tie dye afternoon

Tie dye may seem like your AVERAGE afternoon activity, but the process has remained somewhat of a mystery to me - and a few of my friends.  Thus, you have an afternoon activity that is sure to excite and engage!  

Picking only ONE unusual task to attack with friends (as opposed to five or six) is usually a guaranteed success, given the task isn't that difficult.  Tie dye, it turns out, isn't.  Here's how:

Pick out some white shirts!

Find a bucket in your basement.  You have one, I promise.  Fill with hot water and ~*soda ash*~, then add the shirts.  Dance around for 20 minutes, letting the shirts soak.

Ring out your shirts, then proceed to rubber band them.  Instructions for making different designs will be included in the box, but there's also the internet - and your own lively imagination!  I am a fan of the accordion fold and the little nubs.

Go outside to do this!

You probably want to put on some rubber gloves for the dying, but if you prefer not to, it washes off in two days.  I recommend covering almost the entire shirt in dye for a BOLD effect.

Wrap your gross, damp, dye-covered shirts in plastic wrap, then stick in grocery bags.  Let your shirts "sleep" over night, then return to them around the same time the next day.

When it comes time to reveal your shirt, maybe call your friends and have everyone do it at the same time.  Maximum funness!

Rinse your beautiful creation in cold water.  Hang to dry.  Wash in the washing machine after this, but don't let your shirt in with the other clothes until one or two washes.