Tie-dye is making a big comeback in the fashion world, it is no surprise that lots of people have been using their newly found free time to make unique t-shirts, hoodies, tapestries, and more.
The ideal tie-dye color combinations consist of two or more main colors and stay away from complementary colors that are in sharp contrast. The simplest tie-dye designs employ a single vivid color in a variety of artistic patterns, such as spirals or starbursts.
If you are finding that your creations are looking more like Pinterest fails than vibrant masterpieces, then you may not be combining the right colors. Let’s find out what color combinations make the best tie-dye clothes.
How Do You Tie Dye Using a Color Wheel?
The color wheel is a recognized authority on color. The wheel can be used to find complementary colors, create color schemes, and even choose the right paint for your home. But how does the color wheel work? And what do all those colors mean?
The color wheel is based on the three primary colors: red, yellow, and blue. By mixing these colors in different proportions, it’s possible to create all the other colors on the wheel. For example, adding more red to yellow creates orange, while adding more blue creates purple.
The secondary colors are located between the primary colors on the wheel. They’re made by mixing two primary colors in equal proportions. For example, green is created by mixing blue and yellow.
Tertiary colors are made by mixing a primary color with a secondary color. For example, adding more yellow to green creates chartreuse. There are six tertiary colors on the color wheel: yellow-orange, red-orange, red-purple, blue-purple, blue-green, and yellow-green.
Good tie dye color combinations are created by using colors that are opposite each other on the wheel. Complementary colors are located directly across from each other, such as blue and orange. Analogous color schemes use three Colors that are next to each other on the wheel, such as green, blue-green, and blue. A triadic color scheme uses three Colors that are evenly spaced around the wheel, such as red, yellow, and purple.
A color wheel is a helpful tool for understanding color relationships. With a little practice, you can use it to choose the perfect colors for your next tie dye project!
Best Tie Dye Color Patterns
Numerous enjoyable tie-dye designs are available to try, from simple ones like a spiral or starburst to more intricate ones like the shibori folding technique.
The simplest choice is single-color designs, but two-color designs look even more appealing and let you be more creative with your color combinations.
Single Color Tie Dye
You can use pretty much any pattern, such as a single-color starburst or a shibori square pattern. You can choose whatever hue you wish to highlight with the single-color technique without bothering about mixing and matching! For this reason, if you’re new to tie-dye, single-color patterns are a great place to start.
Mixing various color concentrations in separate squeeze bottles is a cool technique to upgrade a single-color design. You may make a pastel, faded, and vibrant collection of colors to make an ombre-style tie-dye design if you add a lower amount of dye to the water in one bottle, a medium amount in the next, and finally a strong concentration in the third bottle.
Two Colors
Two colors can be used to make a variety of tie-dye patterns, including the well-liked and straightforward scrunch pattern.
Choose two colors that do not blend into brown in order to create this pattern. To achieve fantastic effects, you can choose any two primary colors or a primary and a secondary color.
- Wash your cotton shirt to get it ready.
- Prepare your dyes as directed on the packaging. Less concentrated dye should be used if you desire pastel hues. Use extra dye in the water to achieve more vibrant hues.
- Lay the garment out flat to make the unique crushed design. Start at one arm and lightly scratch a portion of the fabric before letting go to create a wrinkled area. Repeat this all over the shirt’s surface.
- Once your shirt is crushed and bundled, gently shape it into an oval about the size of a football.
- Use rubber bands to keep the garment in this position.
- Use squeeze bottles to apply the color. The simplest way is to alternately squirt one color, then the other, while separating them.
- To allow the dye to set, follow the instructions on the dye packaging.
- After washing and rinsing the shirt, your tie dye t-shirt will be ready
What Are The Ideal Color Combinations For Tie Dye?
The best tie-dye color combinations frequently begin with simply two main colors that contrast each other boldly and mix at the borders to create a secondary color. As long as you adhere to the color theory and avoid pairing up colors that combine to form brown, you will create a great tie-dye t-shirt.
Despite having a more subdued appeal, one-color designs nonetheless look fanciful and enjoyable. Additionally, one-color designs offer beginners a wonderful place to start without having to worry about how to mix and match colors!
The main risk with tie-dye patterns is unintentionally combining colors to produce a muddy brownish tone. If you do not match your shades of color, these unsightly patches frequently lurk along the edges of the primary colors in your design.
What Colors to Avoid Combining When Tie-Dyeing
When it comes to tie-dyeing, there are endless combinations of colors to choose from. However, not all color combinations are created equal. Some color combinations can end up looking muddy or bland, while others can be downright clashy.
- Avoid combining three primary colors. It produces brown.
- Combining two or more secondary colors. Brown is also always created through the blending of secondary hues.
- Avoid mixing two complementary colors. Yellow and purple are examples of color that lies opposite to each other on the color wheel. Even though they seem fantastic next to one another, mixing yellow and brown dyes produces brown color.
Is Tie-dye Better With Hot or Cold Water?
How do you make tie-dye better?
Does Vinegar Help Set Tie-dye?
Tie Dye Tips
Working with cloth made of natural fibers is great if you want to produce bright, vibrant designs. Natural textiles, particularly cotton, rapidly absorb color and provide stunning results. Make sure your shirt or any other item is damp before folding and tying since damp fabric absorbs color easier than dry fabric.
Pick out the right dyes for your project. When dyeing something made of synthetic fibers, this is very crucial. To color polyester and other synthetic fabrics, specialized dyes can be required. Testing your dye colors is always a smart idea. You can get a better sense of the color’s appearance and vibrancy by squeezing a little bit out onto a paper towel.