This quick and easy Sharpie tie dye tutorial will show you how to tie dye a shirt with Sharpie markers. (Mock tie dye) Such a fun activity to make with kids and the best part is watching the ink bleed and transform into so many neat designs!
Watch our step by step video!
3 More Fun Summer Activities for Kids:
Sharpie Tie Dye: How To Tie Dye a Shirt With Sharpie Markers
Supplies:
Rubbing Alcohol
100% Cotton White T-shirt (pre-washed without fabric softener)
Iron
The ink bleeds and spreads into these beautiful shapes!
It is VERY important to heat set the shirts so that the dye stays in them. There is usually a tiny bit of fading, but if you just toss this in the wash without any sort of heat, most will probably wash away. Here is a quick guide for heat setting Sharpies into fabric.
I used an iron (set to the highest setting) and ironed over the shirts, going over every area that was colored a few minutes for each shirt. The next day I washed them in cold water and dried it in the dryer as normal.
Update: 2016- Our shirts held up to washings for a few months before fading considerably. Would we make them again? Absolutely. These are such a fun summertime activity and they can wear their shirts all summer, but our experience has been that Sharpies will eventually fade. Full disclosure!
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Welcome! I'm Brandy, mother to 5 darling kiddos and a cute black lab named Toby. My husband is in the Coast Guard so we've lived all over the place, turning each house into a home. I love baking, sewing, making cute things with my kids, and sharing what I've learned with all of you!
We will try this. Thanks!
Just tried this with my three sons ages 4-10 and it was awesome! We gathered everything together in just minutes, used some rather tired t-shirts and now they have cool new summer duds. Thanks for sharing this great idea!
Awesome! Glad they had fun with them too! 🙂
My 5y-o is going to adore this. Thanks for adding washing instructions. Jojosewist
Just tried it. My sharpies didn’t run! So sad, but glad I tried it before the Bible school kids.
I am looking for crafts to add to my birthday party agenda! This was an awesome idea! Super smart and creative! My friends will love it too!
My daughter and her friends just sharpie tye dyed pillow cases and they came out great! So fun and easy!
What a great idea! I love that!
I’m teaching a camp for 6-7 years old and I was going to Tye dye. I’m so glad I found this!!! This will be so much better.