Have some summer fun making your own tie dye beach towels in two different colorful methods!
Why we love this project
Tie dye beach towels are a great summer project the kids will love getting in on. It’s a colorful way to unleash their creativity where they’re able to show off their creations to friends at the pool or beach.
We have two methods to show you here, the crumple method, and the rainbow method which we used previously on our rainbow tie dye shirts. These two methods are easy and fun for adults and kids.
Helpful Project Information:
- Age Level: 6 and up with the young ones having supervision
- Mess Factor: High (squeeze bottle dye)
- Level of Difficulty: Easy
- Time to Complete: Less than 30 minutes, minus soak time
- Cost Estimate: Less than $15.00
Craft supplies you will need
Get full list of supplies and directions in the printable version at the end of this post.
How to a Make Tie Dye Beach Towels
These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this project. Please scroll down to simply print out the instructions!
Rainbow Method
You have two options of dampening your towel, you can either dampen it before beginning and before adding rubber bands, or you can place the rubber bands into their sections then dampen the towel with a hose. Either way will work, as long as the towel is damp before adding the dye.
- Prepare your squeeze bottles with dye according to package instructions, we’re using Tulip’s One-Step Tie Dye Kit.
- Cover the surface you’ll be working on. Spread the towel flat onto the covered surface while it’s still damp. Scrunch/pleat the towel together starting from the bottom right corner until it’s fully pleated.
- Squeeze the towel tightly together and secure it into about 11 sections using rubber bands.
- Generously apply the colors to each individual section in whichever color sequence desired.
- Wrap the dyed towel in plastic wrap or in a Ziplock bag and allow to sit for 6-8 hours.
- Remove rubber bands then rinse using warm water. Switch to cool water, then back to warm, ending with cool water. Follow with running through the washing machine.
Crumple Method
- Prepare tie dye squeeze bottles with dye according to package directions.
- Cover the surface you’ll be working on. Spread the towel flat onto the covered surface while it’s still damp.
- Scrunch a portion of the towel with one hand and apply a rubber band around it. Repeat this all throughout the towel in as many sections as you’d like.
- Generously apply the squeeze dye on top of the crumpled sections as well as throughout the entire towel, if desired. Use whichever color combination you’d like!
- You may optionally scrunch the entire towel up, add the rubber bands, and apply your colors this way.
- If working with a thick cotton towel, flip it over and apply color to the backside.
- Place the towel in a large plastic bag or covered in plastic wrap and allow the colors to set for 6-8 hours.
- Remove rubber bands and rinse using warm water. Switch to cool water, then back to warm, ending with cool water. Follow with running the towels through the washing machine.
Expert Crafting Tips
- If your towel is particularily thick, be sure to flip it and apply color the backside. Sometimes the dyes struggle to penetrate through thick cotton.
- For your first couple of washes you may want to run it seperately from other towels or clothing to avoid color leaking.
- Be sure to wear disposable gloves! Smocks are also a smart choice for the young ones joining the fun.
- If you want to create your own colors, you don’t need to mix the dyes in a bottle together, just squeeze the colors right onto the towels.
- We like using a tablecloth that has a plastic backing on it but a regular plastic tablecloth will do the trick as well.
Easily use these two dye method on totes, hats, shirts, sweatshirts, socks, and so much more! These tie dye beach towels are an eye-catching project perfect for a sunny spring or summer day.
More Tie Dye Projects
- Drip Dye Tees
- Shibori Tie Dye
- Rainbow Tie Dye Shirts
- How To Tie Dye Cool Stripes
- Sunshine Ombre Shibori Tie Dye
- Drip Tie Dye Backpack
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Tie Dye Beach Towels
Supplies
- Tie Dye in various colors. We're using Tulip's One Step Tie Dye Kit
Craft tools
- Plastic tablecloth
- Disposable gloves
- – rubber bands
Instructions
Rainbow Method
- Prepare your squeeze bottles with dye according to package instructions.
- Cover the surface you’ll be working on. Spread the towel flat onto the covered surface while it’s still damp. Scrunch/pleat the towel together starting from the bottom right corner until it's fully pleated.
- Squeeze the towel tightly together and secure it into around 11 sections using rubber bands.
- Generously apply the colors to each individual section following whichever color combination you’d like.
- Wrap the dyed towel in plastic wrap or in a Ziplock bag and allow to sit for 6-8 hours.
- Remove rubber bands then rinse using warm water. Switch to cool water, then back to warm, ending with cool water. Follow with running through the washing machine.
Crumple Method
- Prepare squeeze bottles with dye according to package directions.
- Cover the surface you’ll be working on. Spread the towel flat onto the covered surface while it’s still damp.
- Scrunch a portion of the towel with one hand and apply a rubber band around it. Repeat this all throughout the towel in as many sections as you’d like.
- Generously apply the squeeze dye on top of the crumpled sections as well as throughout the entire towel, if desired. Use whichever color combination you’d like!
- You may optionally scrunch the entire towel up and apply rubber bands it and apply your colors this way.
- If working with a thick cotton towel, flip it over and apply color to the backside.
- Place the towel in a large plastic bag or covered in plastic wrap and allow the colors to set for 6-8 hours.
- Remove rubber bands and rinse using warm water. Switch to cool water, then back to warm, ending with cool water. Follow with running the towels through the washing machine.
Expert Tips & FAQs
- You have two options of dampening your towel, you can either dampen it before beginning and before adding rubber bands, or you can place the rubber bands into their sections then dampen the towel with a hose. Either way will work, as long as the towel is damp before adding the dye.
- Be sure to wear disposable gloves! Smocks are also a smart choice for the young ones joining the fun.
- If you want to create your own colors, you don’t need to mix the dyes in a bottle together, just squeeze the colors right onto the fabric.
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Ali says
Do you go through a ton of dye for the towel?