Fast and easy Tie-Dye

[FreebieQueen]

Fast and easy Tie-Dye using Kool-Aid Packets

For a T-shirt –
mix a solution of (2) unsweetened Kool Aid packets
4 c. warm water
1 c. White Vinegar in a container, tie a rubber band around a section of the T-shirt and soak for several hours.

The easiest way to do this is to take a plastic bread bag, shake out the crumbs, wrap the elastic tightly around the shirt, dip it into the colors you want, then stuff it into the bag, let it set 24 hours.

If you want a starburst pattern on the shirt, lay the shirt down, opened up and pinch your fingers in the middle, gather the shirt around the pinch, secure with elastic bands.

Wash and dry the shirt.

Kool-Aid Color Combinations to Achieve the Perfect Tie Dye Color

If you have particular colors in mind here is how to get the EXACT Color Variation you’re looking for
Pink – 3 Pink Lemonade
Red – 2 Chery/2 Jamaica
Maroon – 2 Cherry/1 Blue Berry
Orange – 3 Orange
Dark Orange – 3 Orange/1 Cherry
Light Yellow – 3 Lemonade
Dark Yellow – 3 Lemonade/1 Orange (think SUNFLOWER Yellow)
Green – 4 Lemon Lime/1 Blue Berry
Lime Green – 3 Lemon Lime
Blue – 4 Blue Berry/1 Grape
Sky Blue – 3 Blue Berry
Purple – 3 Grape
Brown – 2 Lemonade/1 Grape/1 Orange
Dark Brown – 1 Lemonade/1 Grape/1 Orange (Faux leather couch brown)

Here’s an example of a shirt we did for a last-minute halloween costume using this method:

( Budget101.com – – Hippie Costume Idea | Homemade Costume Ideas )

Do Not wash for 48 hours. Prior to the first washing, soak for 30 minutes in water mixed with ½ cup of vinegar and 1 Tbs of salt to help set the dyes.

Alternative Method:
Instead of soaking the shirt in a bowl, you can transfer the mixed kool-aid dye mixture into water or gatorade bottles and pour it over the fabric instead. You’ll likely want to use gloves, as this gets pretty messy!

Kool-Aid Tie Dye

Budget101.com by Melissa 'Liss' Burnell

Learn how to Tie-dye a shirt fast & easy using kool-aid drink packets

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Active Time 5 minutes mins

Resting Time 15 minutes mins

Rest 1 day d

Total Time 1 day d 20 minutes mins

Course DIY, MYO

Servings 2

Equipment

• ▢
  1 Medium Size Bowl or Bucket
• ▢
  rubber bands
• ▢
  Wooden Spoon

Materials

• ▢ 2 packets Unsweetened Kool Aid packets, any flavor/color you want
• ▢ 4 cups water, warm
• ▢ 1 cups White Vinegar

Instructions

 

• Combine warm water, vinegar and the contents of both Kool-Aid packets in Medium-sized bowl or bucket.
  2 packets Unsweetened Kool Aid packets, any flavor/color you want

  1 cups White Vinegar

  4 cups water, warm
• Gather areas of the t-shirt and secure it with rubber band
• Place it in the kool-aid and soak it for several hours.

Alternative Method:

• Wrap the elastic tightly around the shirt, dip it into the colors you want, using the solution recipe listed above.
• Then remove it from the liquid and place it into an empty bread bag.
• Tie the bread bag closed and let it set 24 hours.

Equipment & Materials

1 Medium Size Bowl or Bucket

rubber bands

Wooden Spoon

Notes

Starburst Pattern Instructions

1. To create starburst pattern on the shirt, lay the shirt down, opened up.
2. Pinch your fingers in the middle of the shirt, then, gather the shirt around the pinch, secure with elastic bands.

Perfect Tie-Dye Color

Pink – 3 Pink Lemonade
Red – 2 Chery/2 Jamaica
Maroon – 2 Cherry/1 Blue Berry
Orange – 3 Orange
Dark Orange – 3 Orange/1 Cherry
Light Yellow – 3 Lemonade
Dark Yellow (like a Sunflower) – 3 Lemonade/1 Orange
Green – 4 Lemon Lime/1 Blue Berry
Lime Green – 3 Lemon Lime
Blue – 4 Blue Berry/1 Grape
Sky Blue – 3 Blue Berry
Purple – 3 Grape
Brown – 2 Lemonade/1 Grape/1 Orange
Dark Brown – 1 Lemonade/1 Grape/1 Orange (Faux leather couch brown)

Note:

The information on this DIY site is for general informational purposes only. We do not guarantee the accuracy or effectiveness of the content shared. The site owner and authors are not liable for any damages or injuries. Use the information at your own risk and seek professional advice when needed.

Tried this idea?Mention @Budget101com or tag #Budget101com!

Kool-Aid Tie Dye

Learn how to Tie-dye a shirt fast & easy using kool-aid drink packets

• Medium Size Bowl or Bucket
• rubber bands
• Wooden Spoon

• 2 packets Unsweetened Kool Aid packets, any flavor/color you want
• 4 cups water, warm
• 1 cups White Vinegar

1. Combine warm water, vinegar and the contents of both Kool-Aid packets in Medium-sized bowl or bucket.
2. Gather areas of the t-shirt and secure it with rubber band
3. Place it in the kool-aid and soak it for several hours.

Alternative Method:

1. Wrap the elastic tightly around the shirt, dip it into the colors you want, using the solution recipe listed above.
2. Then remove it from the liquid and place it into an empty bread bag.
3. Tie the bread bag closed and let it set 24 hours.

