By EcoCraft Contributor Amy from the blog The EcoCrafter

These striped and plaid tie die t-shirt are a nice change from the psychedelic tie dye that you often see. The regularity of the pattern mixed with the imperfect nature of tie dye makes for a unique look.

This design is very easy to do. A bit of careful folding and a few minutes of dip dying and you are done. It looks like a lot of steps for folding but each step is very simple and intuitive. I use Rit dyes for these shirts and cover how to set, rinse, and wash the dyed shirts for the best results.

Materials:

• T-shirt (I used two since I am showing two designs)
• Rit Dye (I used scarlet, sunshine orange, and purple)
• Elastic
• Three shallow trays (I used recycled styrofoam trays)

How To Fold the T-shirt 

Fold the t-shirt in half so that the front left and right side is on top of each other and the back left and right side are on top of each other. This video shows an easy way to do it. Folding the shirt this way ensures the dye will be more symmetrical on the t-shirt.

Fold the sleeves down to make a rectangle.

Fold one side of the t-shirt in half. Flip the shirt over and do the same to the other side. You will now have a skinnier rectangle.

Again fold one side of the t-shirt in half. Flip the shirt and do the same for the other side.

You will be left with a very skinny rectangle.

Starting on the end without the sleeves, fold it up to form a small square.

Continue folding squares making an accordion fold. Try to make the edges all line up and the squares all the same size.

Secure the folded shirt with an elastic.

I folded two since I am going to do two dye designs.

How To Dye Shirt For Stripes

Dip one end of the shirt in a shallow tray of orange dye and let it sit for a few minutes so that the dye can absorb into the inner layers. Flip the shirt and dip it into the purple dye again letting it sit a few minutes.

I choose to leave a fairly large white area but if you want less white you can fill your dye trays more.

How to Dye Shirt For Plaid

If you want a plain design dip both of the white sides in red and let sit for a few minutes.

Setting Rit Dye, Rinsing, And Washing

Wrap the still wet dyed shirt in plastic wrap. Make sure it is sealed well to prevent drips.

Microwave the wrapped shirt for 2 minutes on high. Place it on a cloth, paper towel, or in a microwave-safe dish to prevent spills.

Let shirts cool so they can be safely handles and unwrap. Rinse shirts under cold water until the water runs clear. Rinse more under warm water until this too runs clear. Expect some of the colors to bleed.

Wash your shirts on cold with a mild detergent. They may stain anything they are washed with for this first wash so be cautious.