Tie Dying with Children

I would typically say RIT, but since you are out camping, try the new spray paint they sell at hobby lobby. You rubber band the same way, but in stead of dunking in buckets of dye or putting it in bottles and squirting it, then the dunking and rinsing, etc, you simply spray it on. itis really runny (good for tie dying).
I recently bought it for a different project and while it failed for my project, it would have been great for what you want to do:)

EDIT: Lilly with this brand (TULIP brand) of spray paint, the shirts can be dry:) Then you let them dry. I'd follow the instructions on the paint container for wash and care.

You might try this... It's a technique to tie dye with markers. :)

http://diycrafts.blogspot.com/2011/12/sharpie-marker-tie-...

Hi hi Lilly, We've done this several times with varying success until Dharma. Check out the website Dharma Trading Co. They have great kits for tie-dying!! Everything is included but the creativity and the shirts, they also sell those (diagrams, instructions, the works.) The whole company is super to work with ( no, no connection or kick-backs) Then just be sure to follow the instructions to the letter and put in the little bit of prep work ahead. We did this on a family reunion vacation and it was a huge success with all ages. Dharma is also a great resource for the t-shirts and other dyables. Start out on the plain white tees and be sure to read the reviews for sizing and quality, etc. for your shirt choices, or just go to buy locally where you can see and feel the matrls. if you don't have time to ship well in advance and return, or buy used/resale/thrift store t- shirts, all cotton, prewashed (without fabric softener) and preshrunken. Dharma's colors are fabulous and stay bright, again, when following the directions. Be sure you have access to lots and lots of cold water for the thorough rinsing. Take several 5 gallon buckets and do assembly lining, and long sleeve rubber kitchen gloves, if desired. Take a clothes line and clothspins to dry them hanging in the trees. We are planning to do this again with our now teens this summer. Hope you enjoy it as much as we do! ; ) happy hippy art!

Procion commercial dyes are top notch and won't bleed or fade, have done it many times with kids. dharmatrading sells them (get 3 colors, ie. red, yellow, blue for a myriad of fun designs). They sell squeeze bottles, gloves, shirts (and tons more). They have tutorials on their website. I've dyed with cold water before with these dyes and had great results.

Wear clothes that you don't mind ruining. Tie dying is messy business :)

We did this and it was a lot of fun. NO boiling water needed at all! A bucket of water, shirts, etc. I got sheets of plastic from the dollar store's paint department to protect any surface. Altho, we did it outside in the grass. Take a clothes line from home to hang the shirts to dry. Yes, go to Hobby Lobby and get the kit because it comes with several different colors. Read the directions because there may be some that still require boiling water but I'm not sure name brands.

As for the shirts, I bought a pack of mens' white t-shirts; better quality and cheaper than buying individual ones.

Good luck and have fun!!

Bring tons of rubberbands!

I went to Hobby Lobby and they had nice white t shirts in everyone's size for super cheap! I also got the tie dye there. It was a lot of fun, great outdoor activity. I didn't realize you have to soak the shirts beforehand, so keep that in mind!

I would use Rit dye.

Sounds uber messy for camping. Can you do the tye dyeing at home as a lead up to camping to make matching shirts to wear on the trip?

Then just do the traditonal, rock and leaf collecting, hiking, making smores, banana boats, pine cone peanut butter bird feeders, and twig picture frames at the campsite?