would be pretty, have fun!

      Reply
  11. Kelley says

    October 17, 2012 at 9:09 pm

    That would also allow you to make some really eye popping drapey scarves. Great technique. I am going to try making a scarf using your method in gray and Turquoise. Thanks for the inspiration!

    Reply
    • Amanda says

      October 19, 2012 at 12:10 pm

      Sounds fun Kelley!

      Reply
  12. Shannon says

    August 27, 2012 at 7:47 pm

    Also does the shirt need to be 100% cotton? I tried to drip dye some shirts that were 60% cotton and they turned out differently than your shirts. They just looked the same as when I applied the dye with only a little bit of drip.

    Reply
  13. Shannon says

    August 26, 2012 at 4:48 am

    How are you supposed to wash the shirts? Cold or hot water?

    Reply
    • Amanda says

      August 26, 2012 at 1:04 pm

      Cold or warm is fine. I have washed mine over and over again and always use warm.

      Reply
  14. Stacey says

    June 17, 2012 at 4:24 am

    Awww…. never too old for a little tie dye! Thanks for sharing….

    Stacey

    Reply
  15. gail says

    June 15, 2012 at 2:10 pm

    you look fabulous styling your new shirt Amanda! :)

    I’ve always loved tie dye!

    gail

    Reply

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