Looking for easy tie-dye projects that won’t take all weekend? Whether you’re a beginner or just short on time, these fun and fast tie-dye ideas can all be done in a single afternoon (not counting batching time, of course).
With just a little fabric, some dye, and minimal prep, you can create something colorful and creative without the overwhelm. Here are six easy tie-dye projects you’ll love to try.
If you’re looking for a quick kit and don’t want to invest in high quality dyes just yet, I did a review of the most popular Amazon tie dye kits.
Before you start, make sure you have the right supplies! I put together a full guide to the Best Tie-Dye Supplies I use for every project — check it out here.
1. Tie Dye Socks
If you want a quick and easy tie-dye project to use up leftover dye, socks are the perfect choice. They soak up color beautifully and are great for trying out different folding techniques like scrunch, geode, or accordion.
Just take note that the socks need to be mostly cotton which is getting more rare nowadays. You can typically find mostly white cotton socks at Walmart or somewhere similar but just double check that fiber content. Here are a couple of socks I have used and really like from Amazon.
Just soak, fold, dye, and batch. Simple and satisfying.
Video coming soon!
2. Ice Dyed Bandanas
Bandanas are one of the easiest tie-dye projects to start with. They’re small, flat, and ideal for ice dyeing, which gives a gorgeous watercolor effect with hardly any effort.
Just scrunch or fold, cover in ice, and sprinkle dye powder on top. After batching and rinsing, you’ve got a wearable piece of art. The bandanas I use that dye really beautifully and are pretty cost efficient can be found here.
Shop my finished bandanas on Etsy
3. Spiral Tie Dye T-Shirt
You can’t go wrong with a classic spiral tee. It’s one of the easiest tie-dye patterns for beginners, and the final result is always bold and fun.
Twist the shirt into a spiral, apply your favorite colors, and let the dye work its magic. Follow my step-by-step spiral shirt tutorial here.
4. Tie Dye Scrunchies
Small but mighty! Scrunchies are a super easy tie dye project and make great use of leftover dye. Soak them, scrunch them up, and add your dye—there’s no wrong way to do it. Here’s a good set of different styles you could try.
They’re fast, fun, and make great gifts or stocking stuffers.
5. Baby Swaddles
Baby swaddles and burp cloths are soft, sweet, and perfect for quick tie dye sessions. They’re just the right size for experimenting with patterns and colors.
Use soft pastels or bold brights to make adorable, personalized baby items. Here you can find a set of 4 cotton swaddles. (This one pictured below is bamboo and it’s one I hand make.)
Check out some of mine in my Etsy shop.
6. Pillowcases
Pillowcases are another beginner-friendly tie-dye project that feels satisfying and practical. Use different folds on each one and keep your color palette consistent for a fun, coordinated look.
They make great personalized gifts or a quick way to refresh your home decor. They’re also perfect for group projects because a lot of people have old dingy pillowcases they could bring to dye.
7. Tea Towels
You can snag tea towels at Walmart for about $1 a piece. I use a little higher quality for my towels and you can grab those on Amazon if you’re curious.
Part of why I love towels is because you can experiment with a good amount of fabric for a super affordable price. The towels can also be used for exercise class, hand towels at home and even things around the kitchen like raising bread dough.
Want More Easy Tie Dye Projects?
Browse my blog for more tie dye tutorials, tips, and product reviews. I’ve got two new posts a week and you can keep tabs by signing up for my newsletter and grabbing my free ebook at the same time!
Let me know which of these easy tie dye projects you’re trying this weekend! And don’t forget to pin this post to save it for later.
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