How to Make a Stunning July 4th Tie Dye Dress for Your Summer Wardrobe (Refashion Guide)

I made a 4th of July outfit a few years ago, but I wasn’t feeling it.  It came out pretty nice, but I felt I could come up with something more festive for our Independence Day. So when I saw a sale at my local Goodwill for plain white men’s t-shirts ($1 each, yo), I bought the entire stock pile. And this beautiful dress was born … I’m just so ecstatic to show it to you!

Materials Needed for the Tie Dye Independence Day Dress

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• Two plain white t-shirts – if you can’t find a thrift store to sell them, you can just buy some … get extra extra extra large if you can
• Blue fabric dye – you can use natural fiber dye or regular fabric dye
• Red fabric dye – you can use natural fiber dye or regular fabric dye
• Rubber bands – you want kind of the thick kind, size #64

Choosing the Right Fabric for Tie Dyeing

Before you begin, it is important to choose the right fabric for your tie-dye dress. The best fabric for tie-dyeing is cotton because it absorbs the dye well and holds the color. You can also use other natural fibers like linen, rayon, or hemp. Avoid synthetic fabrics like polyester because they don’t absorb the dye well and the color may not stick.

Preparing the Fabric for Dyeing

The next step is to prepare the fabric for dyeing. Wash the dress in cold water and let it dry completely. This is true even if you pick something up at the thift store. (Also, you don’t know where that’s been, ewww gross.) Don’t use fabric softener or dryer sheets because they can prevent the dye from sticking. Once the dress is dry, lay it flat on your work area. Smooth out any wrinkles or creases so that the fabric is even.

Tie Dye Techniques – Spiral, Bullseye, and Stripes

There are many tie-dye techniques you can use to create different patterns and designs on your dress. Here are three popular techniques that you can try:

Spiral

The spiral technique creates a beautiful spiral pattern that starts from the center of the dress and radiates outwards. To create the spiral pattern, follow these steps:

1. Pinch the center of the dress with your fingers.
2. Twist the fabric in a clockwise direction until the entire dress is in a spiral shape.
3. Secure the spiral with rubber bands. You can use as many rubber bands as you like, but make sure they are tight enough to keep the fabric in place.

Bullseye

The bullseye technique creates a circular pattern that looks like a bullseye target. To create the bullseye pattern, follow these steps:

1. Pinch the center of the dress with your fingers.
2. Lift the fabric and twist it into a cone shape.
3. Secure the cone with rubber bands. You can use as many rubber bands as you like, but make sure they are tight enough to keep the fabric in place.
4. Add more rubber bands to create more circles. The more rubber bands you use, the more circles you will have.

Stripes

The stripe technique creates vertical or horizontal stripes on the dress. To create the stripe pattern, follow these steps:

1. Fold the dress in half vertically or horizontally.
2. Use rubber bands to bind the fabric at regular intervals. Make sure the rubber bands are tight enough to keep the fabric in place.
3. Apply the dye to the fabric.

Step-By-Step Instruction for This Fabulous Red, White, and Blue Dress Refashion

So when I found these two plain white t-shirts on sale at the Goodwill the other day, I came up with a flash of inspiration for a refashion.  Since they were on sale, they both cost $1.50.  Tie-Dye, here I come!

I wanted to create some swirly designs with the colors, which is the closest that I know to making stars.  So I twisted the fabric around and secured with elastic.

Here’s the final “tie” part.

Since I’m using a small bowl, rather than a large bucket, I picked up something different than I normally use.

Update: I’m trying to go more “natural and organic” in my old age, so I included a natural fiber dye as well as a regular version.

First part, put in the red. Set the timer for 45 minutes.

Turn it over and then comes the blue.

Totally awesome!!!!!

The first part is to make the wrap-like part, so I took out a bra for measurement.  Using underneath the sleeve as a guide for the bra curve, I measured a healthy amount and marked it with my blue marker.  Sorry, it kind of blends in with the blue of the fabric.

Update: If I had to do this over again, I would add about an inch or two on all sides of the bra for more coverage.  So it depends on how “low” you like to go.

Cut it straight across.

