Kids! During spring break, try your hand at some '70s-style tie-dye and create a retro fashion statement. It's fun to do with friends and it's easy with a little help from an adult. You'll need pre-washed cotton clothing — tees, boxers, leggings or socks — rubber bands, old buttons, plastic bags, cold-water dyes and fixative, big plastic basins, rubber gloves, paint stir sticks and a mess-proof work area. In basins, mix dye-and-fixative baths, following manufacturer's instructions. Tie garment to make desired designs, as directed below. Immerse garment in water first, to wet, then following manufacturer's instructions, immerse in dye bath for specified time, stirring occasionally; rinse well, remove bands, wash and rinse.
To make big concentric circles: Pinch 1 layer of garment; pull up to form cone. Wrap bands tightly around cone, approx 3 cm (1-1/8-inch) from tip, then at desired intervals to approx 18 cm (7-inches) from tip. Repeat where desired. To make single small circles: Place button under 1 layer of garment; pull up and wrap band tightly around fabric under button. Repeat where desired. To make stripes: Fold garment, accordion style. At desired intervals, wrap bands tightly around it.To dye tied garment in different-colour sections Place 1 section in plastic bag and secure with band. Wet remaining section, then with bag outside basin, dye. Remove bands, wash and rinse. Switch bag to dyed section and secure with band, then wet, dye, wash and rinse remainder.To dye garment twice: Wet, dye and rinse. Leave some, or all, original bands in place; wrap garment with more bands in new places. Dye in darker shade of same colour or in a different, darker colour (blue over yellow to make green, blue over red to make purple, red over yellow to make orange); wash and rinse.
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