How to Host a Summer Fun Tie Dye Playdate


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Summer Fun Tie Dye Playdate

How to Host a Summer Fun Tie Dye Playdate

Summer is a time for kicking back and relaxing, for enjoying time with family, spending time by the pool or lake and barbecuing!  The kids are off from school and we have more freedom (and time) to have fun!  My mom watches my brother’s children a few days a week and together we plan fun field trips and activities to do each week with all 6 kids.  One of my must do items this summer was to tie dye t-shirts – so I decided we should have a Summer Fun Tie Dye Playdate!


Playdate Prep

I love how easy it was to get prepared for our Summer Fun Tie Dye Playdate!  I bought the t-shirts and a tie-dye kit.  We also stopped off at SAM’s club to pick up another bottle of our favorite all® free clear liquid detergent as we were running low. 

Summer Fun Tie Dye Playdate

When we got home I pre-washed the t-shirts with the all® free clear detergent (be sure to follow the instructions on the package exactly).  Both Buddy and I have sensitive skin.  Buddy has eczema that is easily irritated by many products so its nice to have a laundry detergent that I don’t have to worry about using.   all® free clear detergent was awarded the Seal of Acceptance by the National Eczema Association for having no dyes, perfumes, certain chemicals, and irritating residues – how much safer can we get?

With busy kids its not only important that all® free clear detergent is the #1 Sensitive Skin Brand but that it also fights tough stains, whitens whites, and brightens colors.  As all moms know – kids are messy!  The fact that all® free clear detergent meets my families needs makes it a staple in our household.

Normally I use our dryer and all® free clear dryer sheets but I couldn’t resist the sunshine and breeze so I hung the shirts out on the line to dry.

Summer Fun Tie Dye Playdate

Once the shirts were dry I folded them and packed them to take to our family camp for our Summer Fun Tie Dye Playdate!


Materials Needed

  • Pre-washed white cotton t-shirts (or socks, bandanas, hats, etc.)
  • A tie dye kit (ours was amazing and included an instruction book, plastic table cloth, plastic gloves, rubber bands, and 18 bottles with pre-measured dye)
  • Plastic shopping bags 
  • Paper Towels
  • Wash station

Instructions

  • Read the instructions that come with your kit thoroughly prior to starting to ensure you have everything you need and know what you are doing.
  • Cover your work station with the plastic tablecloth, set each seat with rubber gloves (optional – we did not use them) and a few paper towels.
  • Have each child pick their design from the instruction book and get their shirt ready to dye (older kids will be able to this themselves – younger kids will need adult assistance).  We did this step two children at a time to allow one adult per child.
  • Once all the shirts are ready – add water to the fill line of your dye bottles.
  • Shake the dye until it dissolves completely – the kids were very happy to help with this step.
  • Set the dye bottles in the center of the table and have the kids go to their station.

Summer Fun Tie Dye Playdate

  • Show the kids the different techniques based on the designs they chose and then let them start dying their shirts.
  • My mom and I helped get caps off bottles and directed the kids a little bit (they were all ages 2-8 so the smaller kids needed more help).  We also helped facilitate sharing of colors.

Summer Fun Tie Dye Playdate

  • As the kids finished we directed them to the kiddie pool to wash up.
  • When everyone was done we placed each shirt in its own plastic bag (we used plastic shopping bags) and then squeezed out the air and tied the bag.  Our instructions recommended using plastic wrap so that is an option as well.
  • Leave the shirts 6-8 hours (I left them overnight) prior to rinsing them.  
  • First rinse each shirt individually in cold water in the sink until the water runs clear.
  • After you have rinsed all of the shirts place them in the washing machine together and run with all® free clear detergent (follow the package instructions exactly) and cold water.
  • Dry on the line or in the dryer with all® free clear dryer sheets.

Summer Fun Tie Dye Playdate

  • Wear!

We had such a fun time making our shirts!  We made 8 t-shirts and 2 bandannas in total (because obviously the dogs need to match us!).  The kids can’t wait for our next field trip to wear their shirts.  Do you plan to tie dye shirts this summer?  If so please feel free to share pictures with me on Facebook or Instagram!  

If you are out of laundry detergent and looking for something new I recommend all® free clear detergent!  Head out and buy a bottle today 🙂  If you are already a fan of all® free clear be sure to join their new community here and connect with other parents like you!

Summer Fun Tie Dye Playdate


Take a look at this other fun summer project I made upcycling an empty all® free clear.  Have fun with endless bubbles by creating this Bubble Refill Station.

Summer Fun Tie Dye Playdate

 

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2 Comments

  1. Wendy Pence August 17, 2017
    • Shannon A August 17, 2017

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