OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION

Challenge 5: Tie-Dye Challenge Join Clark County 4-H to take the Your Challenge: Create a tie-dye wearable or Tie Dye Challenge (YouTube video link) home décor creation with household items.

Why a Tie-Dye Challenge? Tie-dying combines Supplies Needed: science and art to create a groovy, chic, cool, crazy  Water expression of color and design you can wear or use in  Liquid Food Coloring décor. Natural and manmade dyes can be used to tie-dye fabrics, paper, shells, ceramics and more.  Plastic water or condiment bottles  1/4 cup measuring utensil Safety: Adult supervision required. Food coloring will  Paper Towels stain what it touches -- skin, clothes, countertops, etc.  Plastic or Rubber Gloves The 4-H tie-dye challenge does not use any dye fixing  Rubber Bands chemicals like soda ash.  White cotton t-shirt, bandana, socks, pillowcase, etc.  Plastic trash bag or covering to protect table or area Tie-Dye Instructions: where mixing and applying dye.  SELECT what you would like to Make The Dye: tie-dye and wash to remove the manufacturer sizing. Do not use  Measure 1/4 cup of fabric softener. The higher the cotton water and add 5 to 6 content (60%-100%) the better the drops of food coloring dye absorption. of your choice.

 DECIDE what kind of design you  Stir dye to mix in water. would like your tie-dye to reveal. Add dye mix to plastic Common patterns include stripes, water bottle or squeeze polka dots, rosettes, crinkled, pleats, type condiment bottle. spirals and twists.

 DETERMINE how much you want  Make enough liquid dye to color selected items. the dye colors to bleed together or cover the fabric. Dye applied to wet fabric allow dyes to spread faster then to dry fabric.  Use a different plastic bottle for each color.  APPLY dye to the fabric. Lightest color first progressing to darker color(s). Using colors opposite on the color  Mix 1 to 3 colors, but no wheel may result in brownish hues where they touch. more. Too many colors can result in a muddled  SET the dye. Let the dyed fabric set overnight or at look. Colors diagonal to least for 6 hours. each other on the color  REMOVE any rubber bands and machine wash items wheel that touch will turn brownish. separately in cold water. Dry in the dryer or hang dry.  If you want a richer tie-dye colored item, add more food coloring. Share Your Experiences!  E-mail a photo of your tie-dye creation to [email protected] or post to the Clark County 4-H More 4-H Cyber Challenges Facebook clarkcounty4h Invite friends to join and take the challenges too at clark.osu.edu  Enter your creation in the 4-H Creative Masterpieces or on the Clark County 4-H Facebook clarkcounty4h Contest at the Clark County Fair. clark.osu.edu 5/2020

CFAES provides research and related educational programs to clientele on a non-discriminatory basis. For more information: http://go.osu.edu/cfaesdiversity