Youtube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Tiktok
Search
Close this search box.

Tie Dye Patterns

12 different tie dye designs on different shirts with the title "tie dye patterns"
Jump to Patterns

Compilation of the different tie dye patterns on AB Crafty. Over 17 tie dye designs and ideas.

Table of Contents

To make it easy to explore my different tie dye patterns, I’ve compiled all of the different tie dye designs into one place. Some use different techniques such as the ice tie method, while some are more classic tie dye ideas. Either way, have fun exploring and if you make one of these tie dye patterns, I’d love to see it! Tag me on Instagram @ab.crafty!

Be sure to check out this guide on the best tie dye kits.

Note: Some links in this post may contain affiliate links, which means at no cost to you, I may earn a commission.

Get the latest DIY tutorials, reviews, and crafting updates

You'll never be spammed and can unsubscribe at any time

Don’t forget to pin it so you can easily come back to it later!

12 different tie dye shirts with the title "tie dye patterns - ultimate collection of tie dye designs, abcrafty.com"

Free Downloadable Templates

Some of the patterns below use templates to easily draw the perfect shape! You can download them all for free, scale them to the size you want, and print them out. You can also download them from the shop.

4 tie dye templates in the shape of a heart, pumpkin, bat, and ghost

Download the Free Templates
for the Tie Dye Patterns

We’re committed to your privacy. AB Crafty uses the information you provide to contact you about relevant content and products. You may unsubscribe from these communications at any time.

Tie Dye Patterns

You can click on each image or name to jump to the details for how to make the design. If there’s a dedicated post for the pattern, I’ve provided links to that post.

For all of the designs, make sure the item is wet before shaping and tying it. Then if you’re using a tie dye kit, soak it in soda ash for at least 20 minutes before adding the dye to make sure it’s the most vibrant. You can find soda ash on Amazon.

Then don’t forget to use gloves (these are the kind I use since I have small hands) and then rubber bands or zip ties.

Jacquard Large Tie Dye Kit - Fantastic Introduction to Tie Dye - Fun for All Ages - Dyes up to 15 Adult T-Shirts
Jacquard Large Tie Dye Kit - Fantastic Introduction to Tie Dye - Fun for All Ages - Dyes up to 15 Adult T-Shirts
Jacquard Products Soda Ash Dye Fixer, 1 Pound Bag
Jacquard Products Soda Ash Dye Fixer, 1 Pound Bag
Helonge Reusable Zip Ties, 100 Pcs Assorted Fastening Cable Zip Ties 6" 8" 10" 12" Four Length Heavy Duty Nylon Self Locking Wire Ties
Helonge Reusable Zip Ties, 100 Pcs Assorted Fastening Cable Zip Ties 6" 8" 10" 12" Four Length Heavy Duty Nylon Self Locking Wire Ties
BAZIC Rubber Bands Assorted, 227g/0.5 lbs, Multicolor
BAZIC Rubber Bands Assorted, 227g/0.5 lbs, Multicolor
MED PRIDE Medical Vinyl Examination Gloves (Small, 100-Count) Latex & Rubber Free, Ultra-Strong, Clear Disposable Powder-Free Gloves for Healthcare & Food Handling Use
MED PRIDE Medical Vinyl Examination Gloves (Small, 100-Count) Latex & Rubber Free, Ultra-Strong, Clear Disposable Powder-Free Gloves for Healthcare & Food Handling Use

Heart

finished tie dye tank top with a rainbow heart tie dye pattern

Star

finished shirt with a star tie dye design in purple, blue, and green

Circle Bursts

finished shibori tie dye shirt with small bursts of circles

Ice Tie Dye

finished blue, purple, and pink ice tie dye shirt

Rainbow Bullseye

finished tie dye shirt with a rainbow target tie dye pattern

Corner Bullseye

finished corner bullseye shibori tie dye shirt in shades of blue and indigo

Alternating Stripes

striped shibori tie dye shirt in indigo and grey

Diagonal Stripes

finished diagonal striped black tie dye shirt

Rainbow Stripes

two rainbow striped tie dye socks

Two-Toned Stripes

two blue and red tie dye socks with the blue on bottom and red on top

Spiral

rainbow tie dye sweatshirt on a table with a spiral tie dye pattern

Bat

finished black tie dye bat shirt

Candy Corn

finished candy corn tie dye shirt with candy corn design in the middle and black around the edge

