**Tie Dye Mickey ears shirts directions**NEW NEW PICS LAST PAGE**

[Mrs. H]

Hi Guys! I've been obsessively reading this tie dye shirt thread for a few days now, and this morning we finally did some! I can't wait to see how they turn out tomorrow... I'll post pictures, even if they are horrible! Thanks for the tip about using the bleach pen if Mickey's head isn't good... and if we totally screwed it up, we still have time to try again, or we might make the spiral Mickey shirts I saw on another thread... those look pretty easy. My (soon-to-be) hubby and I are heading to Disney World in 11 days!!! Woo-hoo!!! We were supposed to be married BEFORE our Disney honey-moon, but that is another story...

[brettcw23]

Just checked my shirts after 24 hours. Colors are great...Mickey head is a big black blob...BOOO!

Going to wash and dry in a bit and then see if the Chlorox Gel Pen can save them.

[Mrs. H]

Awww, nuts!
I hope the bleach pen saves the day for you... I have a feeling I'm going to have the same problem. We'll know tomorrow morning!

[brettcw23]

Don't hld back...let me know what you think.

My girls love them. I think they kind of came out neat but my obsessive compulsiveness won't be satisified. I'm getting 4 new shirts today, but I do like these. But I want your honest opinions. The black ran right past the thread and rubber bands. Next time I will use less black on the head and let it saturate itself. I then used a Chlorox pen after they were washed and dried. B\c the black was so dark, the bleach came out as more of a yellow than white.

I'm running out of days as we only have 11 days until we head to WDW

[Mrs. H]

OMgosh, I think those came out awesome!!! Now I'm kinda embarrassed to show how mine came out... I am pretty happy with them, actually. I don't think I'm gonna mess with the bleach pen; just gonna leave well enough alone! I am still trying to figure out how to post a picture. Stay tuned!

[Mrs. H]

OK... I think we figured this out. (crossing fingers)

[brettcw23]

QUOTE=Mrs. H;44085599]OMgosh, I think those came out awesome!!! Now I'm kinda embarrassed to show how mine came out... I am pretty happy with them, actually. I don't think I'm gonna mess with the bleach pen; just gonna leave well enough alone! I am still trying to figure out how to post a picture. Stay tuned![/QUOTE]

To post a pic, you have to upload it to an external photo hosting site. DIS doesn't let you upload (it would crush server space!)

You need to upload your photo to a site like Photobucket or Picasa...there are MANY, MANY others!

Then the photo hosting site will give you a link to past into the DIS Thread. They will give you several link options...ones for email, web or forums like these.

I use Photbucket b\c it's free.

[brettcw23]

OK... I think we figured this out. (crossing fingers)

Fan-frickin-tastic! Those are great! Love the bright colors and the heads...no need for a bleach pen!



And

Now I'm kinda embarrassed to show how mine came out

No need to compare...otherwise we'd all just pay homage to Pixiedust32 and all of her tie dye awesome-ness!

[Mrs. H]

I really, really like the colors you used... mine are so bright, you will see us a mile away if we happen to be at the same park on the same day!

[brettcw23]

With much help and inspiration from PixieDust32

Required:
Soda ash fixer - this helps the dyes to bond with the fiber.
Urea (optional) - Helps the dye to disolve nicely and keeps the shirt damp so that the colors can set.
Synthrapol (optional) - gets the excess dye out when you wash them. Not necessary but helpful.
dye (or kit)
rubber bands
Mickey Head template (just Google it and you'll find them)
sewing thread or waxed dental floss
sewing needle
pencil or wash out fabric marker (used to trace the Mickey head onto the shirt)
100% cotton t-shirts or other items. You'll be disappointed if you get anything but 100% cotton.

Trace a Mickey Head on your shirt (I draw mine a few inches below the neck line)
Then do baste stitching around the template. I do a lot of small stiches using waxed dental floss. The stitches are probably 1/8"
Pull the thread tight so that the Mickey head puckers up from the shirt. Wrap the excess string around the base of the "pckered Mickey head"
Put rubber bands REALLY tight around the base of the Mickey head. This creates the white outline around the head.

Put a packet of Soda Ash in a bucket of warm water and mix it up. Soda Ash can be bought at most craft stores or at Lowe's\Home Depot in the pool section (listed sodium carbonate or sodium UP)
Put the t-shirts into the mixture for at least 45 minutes.
When time is up, ring out the shirts by hand and get as much water out as you can..
Then create your shirt design. Most people will grab the Mickey haead and start twisiting so that the shirt will form into a danish looking circle,
One the shirt has been twisted into a circle, put rubber bands around the shirt dividing it into pizze type shapes. I normally use 6 rubber bands to help keep the circle formed nicely.

Now, mix your dyes. There are a varierty of types and they are personal preferences.
Dharma trading Company seemingly produces the best results.
When I mix mine, I use 4oz bottles and I also use urea and mix it with the water. Once the mixture is made, I pour it into the bottles using a funnel.
So the mixing process for me goes like this.
using Dharma dyes, I put 1 TSP of dye into the bottles (unless the specific color requires more dye per the Dharma instructions..i.e, Jet Black required 4 TSP of dye.
Next I put whatever amount of water I need into a bowl (my wife has a Pampered Chef one with a spout...works great)
Then I put in however much urea is needed and mix it all up.
Then I pour the water into the bottles and shake them up.

Once you have the dye mixed, you can begin coloring the shirt.
Some people start with the Mickey head. If you do that is fine. Try not to oversaturate the head or it will run past the rubber bands onto the rest of the shirt and you will end up with a blob instead of a defined Mickey head.
To keep from dripping the dye for the head onto other parts of the shirts, you can over the shirt with a plastic bag, cling wrap, or grocery bag.

I actually do the shirt first and the head last.
I cover the head in cling wrap right away and can then use it as sort of handle to turn the shirt as I dye and do not have to worry about getting the wrong color dye on it by mistake.
I dye the shirt using 4 colors. I use one color for each quarter of the circle.
Make sure to do the top and bottom of your shirt and also make sure to get the tips of the bottle into the folds of the shirt. If you don't get the tip in the folds, you will end up with a lot of white in your shirt.
When I am don with the shirt part, I wrap it in cling wrap.
Next I take the cling wrap off of the head and color it in.
Once the head is completely dyed, I wrap it again with cling wrap.
Let the shirt sit for 24 hours.
Take the shirt out and rinse it in the sink with warm water.
Take the rubber bands and thread out while washing out the extra dye. The rubber bands can be stubborn to get undone, so I use a thread ripper to get the rubber bands off the Micey head.
Wash the shirts with synthrapol if you have it. I wash it on hot. If you don't have synthrapol, I use All.
When done, dry the shirts on low heat or hang up and dry.

Now enjoy your shirts!

[CSwan1]

Thanks for the great instructions Brettcw23! Can't wait to try them!

[labruto4]

We got so many compliments on our shirts. Thank you so much for the tutorial!

[tink331]

Did these slightly different a few years ago...going to try this method this time around!!! Can't wait!

[LockShockBarrel]

Well after a lengthy adventure that basically results in my best friend turning into a huge jerk (and believe me I'd love to use a stronger word here) and having to get her sister to go into her garage, I got my tiedye supplies back. I'm feeling the itch in a big way, and I could even deal with the cold weather to dye, but the wind would leave me looking like a multicolored dalmatian!! At least now I know what do to for my friend's baby shower. I figure some nifty dyed onesies and a crib sheet would be a pretty fun gift.

[SnorinLauren27]

Does anyone have a template that they can post that they use?! I tried making one in word, but not sure if it looks right and not sure what size everyone recommends I use....?