Fun & Activities
YOU WILL NEED: · 1 cotton beach towel, 30 by 60 inches · Paper towels · 1 Tulip One-Step Tie-Dye Kit in Navy (purchased at Michaels) · 1 Tulip One-Step Tie-Dye Kit in Red · 1 kitchen trash bag · Extra plastic gloves and rubber bands (in case of breakage; both are included in kits)
DIRECTIONS
Tie-Dye Fourth of July Picnic in patriotic style with these easy and festive projects. By Heather Gaumer
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his summery spin on Independence Day must-haves will be sure to turn heads at any park. For these projects, you’ll want your dyed items to be 100 percent cotton
Colorado Parent | July 2021
(or as close as possible). Cotton will give you the most vibrant color with many store-bought kit dyes, while nylon and spandex blends will appear lighter and more faded.
1. Place the beach towel in a tub and wet thoroughly. Wring it out lightly. 2. Spread out the towel. With the long end in front of you, measure 14 inches in and 9 inches down from the top right corner. This will be the center of your first spiral. Pinch this spot and twist counterclockwise, keeping the towel as flat as possible. Continue twisting until the outer edges are pulled tightly into the spiral. 3. On the left side of the towel, measure 14 inches in and 9 inches up from the bottom left corner and make a clockwise twist. Tightly spiral it clockwise until you reach the first spiral. The towel should make an “8” shape. 4. Taking one of the towel ends, wrap three rubber bands vertically around the entire spiral to create six triangles. Repeat on the other side. 5. Put on gloves. Mix the dyes in the bottles according to the kit instructions. 6. Turn your trash bag inside out on the ground and place your towel on top. Note: You can also use an old sheet in the backyard. The dye will soak through, so be mindful to select an area where the dye won’t ruin what’s underneath. Using your dye bottles, squirt colored dye on each triangle on the spirals, starting with red and alternating. Once the top is saturated, flip your towel over and finish dyeing the bottom half. It’s OK if the application is messy. Note: Don’t be afraid to be heavy-handed with your dye. The more you add, the more it will seep into the folds of the towel. 7. Once the dye is applied, use paper towels to wipe any excess dye from the trash bag. Pull the trash bag inside out again over your towel to cover. Leave wrapped in a warm spot (this helps the dye set well) for 24 hours. 8. After 24 hours, uncover the towel and place it into a sink or tub. Rinse it once thoroughly with cold water. Remove the rubber bands and rinse the towel under lukewarm water until most of the water coming off is clear. Wash the towel by itself in a washing machine with detergent, in warm or cold water, to remove any remaining dye. Dry and enjoy!
Photos: Heather Gaumer.
American Swirl Beach Towel