Pumpkin

finished tie dye pumpkin shirt with a pumpkin in the middle and black tie dye edges

Ghost

finished ghost tie dye shirt with purple and black stripes

Crumple Dye

finished scrunch tie dye shirt with rainbow colors

Crumple Bleach Dye

a bleach tie dye navy boston t shirt with pink splotches from scrunching

Spiral Bleach Dye

front and back of a reverse tie dye lamb of god t shirt in a spiral tie dye pattern

Multi-Target Bleach Dye

bleach tie dye lamb of god t shirt with a target tie dye pattern

Get the latest DIY tutorials, reviews, and crafting updates

You'll never be spammed and can unsubscribe at any time

Classic Tie Dye Patterns

This is a collection of the classic and more traditional tie dye designs. When I started out making tie dye as a kid, these were my go-to designs. And even now, the spiral pattern is still one of my favorite!

For all of these designs, if you’re using traditional dye, I recommend using a tie dye kit with soda ash and soaking them in soda ash after tying them. A kit like this already comes with soda ash, but you can also get it separately on Amazon.

Jacquard Large Tie Dye Kit - Fantastic Introduction to Tie Dye - Fun for All Ages - Dyes up to 15 Adult T-Shirts
Jacquard Large Tie Dye Kit - Fantastic Introduction to Tie Dye - Fun for All Ages - Dyes up to 15 Adult T-Shirts
Jacquard Products Soda Ash Dye Fixer, 1 Pound Bag
Jacquard Products Soda Ash Dye Fixer, 1 Pound Bag

Spiral Tie Dye Pattern

This is still one of my favorite tie dye designs and is pretty much my go-to. You can do it in a rainbow pattern using 3 colors like I did in my tie dye sweatshirt tutorial or you can make it in any color you want.

To make it, pinch the middle of the shirt and twist. The key is to keep the twist tight and help the folds to make a more perfect spiral. Then tie it with evenly spaced rubber bands (this is the pack I have).

For a rainbow, dye the opposite sections in yellow. Then dye the next sections red and then the next ones blue. Squeeze the colors near the rubber bands to help them blend.

twisting the middle of white sweatshirt to make a spiral
making pleats in the sleeve a sweatshirt while the rest is twisted into a spiral
holding a white sweatshirt that's been wrapped with rubber bands
squishing red and blue tie dye to make purple
rainbow tie dye sweatshirt on a table with a spiral tie dye pattern

You can also make the design using the bleach method.

front and back of a reverse tie dye lamb of god t shirt in a spiral tie dye pattern

Rainbow Bullseye Tie Dye Pattern

Pinch the middle of the shirt and lift up, gathering the rest of the shirt. Then tie it with rubber bands, spacing them evenly (this is the set I have).

Dye each section a different color in rainbow order. I used red, yellow, then blue. Be sure to squeeze the colors at the rubber bands to help them blend.

holding a t shirt by the center and pulled
white shirt wrapped a few inches apart in rubber bands
squishing blue dye onto the end of a tie dye shirt wrapped in rubber bands
finished tie dye shirt with a rainbow target tie dye pattern

Corner Bullseye Tie Dye Pattern

This one is similar to the rainbow bullseye. However, instead of pinching the shirt in the middle, pinch it in the corner.

You can use a single color or multiple shades of the same color, like in this all blue tie dye shirt.

finished corner bullseye shibori tie dye shirt in shades of blue and indigo

You May Also Like...

Multi-Target Tie Dye Design

Taking the target tie dye design a step further, you can do multiple to make a multi-target pattern.

