Bring Christmas cheer to your winter wardrobe with tie dye! This tutorial will show you how to make a Christmas tie-dye T-shirt with festive holiday lights.
Before you get started on your Christmas tie-dye project, prewash the substrate that you’ll be dyeing and lay the damp fabric flat on a protected work surface. Prepare your tie-dye solutions by adding water to the dye bottles, filling to the neck. Replace the cap tightly and shake well until dye powder is fully dissolved.
Use a washable marker to draw a curved line across the fabric to indicate where the lightbulbs will be on your Christmas tie-dye T-shirt. Take your paper lightbulb template and trace the shape along the line, alternating sides with each lightbulb.
Fold the lightbulb shape in half lengthwise, then pleat and fold the section along the drawn line. Wrap tightly with a rubber band and repeat with each Christmas lightbulb.
Once all your lightbulbs are wrapped with rubber bands, loosely scrunch the shirt together and bind with rubber bands.
Apply dye colors of choice to each lightbulb. We’re using a vibrant rainbow palette to capture the spirit of the holidays for this Christmas tie-dye technique! Always remember to wear gloves when working with tie dye.
Apply dye to the remainder of the fabric, ensuring dye has penetrated the folds. For this festive Christmas tie-dye technique, we’re using two different shades of green so that our shirt looks like a Christmas tree adorned in colorful lights!
Once you’ve finished applying dyes to your Christmas tie-dye tee, cover with plastic wrap or place your project into a sealable plastic bag. Allow the dyes to set for 6-8 hours or overnight for more vibrant results. After the dye processes, rinse and launder according to package instructions.
Once your Christmas tie-dye shirt has been laundered, use a fabric marker to string the lights together and color in the base of each lightbulb.
Your Christmas tie-dye T-shirt is ready to wear! Pair this festive tee with a Santa hat and light-up holiday glasses for a complete Christmas outfit.
How are you using tie dye for your holiday craft projects? Show us your take on Christmas tie dye and tag us on social media @TulipColorCrafts!