Have yous heard of reverse tie dye earlier? Stick around…sharing the DIY today!

Woman holding reverse tie dye print napkin in front of her.
A few years ago, I shared a technique for bleaching linen that transforms old textiles in a really pretty way. And then, I thought it was time to try this project over again.

This time though, I tested out making patterns, using a elementary opposite tie dye technique that uses bleach instead of dye to create realy absurd patterns on domicile textiles and clothing.

Yep! That tie dye tea towel you lot meet higher up was made with bleach not dye! Surprisingly, bleach works like a charm and considering it'south even less complicated that your average dying project (and less expensive materials-wise), I thought y'all might want a tutorial.

To mimic this look at dwelling house, you'll just demand a solid colour cloth (cotton fiber, linen, etc) and some bleach. I'll show y'all three unlike techniques you tin can use for reverse tie dye besides, so you can cull the look you like best. So easy! Click through for the tutorial.

What is Opposite Tie Dye?

You've probably heard of reverse necktie dye before, but maybe yous didn't know what information technology is? Reverse necktie dye or tie dyeing with bleach is exactly what I'thou going to show y'all how to do today. It's very easy to practise and procedure really unique results.

You will need to accept some precautions when using bleach, like working outdoors, wearing gloves, etc. But the procedure is really interesting and definitely worth trying, as long as you lot feel comfortable working with bleach.

Essentially, the bleach volition human action as the dye. But it won't be dyeing y'all textile a color, it will instead be removing the colour from the fabric. The outcome may not be what you movie though. It might not turn white. Information technology will probably instead, look similar what you meet in all the photos.

Pretty unique, right? I love this technique.

What is the difference between shibori and tie dye?

To continue it as simple every bit possible, shibori is a Japanese dyeing technique that uses a resist to create unique patterns on fabric.

Both tie dye and shibori create patterns on clothing and housewares, but generally speaking, shibori is a far more intricate process than tie dye.

Shibori tie dye napkins in earth tones, lined up, hanging on a white wall.

Materials Needed

  • household bleach*
  • any textiles (clothing, napkins, bandanas, pillow covers, etc)
  • small pieces of paper-thin, rubber bands, metallic clips, etc
  • medium size container (I used a plastic desk trash tin can)
  • tongs and gloves (for handling the bleached fabric afterward)
  • sometime towel (to put downward on the ground outside while working)
  • spray bottle

*Disclosure: When using household bleach, you should ALWAYS wear gloves and work in a well ventilated area – like the outdoors. If desired, yous tin as well vesture a mask / respirator. Merely if you're outdoors (and y'all should be), a mask is non at all required.If you feel uncomfortable working with household bleach, practise not recreate this project.

What materials are best for opposite tie dye?

You lot can apply and so many different kinds of textiles for opposite tie dye. From bandanas and napkins to t-shirts and sweatshirts. The plain napkins I used for this project are from Globe Market place and Etsy.

In terms of the type of fabric that is best for reverse tie dye projects though, I typically employ materials that are 100% natural, like linen or cotton.

Photo of neutral fabrics being clipped and prepped for reverse tie dye bleach process.

How to Necktie Dye with Bleach

There are several different techniques you can use for reverse tie dye and I'll take you lot through three of them today: a spray bleach technique, a pouring technique, and a submerging technique.

Each will give you dissimilar results and varying patterns. But all three are very easy to do. Let'due south go started.

Technique #1: Submerging textile in bleach.

1. First, working in a well ventilated area, submerge the fabric in water. I used my kitchen sink. Wring out the excess water and fold into different designs – you tin fold the cloth into squares, triangles, rectangles, etc.

*You tin can also try skipping this pace of getting the material wet first. Information technology will produce slightly dissimilar results, but function of the fun of reverse necktie dye is making different patterns and experimenting with unlike techniques.

2. Side by side, put on gloves and pour bleach directly into a container (that is simply used for crafting). Make certain there is enough bleach in the container to fully submerged the fabric.

