Learn how to crumple tie dye!
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Learn how to crumple tie dye!

Make your own beautiful t-shirts with the crumple tie dye technique! Sarah Jackman Read is here to show you how to crumple tie dye and achieve your psychedelic dreams.

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Sarah Jackman Read

Published: March 4, 2023 at 8:59 am

Tie dyeing is still as popular as ever and continues to be the number one craft for children and adults alike. For those of you new to the world of tie dye we'd recommend checking out our complete guide to tie dye as well as our how to tie dye tutorial first.

The world of tie dye is massive and there are numerous tie dyeing techniques within it. One of the easiest techniques to start with is crumple tie dye.

What is crumple tie dye?

The crumple tie dye technique is super-simple, it just requires an item of clothing or fabric to be crumpled up before fabric dye is applied on top. The finished result is a random pattern of colour, interspersed with undyed areas, creating a truly unique design. Crumple tie dye looks great on clothing, bags etc and each piece will come out completely different.

Crumple tie dye is perfect for revamping tired clothes and accessories and giving them a new lease of life, rather than them going into landfill. White items work best as you will get the most vibrant looks. You can use as many or as few colours as you like and also create pieces that will match other items that you have in your wardrobe.

If you're wondering what else you can tie dye other than a shirt, check out our collection of things to tie dye.

You only need a few basic items to start crumple tie dyeing. We're going to talk you through what you need to start crumple tie dyeing and show you step by step how to crumple tie dye. Once you've followed our tutorial you'll see the possibilities are endless when it comes to crumple tie dye!

How to do crumple tie dye

You will need

White item of clothing or fabric

Crumple tie dye techniques work best on white pure cotton items or a mix of cotton and polyester. These white cotton t-shirts are ideal to try the technique on.

Bottled fabric dyes

Bottled fabric dyes are the easiest dyes to use as they can be squirted straight onto the crumpled fabric with ease. They allow you to apply to small or large areas.

This CraftLab tie dye kit has a huge array of 26 colours to help create numerous designs. For more tie dye kits head over to our collection of the best tie dye kits to find the right one for you.

Elastic bands

Elastic bands help keep the crumpled fabric secure and make it easier to handle. These elastic bands are perfect for securing fabric, plus they can be used in other tie-dying techniques. Plastic sheeting

This will help ensure that dyes don’t stain a table or surrounding area. A roll of Polythene dust sheet will protect against spills and splashes and you can simply trim off the amount you need.

Disposable gloves

Gloves are a must too to ensure hands don’t get stained in the dyeing process. These disposable gloves will ensure hands remain stain-free.

Looking for more tie dye inspiration?

If crumple tie dye has given you a taste for exploring other ideas then grab some inspiration from these tie dye patterns.

How to do crumple tie dye step by step

You will need:

  • Dye
  • White item to dye
  • Elastic bands
  • Protective gloves and sheet

Step 1

how to crumple tie dye step 1

Pre-wash your chosen item then leave it damp but not wringing wet. Cover your work surface with a plastic sheet then lay the damp item on top.

Carefully crumple the item into a loose ball.

Step 2

how to crumple tie dye step 2

Secure the fabric with several elastic bands.

Step 3

how to crumple tie dye step 3

Put on some disposable gloves then up your chosen dye bottles with water.

Shake each bottle thoroughly then remove the caps.

Step 4

how to crumple tie dye step 4

Squirt the first colour over areas of the fabric. Take the second colour then add it to other areas.

Step 5

how to crumple tie dye step 5

Add a final contrasting colour into any remaining gaps, leaving a few areas white if desired. Turn the item over then repeat the process.

Place in a carrier bag and leave the dye to process for at least 8 hours.

Step 6

Crumple tie dye finished

Remove the item from the carrier bag, remove the elastic bands then rinse in cold water until the water runs clear.

Wash in a hot wash cycle with dye-safe detergent then leave to dry.

You can learn more about how to wash tie dye with our guide.

Once the item is dry, iron then enjoy!

Crumple tie dye techniques

The joy of crumple tie dye is in its simplicity but there are ways to vary the designs you can create.

You can crumple the item loosely or only crumple certain areas for a more subtle pattern. Crumpling tightly and adding more elastic bands will result in more pale areas in your design. You can use just one dye to achieve the effect or perhaps use three or four bright, contrasting colours to create a striking look.

Why not crumple small areas and just add dye there? The more you experiment, the more you can create. You could also experiment with other techniques such as shibori tie dyeing.

Crumple tie dye patterns

Generally, the crumple dye technique doesn’t create a structured pattern, it tends to be more random. By adding the dye in lines or gathering certain areas, your end result will have a  more structured design.

Upcycle your clothes with crumple tie dye

Crumple tie dyeing is the perfect craft if you want to recycle your clothes and repurpose items. The more we can do to recycle, the more we help the planet.

As well as wearing tie-dyed items, the crumple tie dye techniques can be used for home decor items such as cushions, duvet covers and even curtains.

This simple technique will breathe life into many unloved items in the most colourful way.

Master the art of ice dyeing with Gathered

If you have loved experimenting with crumple tie dye then why not go one step further and try ice dyeing? Learn how to ice dye with our tutorial for beginners.

Sarah Jackman Read

Designer

Sarah is a freelance craft designer specialising in paper craft, quilling and sewing. She regularly creates a variety of projects for several uk craft companies and magazines. She also designs and makes her own resin jewellery: https://wightcoastalcreations.com/
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