Want to learn how to tie-dye a rainbow spiral shirt? This step-by-step tutorial shows you how I made a colorful crop top using the ice dye method and just five staple Dharma Trading Co. colors.
Materials Needed:
- 100% cotton crop top (pre-soaked in soda ash and damp)
- Dharma Fiber Reactive Dyes: Dye-namite, Daffodil, Better Blue Green, Cobalt Blue, Power Berry
- Painters tape
- Ice (bagged or from your freezer)
- Surface cover
- Gloves
- Washable marker (be careful to use Crayola here. Some other brands don’t wash out even though they say they will!)
Not sure where to start? I pulled together my go-to tie dye supplies list so you can grab everything in one place.
Need help picking some supplies? Check out my favorite tie dye kits on Amazon and see how they compare to other brands in my tie dye brands comparison. My go to supplies can be found in my Amazon store front.
Step 1: Find the Center and Twist
To start this rainbow spiral tie dye shirt, I found the center of my crop top—just slightly higher than usual since it’s a crop. I pinched the fabric and began twisting it into a spiral. This works best when your fabric is damp from a soda ash soak.
Step 2: Secure the Spiral
Instead of rubber bands, I used painter’s tape to hold the spiral together. It doesn’t stick to fabric, but it sticks to itself, which keeps the spiral in place without flattening it.
Step 3: Mark Your Wedges
I marked wedges from the center of the spiral using a washable marker. Since spirals aren’t perfect, the wedges may be slightly uneven—that’s totally fine! This step helps with even color distribution.
Step 4: Add the Dye (Under the Ice)
For this rainbow spiral tie dye shirt, I used the following dye colors:
- Red: Dye-namite
- Yellow: Daffodil
- Green: Better Blue Green
- Blue: Cobalt Blue
- Purple: Power Berry
I sprinkled these dyes directly onto the shirt before adding the ice so I could control the placement more precisely.
Step 5: Ice It
Once the dye was on, I added bagged ice on top. As the ice melts, it pulls the powdered dye into the fabric, creating a beautiful, blended spiral effect.
Step 6: Let It Batch
Let the ice melt and leave the project to batch for at least 24 hours.
Let the ice melt and leave the project to batch for at least 24 hours. Not sure how long is best? I break it down in this post on how long to let tie dye sit.
Step 7: Rinse and Wash
Rinse in cold water, then hot water with Dawn dish soap. Follow with a hot cycle in your washing machine using dyer’s detergent or Synthrapol. This helps prevent bleeding and keeps your colors vibrant.
Rinse in cold water, then hot water with Dawn dish soap. For more tips on keeping your colors bright, see my full guide on how to wash tie dye.
Final Result
How fun is that finished rainbow spiral shirt?! The colors are bold and bright, and the crop top is ready to wear. Whether you’re making something to sell or just having fun, this method is a go-to favorite.
Want more tie dye tutorials like this? Grab my free eBook with 12 beginner folds here and browse my Etsy shop for inspiration and digital downloads.
Still have questions? You might find answers in my tie dye FAQs or get inspired by 5 of my favorite shibori folds.
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Happy dyeing!