Starburst Pattern Instructions

1. To create starburst pattern on the shirt, lay the shirt down, opened up.
2. Pinch your fingers in the middle of the shirt, then, gather the shirt around the pinch, secure with elastic bands.

Perfect Tie-Dye Color

Pink – 3 Pink Lemonade
Red – 2 Chery/2 Jamaica
Maroon – 2 Cherry/1 Blue Berry
Orange – 3 Orange
Dark Orange – 3 Orange/1 Cherry
Light Yellow – 3 Lemonade
Dark Yellow (like a Sunflower) – 3 Lemonade/1 Orange
Green – 4 Lemon Lime/1 Blue Berry
Lime Green – 3 Lemon Lime
Blue – 4 Blue Berry/1 Grape
Sky Blue – 3 Blue Berry
Purple – 3 Grape
Brown – 2 Lemonade/1 Grape/1 Orange
Dark Brown – 1 Lemonade/1 Grape/1 Orange (Faux leather couch brown)

DIY, MYO

DIY, household, tie dye

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[tinabates]

Need to try this with the kids on vacation. Maybe as a rainy day project.

[Scouter]

How many packets of koolaid per mix???

[hamilton37]

Deffinateley gonna give this a try thank you

[trarikk]

How do you set the tie die? Do you rinse in cold water and then dry it?

[cem2teach]

Would love to try this with my Girl Scouts, but need to know how many packets of kool aid to use and how to set the die. We tried a different mixture of kool aid to vinegar and it washed completely out of the shirts.

[mybabybluz]

How much Kool – aide do you use for the mixture

[Beadzie]

@mybabybluz 506329 wrote:

How much Kool – aide do you use for the mixture

What You Do:

For every color you wish to use, put 1 package of Kool-Aid and 1 oz. vinegar in individual plastic bowls. Mix until dissolved.

Pull and twist your T-shirt into different shapes and secure with rubber bands.

Dip the areas gathered by the rubber bands into the bowls of color. Make sure you wear gloves so your hands don’t get stained. Done dipping?

Keep the rubber bands on and set t-shirts in the sun to dry.

You and your child can try as many different colors as you like—just be sure to let each color dry before moving on to the next. Get creative!

Once you’re done with your dying, remove all of the rubber bands and hang the shirts outside to dry.

To set the colors, iron your totally dry shirts on medium-high, using an ironing cloth (a cotton rag will work just as well too) between the shirt and the iron. Let the shirt set for 24 hours before washing. To be safe, wash separately the first time.

Once it’s washed it’s ready to wear!

[ConnieLee]

think this is a project that I will try with my granddaughters.

[WendyLee43]

I have always used a salt water soak after they are done soaking in the color.

I learned this on vacation one year in Florida. They had us put the shirts on and go into the ocean to set our shirts.

Not sure if it would work with cool aid or not. We tie die shirts every year and I’m going to try this next time.

[desertlyzard]

@Beadzie 506383 wrote:

What You Do:

– dry.

To set the colors, iron your totally dry shirts on medium-high, using an ironing cloth (a cotton rag will work just as well too) between the shirt and the iron. Let the shirt set for 24 hours before washing. To be safe, wash separately the first time.

Once it’s washed it’s ready to wear!

Could you toss them in the dryer instead of ironing for the heat set?

[EweWho]

@Beadzie 506383 wrote:

What You Do:

For every color you wish to use, put 1 package of Kool-Aid and 1 oz. vinegar in individual plastic bowls. Mix until dissolved.

you use just the vinegar, no water added? i am going to get some white t-shirts to do this while my grandchildren are visiting from ca. i love tie-dying, but it can get pretty expensive with the rit dyes.

thanks for sharing!

[coreysmom1981]

have to try this with the grandkids on their next visit

[Cuddlebug69]

Great idea – gonna try this week. Need more color in my wardrobe!! Lol

[Lovemissy]

@Scouter 505983 wrote:

How many packets of koolaid per mix???

mix a solution of (2) unsweetened Kool Aid packets

[Teaniney]

If you really want the colors to hold. throw in a hot dryer for double length of time before you ever rinse it out while still tied together and then put in plastic bag. (and don’t use a new shirt until you’ve washed it because it’s covered in “sizing” to keep it crisp looking in the stores.

[jleehh]

Cool idea. I always have koolaid on stock.

[BlueEyedBayFill]

This is a wonderful idea! How do we get the colors brighter? Like the yellows etc…?
I can’t wait to try this.

Thank you

[sparry15]

Can anyone recommend Australian alternatives???

[baconladee]

A bit confused. Above directions show to use one Cup of vinegar. On this latest post it says to use 1 ounce.

I am assuming it is the cup but would like to have a clarification please. Thank You

[bm123]

I really love your tie dye using koolaid, very good idea. Thanks

[kopysh2b]

Need to be more clear, is it 1 oz of vinegar or 1 cup? There is a big difference….Thanks

[FreebieQueen]

@baconladee 510608 wrote:

A bit confused. Above directions show to use one Cup of vinegar. On this latest post it says to use 1 ounce. I am assuming it is the cup but would like to have a clarification please. Thank You

You have to look at the post to see Who’s Posting, the first post is a recipe which calls for 1 cup. The additional posts are responses from other people which call for a different amount because they’re sharing different recipes. You have to choose which one sounds best to you, not mix and match. Well, then again, you could do that as well.

[ShrinkNettie]

It said in the info on top. (4) packets. Make sure it is not the sweetened one though

[FreebieQueen]

I’ve also found that the cheapie store brand packets of kool-aid style drink do not work as well as the real thing.

[Author]

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