Pinch different sections of the shirt to tie off. Then you can dye it or use the bleach dye method like I did for this one.

a black t shirt with red and orange design with the bottom corner wrapped in three rubber bands
a black shirt with red and orange print wrapped on two sides with 3 rubber bands
using a measuring cup to pour bleach onto a black t shirt wrapped in rubber bands
bleach tie dye lamb of god t shirt with a target tie dye pattern

Crumple or Scrunch Tie Design

This is known as crumple tie dye or scrunch tie dye. It’s simple enough and also one of my favorite because you never really know how it’s going to turn out. I love the randomness!

Simply scrunch up the clothing and wrap it randomly with rubber bands or zip ties. Then place dye wherever you’d like.

For this one, I did a similar pattern to the spiral method and did the same color on opposite sides.

scrunching a white t shirt
holding a plain white t shirt scrunched and wrapped in rubber bands
squeezing blue dye from a bottle onto the folds of a partially tie dyed shirt
finished scrunch tie dye shirt with rainbow colors

You can also do this design using the bleach method.

a bleach tie dye navy boston t shirt with pink splotches from scrunching

And here’s what a crumple dye looks like on a crop top using just a few colors.

front of the finished tie dye crop top with pink, orange, and yellow designs

Alternating Stripes Tie Dye Pattern

Accordion fold the shirt. Then add rubber bands every 1-2 inches, evenly spaced apart.

Alternate the colors of dye to get different colored stripes.

striped shibori tie dye shirt in indigo and grey

Rainbow Stripes Tie Dye Pattern

Just like with the alternating stripes, accordion fold your item and wrap rubber bands (Amazon) around it in even sections. When dyeing it though, use red, yellow, and blue, alternating the colors.

Squeeze the dye along the edges of the rubber bands to help blend the colors.

And even though I used a sock for this design, you can do it on any size item.

squishing a blue section of a rainbow tie dye sock while wearing a rubber glove
two rainbow striped tie dye socks

Two-Toned Stripes Tie Dye Pattern

You can also get a cool effect by changing the direction you fold and by only using two colors.

For these dyed socks, I folded them from heel to toe. Then dye one side all one color and the other side another color.

squeezing red dye onto the top of socks wrapped in rubber bands.
two blue and red tie dye socks with the blue on bottom and red on top

Diagonal Stripes Tie Dye Pattern

Instead of folding the shirt in a straight line, start folding it at an angle.

Wrap it with rubber bands or zip ties roughly 1-2 inches apart (these are the zip ties I used). Then dye it in whichever colors you would like or use just one like I did for this monochrome black shirt.

Making multiple diagonal folds in a white t shirt at an angle
shirt folded with multiple black zip ties across it roughly 1 inch apart
squeezing black dye from a squirt bottle onto tied shirt
finished diagonal striped black tie dye shirt

Get the latest DIY tutorials, reviews, and crafting updates

You'll never be spammed and can unsubscribe at any time

Unique Shapes in Tie Dye

These designs are a little more complicated or require a few extra steps. I like to consider these as more intermediate or advanced designs. You can use the free downloadable templates to make it easy to draw the designs.

4 tie dye templates in the shape of a heart, pumpkin, bat, and ghost

Download the Free Templates
for the Tie Dye Patterns

We’re committed to your privacy. AB Crafty uses the information you provide to contact you about relevant content and products. You may unsubscribe from these communications at any time.

Just as with the classic designs, I recommend using a tie dye kit with soda ash and soaking them in soda ash after tying them. A kit like this already comes with soda ash, but you can also get it separately on Amazon.

Then for those that require a design drawn on, I recommend using washable markers (this is the set I have). Some of these also need more strength when tied up so I recommend using reusable zip ties vs rubber bands. These are the ones I have.

