Tie-dying???

[honeybunny]

I am SO not crafty, so I never check this forum!!!

I'm wanting to make some tie-dye t-shirts for the kids at Cameron's sitter for V-day. Am I completely nuts for wanting to do this?? Is this something that I want to involve my 2 1/2 year old in on?? I'd like him to participate, but if it's going to make a HUGE mess I'd rather just do it myself. The thought of dye and Cameron together kind of scares me.

Is there a way to make the design in the shape of a heart?? I don't care so much about that part, but it would be nice if it had a heart or something for the holiday. And I'm thinking just simple white shirts with red dye. No other colors or anything. And then maybe getting some iron-on letters to put their names on it... ya know... a little personalization. I think I could tie-dye (maybe not!), but I know I can line letters up in a straight line and iron! Of course I could take them to a screen printing shop too... it might actually be cheaper that way. Then I wouldn't have to buy a whole bunch of letters that I wouldn't use. hmmm... gonna have to think on that one.

I want to do something easy and inexpensive, but not food or toys. They've all got a school party that day and will have WAY too much sugar in the first place and I know I don't need another crappy little toy to keep track of.

Am I nuts?? Can you help me??
Angie

[leanner977]

I haven't tie dyed in ages but it can be pretty messy stuff, depending on what method your dye suggests. If it would be warmer out I'd suggest doing it outside and letting him help...but in teh house I'm not so sure.

As for a heart pattern, it can be done but I don't know how difficult it would be (more hassle than it's worth is my guess). I'm trying to find the website I saw directions on....I'll update when I find it.

[lotodaisies77]

I've done some tie dying in the past and the dye can be pretty messy. What a cool idea though for the kids at the school. I was never crafty enough to do any particular shape - I just used rubber bands and put them around the shirt in different spots.

[Deanna]

The Rit website has a heart design done in tie dye, and it looks like they did it with just one colour as well (sorry I didn't read the directions thoroughly)...

I did tie dye for a work project a couple of years ago, myself and two other ladies... let's just say I'm glad we did it in the basement because we had dye everywhere... all of our socks were trashed from splashing and dripping of the dye, plus the dye should be done with really hot water to get bright colours so it's probably something that Cameron would be best doing when he's older

here is the website I found, hope it helps!
www.ritdye.com/Tie_dyed_heart.asp

[Ornah]

i've never tried tie dying... but at a recent visit to wal-mart's craft section i saw a kit. I didn't look closely though, so i'm not sure if they have instructions on specific patterns.

[honeybunny]

Ornah... check out the Rit dye website that Deanna posted. We did it over the weekend and although messy, it wasn't hard at all.

I posted pics of the finished products on the Mommy Issues forum. For someone who is seriously craft-challenged, I'm pretty proud of it!!

Angie