How to Make Dye with Food Coloring:

Use an old water bottle with a squeeze cap to mix your tie dye. In order to make dye with food coloring, fill the water bottle with a 1/2 cup of water and approximately 16 drops of food coloring. Use a different water bottle for each color of tie dye you make.
*Food coloring is not a permanent dye like traditional tie dye kits. Note that food coloring WILL fade over time, but the vinegar and salt soak steps should help the project last longer than it otherwise would have. *

Featured Tie-Dye Designs/Instructions:

​Shibori Design

​Instructions:
  1. Wash, dry, and iron your tote bag. (Don’t skip this step – new bags have a coating that stops the dye being absorbed properly.)
  2. Soak the tote in water/vinegar mix and wring out excess water.
  3. Place on flat surface and smooth out the bag.
  4. Add 1 ounce dye and 1 teaspoon salt to a bottle, then fill with hot water.
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5. Accordion-fold the tote vertically.
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6. Fold the tote, including the handles, in thirds (pictured). Bind the bag tightly with three evenly spaced rubber bands.
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7. Fill a dish with about ½ inch of the dye mixture. With gloved hands, place the long side of the tote into the dish and let sit for a couple of minutes. Flip the tote and dye the other side, leaving a band of undyed fabric in the middle (pictured).
 8.   Remove the tote from the dish and place in a zip seal bag. Leave for 8 hours.
9.   Remove from bag. Further set your tie dye by soaking your project in a salt water solution. Mix ½ cup salt with enough cold water to cover the shirt until dissolved. Let your tote soak for 15-30 minutes.
10.   Take rubber bands off and rinse with cold water until water runs clear.
11.   Make sure you wash the tote separately in a washing machine before use. 

Slice of Rainbow Design

Instructions:
  1. Wash, dry and iron your tote bag. (Don’t skip this step – new bags have a coating that stops the dye being absorbed properly.)
  2. Soak the tote in water/vinegar mix and wring out excess water.
  3. Place on flat surface and smooth out the bag.
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4. Folding: Take bag by bottom right hand corner. Clasp bag and pull bag through a closed fist to form an arrow shape.
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5. Apply dye to sections.
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• Apply first band tightly 4 inches from the corner. • Apply second band 6 inches from the corner. • Apply third band 12 inches from the corner.
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6. Wipe up excess dye with tissue and place bag in a zip seal bag. Leave for 8 hours.
7.   Remove from bag. Further set your tie dye by soaking your project in a salt water solution. Mix 1/2 cup salt with enough cold water to cover the shirt until dissolved. Let your tote soak for 15-30 minutes.
8.   Take rubber bands off and rinse in the sink with cold water until the water runs clear.
9.   Make sure you wash the tote separately in a washing machine before use. 

​Swirl Design

Instructions:
  1. Wash, dry and iron your tote bag. (Don’t skip this step – new bags have a coating that stops the dye being absorbed properly.)
  2. Soak the tote in water/vinegar mix and wring out excess water.
  3. Place on flat surface and smooth out the bag.
  4. Folding: Pinch the bag in the center and slowly twist clockwise. Ensure the folds radiate out to the edge of the bag and continue to twist.
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5. Apply bands or cable ties across the center of the folded bag. Apply 2 more bands or cable ties to divide the folded bag into 6 parts. Ensure the bands are tight to hold the tote together.
6.   Apply dye to each section, alternatively.
7.   Wipe up excess dye with tissue and place bag in a zip seal bag. Leave for 8 hours.
8.   Remove from bag. Further set your tie dye by soaking your project in a salt water solution. Mix 1/2 cup salt with enough cold water to cover the shirt until dissolved. Let your tote soak for 15-30 minutes.
9.   Take rubber bands off and rinse in the sink with cold water until the water runs clear.
10.   Make sure you wash the tote separately in a washing machine before use.