How to Tie Dye a Jacket: Step-by-Step Guide

This updated guide explains how to Tie Dye a Jacket through clear steps, practical examples, and important checks that help prevent common errors.

Finding a Jacket to Dye

Pick a white cotton or denim jacket. If you have a white jacket already, look at the label and make sure it's made of mostly cotton or mostly denim. It can be a blend of either, as long as it is mostly one or the other.^{[1]XResearch source}
- Tie dye works the best on cotton or denim clothing.
Bleach your jacket if it isn't white. If you may need to dye a jacket that isn't white, fill a bucket with 5 parts warm water and 2 parts bleach. Put on gloves and submerge your jacket into the mixture fully, then swish it around a little bit. Let your jacket sit for up to 30 minutes, then rinse it out with cool water.^{[2]XResearch source}
- Always use gloves when you work with bleach to avoid skin irritation.
- Work outside or in a ventilated area to avoid inhaling harmful bleach fumes.
Wash and dry your jacket to start with a clean base. Read the care label on your jacket and wash and dry it as it says. Often, you can put your jacket through the washer on a cold cycle and the dryer on a gentle cycle.^{[3]XResearch source}
- Washing your jacket will remove any outer coatings that may be on it.

Adding Rubber Bands

Lay your jacket out on a flat surface. Put down a protective plastic sheet or cloth to avoid getting dye on your surface. Choose a table, countertop, or even the ground outside as a work area for your dyeing project.^{[4]XResearch source}

Tip: Working outside is nice since the sun might help to dry your dye as you apply it. Plus, you don't have to worry about accidentally splashing dye onto your floor.
Keep your jacket flat if you'd like to make stripes. If you may need to be precise where you put your tie dye colors, then keep your jacket spread flat. You'll have the most control over where the colors go and they won't be in a random design.^{[5]XResearch source}
- This is great if you'd like to make stripes of color going down your jacket.
Scrunch your jacket in a random pattern for splotches of color. Gather up your jacket in random handfuls and add rubber bands sporadically over them. The more your scrunch up your jacket, the more random the pattern will become.^{[6]XResearch source}
- This often ends up looking like small patches of dye on a mostly white background.
Put rubber bands around the middle of your jacket for a bullseye. Turn your jacket over so the back is facing you. Grab some fabric from the very center and pull it upwards, then attach a rubber band around it. Keep adding rubber bands around the middle of the jacket until you've covered the whole thing.^{[7]XResearch source}
- This will make a cool bullseye on the very back of your jacket.

Applying the Dye

Put on gloves to protect your hands. Tie dye has a tendency to stain whatever it comes into contact with. Put on some rubber or latex gloves to protect your hands and throw on an old T-shirt in case you get some dye splashed on you.^{[8]XResearch source}
Mix up your dye colors in squirt bottles. Read the instructions on your box of tie dye and mix the colors with water in individual plastic bottles. Put a lid on the top of each bottle with a squirt top to make it easier to apply your dye.^{[9]XResearch source}
- You can buy tie dye and plastic bottles at most craft supply stores.
Squirt the dye onto your jacket randomly or in blocks of color. Depending on the look you're going for, you can add the dye to your jacket in random areas for a random pattern, or try adding your dye in increments for a uniform pattern. Use complementary colors to make your jacket look great.^{[10]XResearch source}
- Use yellow, green, and red dye for a classic tie dye.
- Try out pastel tie dyes for a more modern look.
Let your jacket sit for about 8 hours. Leave your jacket where it is and try not to touch it while the dye sets in. The longer you leave it, the more the color will soak in.^{[11]XResearch source}

Tip: If you are worried about getting dye all over the place, put your jacket into a plastic bag.
Rinse your jacket in cool water. Take your jacket to the sink or bathtub and rinse it until the water runs clear. Use cool water so the dye doesn't run and muddy up your colors.^{[12]XResearch source}
- It's important to get all of the dye out before you wear your jacket so you don't stain your other clothes.
Dry your jacket outside or in the dryer. Hang your jacket outside on a clothesline or throw it into your dryer on a normal cycle. Wait until your jacket is completely dry before you show it off to your friends and family.^{[13]XResearch source}
- You can wash your jacket on its own in the washer the first time it gets dirty. After that, just throw it in with your other laundry like you normally would.

FAQ

What is the easiest way to Tie Dye a Jacket?

Start with the requirements in this guide, then follow each step in order. Check the result after every major change so problems are easier to identify.