HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN TIE-DYE JEAN SHORTS
What You'll Need:
White cut-off denim shorts
Tie dye (select whichever colors you'd like)
Soda ash
Trash bag
Plastic gloves
Rubber bands
We recommend wearing old clothes you don't mind getting dirty!
Directions:
Get your pair of white jean shorts that you don't mind dying. Make sure to freshly wash and dry them prior to tie-dye for optimal results. Pick 2 or more tie-dye colors. You can find tie-dye colors at craft stores, Amazon, etc. For the look of the shorts in the photo above, choose pastel colors.
Decide on the style of tie-dye you'd like for your shorts. For a layered tie-dye effect, lay your shorts down flat and decide where you want to dye which color (ex: you could dye the first 3 inches around the waistband 1 color, then the next 3 inches another color, and so on until the bottom of the shorts. For shorts with bursts of color all over, crumple up the shorts like a piece of paper & then place rubber bands all over it. And for a spiral tie-dye effect, twist the shorts and place rubber bands every 2-3 inches to secure the shorts.
Make sure you're wearing old clothes that you don't mind if they get stained, along with the suggested plastic gloves. Lay down a trash bag and put your shorts on top.
Make a mixture of water and soda ash. Soda ash is included in many tie-dye kits, but it's also sold separately. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for mixing the soda ash and water. This part is optional, but we highly recommend it as it helps you to get the brightest possible colors for your shorts. Put your shorts into the water and soda ash mixture for 20 minutes. Then take them out with your plastic gloves on and wring them out with your hands, but don't rinse them.
Prepare your bottle of tie dye color according to the tie dye package you bought. Always make sure your bottle top is secured tightly before shaking it! For applying the tie-dye, it depends on the effect you're trying to create. For the layered tie-dye look, start from the top to the bottom and apply an equal amount of each color dye to each section. For the burst tie-dye effect, apply the dye in specific spots throughout the fabric, using the rubber bands as your guides. If you're using a few colors for this, make sure to do an equal number of sections for each color. For the twist tie-dye, dye sections in successions (ex: If you are dying with 3 colors, then apply the first dye to the first section, and then count to the next space 3 sections from that 1. Apply each color of dye to the sections in this way. Turn the shorts over after you finish applying the dye on the first side and then apply it exactly the same way on the other side. Keep in mind that some color mixing is inevitable so don't worry.
Let the shorts rest for 6-8 hours. Let them rest overnight for best results.
Remove the rubber bands and then rinse under lukewarm water until the water runs clear.
Wash and dry the shorts separate from your other clothing. Use a mild detergent and wash on the warm or cool setting, depending on what the fabric requires. Dry them completely and then they're ready to rock.
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