This ocean-inspired geode tie dye crib sheet turned out absolutely gorgeous! I love dyeing crib sheets because they’re practical, the perfect size for experimenting with new folds, and they always show color beautifully. In this post, I’ll show you exactly how I created this single-geode, wave-inspired design.
Why I Love Dyeing Crib Sheets
I’ve been obsessed with dyeing crib sheets lately. They’re the perfect medium-sized blank — big enough to showcase color movement, but still easy to handle for folding and rinsing. This one was extra special because it was made for my niece, who’s named after the ocean! So naturally, I wanted to create a design that looked like waves crashing on the shore.
If you love practical projects like this, check out my post on one color tie dye projects. They’re perfect for using up extra dye and testing new color combos on smaller blanks like crib sheets or bandanas.
Geode Crib Sheet Video Tutorial
For more visual details, check out the video I made of this project here:
Folding the Crib Sheet: Single Geode Fold
For this project, I started at one corner of the crib sheet and wrapped sinew around the fabric about four times, pulling it tight using my sinew puller. If you’ve followed me for a while, you know I do geodes all the time — but this one’s a little different. Instead of creating multiple nodes, I wanted just one single geode line to mimic the movement of water. Simple, but stunning!
If you’re new to geode folds, I also have a full guide on how to tie dye with black, which includes a geode project that shows how crisp sinew lines can look in darker colorways.
Choosing the Ocean-Inspired Colors
I used five Dharma Trading colors for this project, building from light to dark to get that beachy, ocean gradient:
- Amber Waves – a sandy tan that represents the shore.
- Seafoam – a pale, airy blue. It doesn’t travel far, so use generously!
- Mermaid’s Dream – a bright, playful aqua tone.
- Kingfisher Blue – one of my favorite teals; rich and vibrant.
- Teal Blue – a deep, dark teal that adds contrast and depth.
Adding the Ice
Once the dyes were applied, I topped it with pebble ice. I’ll be honest — pebble ice isn’t my favorite. It’s tricky to work with, falls into cracks, and doesn’t always melt evenly. But I had some left over from my ice dye comparison video, so I decided to use it up for this project. If you prefer, use crushed or cubed ice for easier coverage.
Curious how different types of ice change your results? I tested pebble, crushed, and cubed ice in this experiment: what type of ice works best for ice dyeing.
Rinsing Out the Dye
After the ice fully melted, I rinsed the crib sheet in cool water until most of the dye ran clear. Then I bumped the temperature up to hot to remove the last of the excess color. Because sinew wraps around itself, untying is easy — you don’t have to cut anything, though I did keep scissors handy just in case.
I like to wash my tie-dye projects in hot water with a bit of Dawn dish soap for the first couple of loads. I usually do two full washes before mixing them in with regular laundry. This helps prevent any backstaining or color transfer, especially with deep teals and blues.
If you’re prepping fabric for dyeing, make sure to read my post on how to use soda ash for tie dye — it helps colors like teal and blue bond beautifully to the fabric and is a necessary step with procion dyes.
The Final Result
Even though the Amber Waves sand tone faded a little, I still love how this turned out. The layers of blues blend beautifully and really do look like ocean waves rolling onto the shore. This geode tie dye crib sheet might be one of my favorite projects to date — perfect for an ocean-themed nursery or a coastal-inspired room.
Get My Free Tie Dye Fold eBook
If you’re new to tie dye or just want to try new patterns, grab my free printable eBook “12 of My Favorite Tie Dye Folds.” It includes step-by-step instructions for folds like the spiral, geode, and heart. Click here to get it!
Shop My Tie Dye Creations
This crib sheet might already be sold, but you can browse my other one-of-a-kind dyed pieces in my Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/PracticalandprettyUS
And don’t forget to check out my Amazon storefront for my favorite dyeing tools and supplies: https://www.amazon.com/shop/annamcnamara?ref=ac_inf_tb_vh
Thanks for reading, and happy dyeing! I’d love to see your own ocean-inspired projects — tag me on Instagram at @storebrandanna so I can cheer you on!
