Following the diagram above, fold the shirt in half again along the diagonal line. The shirt is now folded into sixteenths. Tie-dye is a popular fabric dyeing technique known for its bright, saturated colors and bold patterns. It’s one of those nostalgic, feel-good crafts that never seem to go out of style.

For this look, you’ll be creating a design with multiple lines of symmetry. To do this, you’ll first fold the shirt into a wedge shape and apply the dye in whatever combination you like. Then, when you unfold the shirt, you’ll reveal the unique kaleidoscope pattern. To make a tie-dye mandala design: Secure with rubber bands. Add different colors of dye to the “wedges” that are formed by the crisscrossing rubber bands. Repeat this process, pinching another small section of fabric to create another cone. Secure with a rubber band. Secure the shirt with 3 or 4 rubber bands, crisscrossing them over the center of the disc. The tighter you bind the shirt, the more white areas there will be.Draw half of a chevron V-shape on the folded edge with a washable marker. You can position it higher or lower than mine, or make it pointing upward or downward – your choice. This technique starts out the same way as the previous design. In the pictures above, reference the folding diagram on the right and the finished orange shirt. To make shibori-inspired triangle folds: Following the diagram above, fold the shirt in half along the diagonal line. The shirt is now folded in eighths. To learn more about the basics of tie-dye, including how to prep, tie, dye, and wash tie-dyed garments, read my how-to article here: How to Tie Dye.

The best type of dye to use for tie-dye projects is fiber-reactive dye. This type of dye, often called Procion MX dye, is much brighter, longer-lasting, and easier to use than other all-purpose dyes. It is formulated to work with natural fibers like cotton and linen. In the pictures above, reference the diagram on the left and the finished blue shirt. To make shibori-inspired square folds:

Wrap several rubber bands around the disk. The tighter you scrunch it, the more white areas there will be in the final shirt. For tie-dyers looking for more color options or a more professional quality dye, I recommend ProcionMX dyes from Jacquard or Dharma Trading Co. Lay the shirt flat on the table. Starting on the left side, fold the shirt lengthwise in a series of accordion folds. I made each fold about 5 inches wide. Press the edges of each fold well to get sharp creases. Pull the pinched fabric up to a point, and smooth the rest of the shirt down to create a skinny cone shape.