Jacquard Large Tie Dye Kit - Fantastic Introduction to Tie Dye - Fun for All Ages - Dyes up to 15 Adult T-Shirts
Jacquard Large Tie Dye Kit - Fantastic Introduction to Tie Dye - Fun for All Ages - Dyes up to 15 Adult T-Shirts
Jacquard Products Soda Ash Dye Fixer, 1 Pound Bag
Jacquard Products Soda Ash Dye Fixer, 1 Pound Bag
VTECHOLOGY 100Pcs Heavy Duty Industrial Zip Toes,Releasable 8 Inch BlackTie Wraps, Adjustable Tie wrap,Reusable Zip Toes Tie Straps For Garden Plant Secure Vine, Home, Office Use
VTECHOLOGY 100Pcs Heavy Duty Industrial Zip Toes,Releasable 8 Inch BlackTie Wraps, Adjustable Tie wrap,Reusable Zip Toes Tie Straps For Garden Plant Secure Vine, Home, Office Use
8 ct. Crayola Broad Line Washable Markers
8 ct. Crayola Broad Line Washable Markers

Circle Bursts Tie Dye Design

Fold the shirt in an accordion fold.

Next, pinch and lift the top corner and add a rubber band or zip tie. Then move a few inches down across the top and repeat. Continue across the top. Repeat this along the bottom edge, but place the rubber bands between the rubber bands on the top.

Use the guide below as an example.

diagram for a target burst tie dye pattern
finished shibori tie dye shirt with small bursts of circles

Heart Tie Dye Pattern

For a beautiful tie dye heart, fold the shirt in half and draw on the heart with a washable marker (I like these). To make this easy, I’ve also made a free downloadable heart pattern you can print and use. Then fold along the outline, twisting the shirt in order to keep the marker lined up.

Use a zip tie to secure the shirt along the line. Then pull the rest of the shirt to the side and wrap zip ties 1-2 inches apart.

For a rainbow pattern, alternate using rainbow colors (in this case I used a red, yellow, blue, and purple), but you can use whichever colors you’d like.

drawing a heart with a washable marker onto a white cotton tank top that's been folded in half
pinching folds along the outline of a heart on a white tank top
adding a zip tie to the edge of the white tank top
folded white tank top tied with multiple zip ties
tank top completely covered in dye with dark rainbow colors
finished tie dye tank top with a rainbow heart tie dye pattern

You can also make this heart design in pastel colors. This one was made using this kit.

finished pastel tie dye shirt with a tie dye heart design

Star Tie Dye Pattern

For a fun tie dye star, fold the shirt in half and use a washable marker to draw half of a star (these are the kind I have). To make this part easy, I’ve made a free downloadable star pattern that you can print out and trace around.

Then with one finger in the middle along the fold, fold the shirt over so that the top point lines up with the middle of the next point. Then fold the shirt backwards along this line. Repeat the process lining up the points of the star until it’s all folded and all of the marker lines line up with each other.

Fold along the marker line and secure it with a zip tie. Then pull the rest of the shirt to the side and wrap zip ties 1-2 inches apart.

Dye each section whichever colors you would like. The first section will be the main center star.

tracing around a star template with a washable marker on a folded white shirt
folding a white shirt with half of a red star design
folding the corner of a white shirt
wrapping a zip tie around the corner of a folded white shirt
completely dyed shirt wrapped in zip ties with sections of blue, green, and purple
finished shirt with a star tie dye design in purple, blue, and green

Bat Tie Dye Pattern

To make the bat pattern, first draw use the free printable pattern to draw half of a bat on the folded shirt with a washable marker (this is the kind I have).

Sew along the design and carefully pull the threads. Then wrap zip ties around it. Next, scrunch the rest of the shirt and wrap it in rubber bands or zip ties. Cover it completely in black dye. 

sewing along the bat outline on the white shirt
pulling on the threads to scrunch and fold the shirt along the bat design
squeezing black tie dye out of a bottle onto the tied up shirt
finished black tie dye bat shirt

Pumpkin Tie Dye Design

Just like with the other Halloween designs, start the pumpkin pattern by folding the shirt in half and using the printable template to draw half of the pumpkin. This is the set of washable markers I have.

