How to tie-dye a crewneck sweatshirt

An excellent summertime craft is tie-dyeing, and if you are looking for a fun way to get occupied, you should try tie-dye. During the covid period, tie-dye crewneck sweatshirts were an everyday attire for some people, and tie-dyeing old clothes was certainly a good way to pass the time. Tie-dyeing is much easier than you may think, and you can do it in a few DIY steps. Tie-dyeing a sweatshirt is slightly different from T-shirts because you have to ensure that the dye gets to the long sleeves. First, you should know that the material of the sweatshirt matters a lot to how the pattern will emerge. It is advisable to use 100% cotton material and plain white color, especially when using a dye kit. Cotton will allow the dye to be set properly. You may also use a material that isn't fully cotton. However, using polyester or synthetic material may lead to the dye getting rinsed out and a pale outcome.

If you're feeling adventurous, you can dye a colored shirt. However, the colors and pattern may not come out as expected. Some of the materials you'd need to tie-dye your sweatshirt are;

·        Plastic wrap

·        Latex gloves

·        Rubber bands

·        Paper towels

·        Plain white cotton crewneck sweatshirt

·        Tie-dye kit or dye and soda ash

Here's how to dye your sweatshirt in a few easy steps.

·        First, wash the plain white sweatshirt to ensure there's no dirt on it that may prevent the dye from reacting properly. After washing, take it out wet to make the shape and tie easier when preparing to dye. Next, you can wrap, fold, scrunch or twist the sweatshirt up and tie it with rubber bands. There are various techniques that can be used for different designs.

·        Once you've decided on the design you want, you can roll up the shirt using the technique.

·        Next, prepare the sweatshirt and soda ash mixture for tie-dyeing. If you're using a one-step tie-dye kit, you don't need this step.

·        Place the wrapped sweatshirt into the soda ash mixture and keep it soaked for about 20 minutes to ensure full coverage. You can flip and turn it over while soaking to ensure that the mixture sets in completely.

·        Wrap the tie-dyed sweatshirt in plastic wrap. Wrapping it up helps keep the moisture locked in and is necessary for the dye to set in.

Leave it in the plastic wrap for about 12-24 hours, then rinse it out.