You shouldn't demand more than a gallon (probably much less depending on how much fabric you're submerging). Ex: For reverse necktie dyeing a napkin, bandana, or other small-scale detail, you'd only need 10-15 ounces. But enough to fully submerge your item.

iv. Then add together the folded fabric pieces from stride ane into the bleach and make certain they are fully submerged.

Set a timer for anywhere from 2 minutes to 20 minutes. The amount of fourth dimension the bleach needs to soak into the fabric will vary based on the fabric yous're using. Merely y'all should be able to see visual change in the cloth color earlier you remove it from the bleach.

The linen napkins and bandanas I bleached started changing colour well-nigh immediately and I removed them after about two minutes. While the cotton wool blend napkins I dyed stayed submerge for much longer (15-20 minutes).

5. With your gloves still on, or using tongs, remove the textile from the bleach in one case yous're happy with the color change. And rinse it in the sink (or with a hose outside) for several minutes to remove all of the bleach, forth with the clips and cardboard pieces. The colour will continue to change until the fabric is done – so continue that in heed.

6. Wash in the washing auto (no soap needed), so run the fabric through the dryer to heat set before using.

Technique #2: Spraying bleach onto fabric with a spray bottle.

i. Working in a well ventilated area, exterior, submerge the textile in water. I used my kitchen sink. Wring out the excess water and fold into dissimilar designs – y'all can fold the fabric into squares, triangles, rectangles, etc.

*You can also attempt skipping this step. It will produce slightly unlike results, merely office of the fun of opposite necktie dye is making different patterns and experimenting with unlike techniques.

2. So, lay your item downwardly on a towel exterior and gear up you item for the bleach. At that place are lots of dissimilar ways you can practise that. Here are 3 ideas:

  • Scrunch fabric up and create lots of wrinkles and crinkles. This technique works bully for t-shirts. I did this for the yellow t-shirt I dyed that you tin encounter in the photos.
  • Choose different areas of the fabric to pull upward and necktie off with safe bands. OR scrunch upward the fabric long ways and add condom bands, etc. Lots of pattern options if yous use rubber bands, so just get artistic with this one.
  • Compression the heart of the cloth and twist into a spiral for a tie dye swirl pattern.

iii. Adjacent, put on gloves and cascade bleach into a spray canteen (that is only used for crafting). And spray bleach all over the cloth or item yous are reverse tie dyeing. This can be done multiple times, v-10 minutes autonomously.

Notation: This is the longest color change process of the three because the cloth is not getting as saturated with bleach. Color change may not be visible for 30-hour. And multiple rounds of spraying may be required, depending on your material.

4. One time you are seeing color alter and like the design you've created, you can rinse the item with a hose or nether the sink. And permit it dry out before washing in the washing machine.

Technique #3: Pouring directly onto fabric.

1. Like the other ii methods, you can either get your fabric item wet first or skip this footstep and continue the detail completely dry before pouring.

2. Next, you're going to want to prepare the particular that you desire to reverse tie dye. You tin can scrunch the cloth up, fold it several times accordion style, fold it some other way, etc. You can too add together cardboard pieces to use every bit a resist for the helping to create a pattern if desired.

Encounter reverse tie dye video tutorial above for more ideas.

3. Put on some gloves (or keep your tongs handy) and set the fabric detail down on an old towel outside. Then cascade a small amount of bleach directly onto the item, on both sides.

Look 5-10 minutes to come across if the color is starting to exist removed before pouring additional rounds of bleach onto the fabric.

This method does take longer than submerging your particular in bleach (technique #1). I let the bluish linen bandana I dyed sit outside subsequently bleach was poured on it for most 30 minutes. Poured the bleach on a second time about ten minutes after the first pour.

But it oftentimes provides a more intricate pattern, if yous're using a paper-thin resist and folding blueprint, for example.

5. With your gloves still on, or using tongs, remove any cardboard or clips you may have added, one time y'all tin can see a color change in the fabric that yous similar. Rinse the fabric nether water (sink or hose) for a couple of minutes and let information technology dry outside.