Sew along the design and pull the threads carefully to make the folds. Then scrunch the rest of the shirt and secure it all with zip ties. Dye the pumpkin section orange, the stem green, and the rest black.

half of a pumpkin drawn on a folded white shirt as the template for a tie dye pumpkin
sewing the lines of the middle of a pumpkin on a folded shirt for a tie dye pumpkin design
holding a tied up white shirt with zip ties
squeezing black dye onto the side of a scrunched shirt
finished tie dye pumpkin shirt with a pumpkin in the middle and black tie dye edges

Ghost Tie Dye Pattern

For a ghost design, use the printable template to draw half of a ghost on a folded shirt with a washable marker (Amazon). Either sew along the design or fold along the line, keeping the line straight. Tie a rubber band around the eye. Secure the rest of the shirt with zip ties roughly 2 inches apart.

Dye the eye black, but leave the next section white for the ghost. Then for the alternating stripes look, dye each section an alternating color.

drawing the outline of a ghost tie dye design with a washable marker on a folded white shirt
lining up the marker outline of the ghost design while making small folds
white shirt folded and tied with black zip ties
squeezing black dye onto a section of the shirt
finished ghost tie dye shirt with purple and black stripes

Candy Corn Tie Dye Pattern

For another fall or Halloween themed design, make this candy corn pattern by starting with a folded shirt. Draw a triangle shape with two sections using a washable marker (Amazon) or use the printable template.

Then fold along the outer line and secure it with a rubber band. Wrap the rest of of the shirt with zip ties evenly spaced across.

To dye it, leave the top part of the triangle white, then dye the next section yellow and then the next orange. Use the lines for reference. Lastly, dye the rest of the shirt all black.

 

drawing half a candy corn with orange washable marker on a white cotton shirt folded in half
folding a white cotton shirt along the outline of the candy corn
the white shirt folded and wrapped with a rubber band
white shirt folded and wrapped in black zip ties
squeezing black dye onto the white shirt with orange and yellow at the end
finished candy corn tie dye shirt with candy corn design in the middle and black around the edge

You May Also Like...

Tie Dye Patterns Using Non-Traditional Methods

These patterns don’t necessarily use the classic tie and dye method. They have something unique going on to get the different pattern.

Ice Tie Dye Design

The ice tie dye method uses a unique approach to dyeing. While you still tie it using the crumple design, you apply the dye differently.

Place the shirt on top of containers or a drying rack inside of a tray. Then cover it with ice.

Then instead of mixing the dye, you’re actually going to sprinkle the dry powder over the ice. As it melts over several hours or overnight, it blends to create a gorgeous marble effect. Because you’re using the powder directly, I actually recommend this kit instead of the bottles.

Placing a tied up white shirt on top of yogurt containers in a glass 9x13 pan
Sprinkling red powdered dye over ice on top of a shirt with yellow powdered dye on it
Ice covered in yellow, red, and blue powdered dyes melting and dripping onto the white shirt underneath, starting the ice tie dye process.
finished blue, purple, and pink ice tie dye shirt

More Dyeing Projects and Resources

Get the latest DIY tutorials, reviews, and crafting updates

You'll never be spammed and can unsubscribe at any time

Picture of Daniela Kretchmer

Daniela Kretchmer

Daniela is a lifelong crafter who loves to share her passion for crafting. Through classes or learning on her own, she likes to say she'll do pretty much any craft aside from scrapbooking. Her current personal obsessions include garden crafts, felting, and spinning yarn.

More Craft Projects and Ideas

1 thought on “Tie Dye Patterns”

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Get AB crafty updates!

Youtube Instagram Pinterest Facebook Tiktok Rss
AB Crafty Octopus White 300
Copyright © 2024 AB Crafty. All rights Reserved.
AB Crafty's Coin Purse Pattern for Felted Coin Purse
Download
4 tie dye templates in the shape of a heart, pumpkin, bat, and ghost
Download