Sorry for the blurry picture, everyone!  Since this is an older post, I can’t go back and “redo” my refashions.  But my photography is getting much  better!

Now, I took off the sleeves just inside the sleeve hem.

Cut the top apart.

And now, the sides.  This will create a front piece and a back piece.

Using my bra as a guide again, I made a mark to where the top of it would be.  As I later found out, you want to be pretty generous with this.  I “made” it at the final dress product, but I could have given myself another half of an inch to two inches.  So, be generous with your seam allowance.  If I had to do it over again, I would say at least two and a half inches from the bra top.  (Here is more like an inch and a half.)

Update: Please be very generous with this!  You can’t undo!

Next, fold the front part in half, and cut from the mark you just made to the center of the fold.

Update: See how it makes a triangle? 🙂

Then, measure to your bra.  You will need to hold it up to your chest several times to get it correct.

Update: In the original version, I made it fairly close to the bra line. If I was going to do this again, I would be sure to add several inches around the chest area.

Now I sewed some bias tape to the edges, starting with the outside curve.

And now the inside triangle.  Make sure to keep a long tail for the dress strings.

Cut the top off of the back piece just above the curve of the sleeve.

And measure the front pieces to the back piece to make them the same width and height.

Making a lettuce hem, use the markings on the back as a guide.  You can’t really see it, but I put a postie note on the right hand side of my machine to make a guide line for the sewing machine.

Cut out the back at the blue markings.

And cut the lettuce hem off …

Turn material inside out (the outsides, or the good sides facing together).  Be sure to line the lettuce hem up with the bias tape.

Sew them together.

Using the other top, I made a rectangle using most of the t-shirt.

Turned the sides inside out and sewed them together.

I now cut a piece of elastic right underneath my breast, just slightly smaller.

Sewed the ends together.

And then I sewed the two parts of the dress (the wrap-top part and the rectangle-bottom part) onto opposite ends of the elastic.  Make sure that the right sides face each other, or in other words, inside out.

I attached it in a similar manner that I attached the elastic to make a skirt top. This elastic was smaller in width than the one I use for skirts. Be sure to streeeeeeeetch the material on the one side being fed into the machine, but not the other.

Unfortunately, I didn’t make my bias tape long enough to go to the back. 🙁  So I enlisted the help of my husband, who marked the back of the dress for me at my bra straps, and then I sewed on another long piece to make a tie.

I didn’t like the hem of the bottom of the t-shirt, but if you want to stop that this point, it is perfectly hemmed.  I cut it off and made a lettuce hem on the bottom, too, because t-shirt material often has an annoying way of stretching out when you wear it.

One final piece, I sewed along the back-top with an elastic thread, so that it made it elastic-y, since I was not entirely happy with the way the lettuce hem worked out there.

Tips for Achieving Vibrant Colors and Patterns

If you want your tie-dye dress to look vibrant and colorful, here are some tips to help you:

• Use enough dye. The more dye you use, the brighter the colors will be.
• Let the dye sit for longer. The longer you let the dye sit, the more intense the colors will be.
• Use different colors. Mix and match different colors to create unique patterns and designs.
• Use a spray bottle. You can use a spray bottle to apply the dye to specific areas of the dress.

Adding Embellishments to Your Tie Dye Dress

This guide is just the start! If you want to take your tie-dye dress to the next level, you can add some embellishments. Here are some ideas:

• Sew on some sequins or beads.
• Add some lace or ribbon.
• Use fabric paint to create designs or patterns.
• Sew on some patches or appliques.
• Use a bleach pen to take dye out of your tie dye.

Styling Your Tie Dye Dress for July 4th Celebrations

Now that your tie-dye dress is ready, it’s time to style it for your Fourth of July celebrations. Here are some ideas:

• Wear it with a denim jacket and white sneakers for a casual look.
• Dress it up with some wedges and statement jewelry.
• Add a red or blue belt to cinch in your waist.
• Pair it with a floppy hat and sunglasses for a chic look.
• Pair it with my super gorgeous DIY cheer bow!!!

DIY Cheer Bow Blue and White Stripes for July Fourth

The Final