And then it can be done in the washing machine and stale as normal in the dryer or exterior.

Call up: The color volition go on to change until the textile is washed.

Dipping brown fabric napkins into bleach with two metal clips attached to create a bleached tie dye effect.

The finished patterns are organic and unique. Definitely a smashing way to add together some personality to a $10 set of napkins, a t-shirt, and and then much more.

What else tin can I tie dye with bleach?

Pretty much whatsoever cloth yous can call back of can be the dyed with bleach. That'due south the dazzler of this tutorial. There is then much more yous can practise than only reverse tie dye napkins.

You tin can bleach necktie dye an an onetime cotton shirt, a sweatshirt, pants, a throw coating, bandanas, pillow covers, etc.

Earth tone tie dye and shibori print textiles in various stages of being completed.

Reverse tie dye napkin print in blue and mustard.

Earthy tone shibori and tie dye pattern napkins hanging on a white wall.

Yellow and white reverse tie dye t-shirt folded on a white table.

Tie dye DIY textile project, hanging from a wood shelf in a modern craft room.

Photo of folded fabrics with metal clips ready for dyeing and completed tie dye textiles.

Photo of reverse tie dye shirt, bandanas, and napkins in muted colors, all stacked up.
Woman's hand grabbing a tie dye napkin tea towel hanging on the wall.

How to Opposite Tie Dye with Bleach

A few years ago, I shared a technique for transforming old linens with bleach and I thought it was time to endeavour this projection once more.

This time though, I tested out making patterns, using a simple shibori technique that is typically reserved for dyeing. And surprisingly, the bleach worked like a charm! So I'm sharing the tutorial today.

To mimic this await at home, you'll simply need a solid color fabric (cotton), some bleach, and a couple of other things y'all probably already have at domicile. So easy!

Keyword: bleach, diy, dyeing, fabric crafts, hair bandana, napkins, shibori

Price: $0-10

  • medium size container (I used a plastic desk-bound trash can)

  • tongs and gloves (for handling the bleached fabric later on)

  • household bleach* Disclosure: When using household bleach you should ALWAYS habiliment gloves and work in a well ventilated area - like the outdoors. If desired, you tin can also wear a mask / respirator. If you experience uncomfortable working with household bleach, practice not recreate this project.
  • cotton fiber solid color napkins / textiles mine are from World Market
  • small pieces of cardboard, rubber bands, metal clips, etc

  • Showtime, working in a well ventilated area, submerge the fabric in water. I used my kitchen sink. Wring out the backlog water and fold into different designs - you can fold the fabric into squares, triangles, rectangles, etc.

  • Then apply paper-thin pieces on the front AND back of the folded fabric pieces and use large clips to keep everything in identify.

  • Adjacent, put on gloves and pour bleach direct into a container and make sure there's enough bleach in the container to fully submerged the fabric. You shouldn't demand more than than a gallon (probably much less depending on how much material you lot're submerging).

  • Then add the folded fabric pieces from steps 1 and ii into the bleach and make sure they are fully submerged. Fix a timer for anywhere from 5 minutes to twenty minutes. The corporeality of fourth dimension the bleach needs to soak into the material will vary based on the cloth you're using. Just you should be able to see visual change in the fabric color before y'all remove it from the bleach.

  • With your gloves however on, remove the fabric from the bleach once y'all're happy with it and rinse it in the sink for several minutes to remove all of the bleach, along with the clips and cardboard pieces. The color will keep to change until the material is washed, etc - so keep that in mind.

  • Launder in the washing car (no soap needed), so run the fabric through the dryer to heat set before using. And that's it!

  • The finished patterns are organic and unique.

  • Definitely a great way to add some personality to a $ten set of napkins or anything else you can get your easily on...an one-time cotton fiber shirt, a throw blanket, etc.

For all three reverse tie dye techniques, delight reference weblog post. DIY card is for submerging technique only.

Photography Brittni Mehlhoff

Have you ever tried shibori dyeing before? Call up you'll give this bleached version a endeavor?