40 Cool Tie Dye Projects to Add Color to Your Summer

Even if you weren’t born in the 60’s, tie dying is cool. You can create such colorful and unique items when you use this technique and that doesn’t necessarily pertain to clothing.

There are many wonderful tie dye projects that involve home décor, too.

If you love the look of tie dye and you want to add a bit of bold color to your wardrobe, we have an awesome collection of 40 projects that are made just for you.

Summer is coming so now is the time to start sprucing up that wardrobe.

From beach cover-ups and t-shirts to pillows, dresses and even shoes, we have something that is sure to appeal to everyone.

Note that there are different techniques of tie dying so we have chosen projects that give you step-by-step instructions based on the specific technique used. You are free of course to use your own technique for these as well.

Whether you are a seasoned tie dying fanatic or just want to try it for the first time, you are sure to find the perfect summer project in this collection.

Jump to:

• Sharpie Tie-Dye T-Shirt
• Rainbow Tie-Dye Shorts
• Ombre Maxi Dress
• Wave Design Tank
• Tie Dye Mary Janes
• Tie Dye Hair Extensions
• Tie Dye Lunch Bags
• Embroidery Hoop Art
• Tie Dye Summer Tote
• Tie Dye Bedding
• Tie Dyed Wreath
• Tie Dye Embroidery Thread
• Tie Dyed Beach Towel
• Tie Dyed Caftan Cover-Up
• Girls No-Sew Tie Dyed Dress
• Tie Dye Socks
• Tie Dye Braided Headband
• Tie Dyed Scrappy Scarf
• Easy Tie Dye Apron
• Tie Dyed Watercolor Tunic
• Tie Dyed Converse
• Tie Dyed Yoga Pants
• Tie Dye Watercolor Curtains
• Tie Dye Magnetic Memo Board
• Ombre Wicker Basket
• Toddler’s Tie Dyed Heart Dress
• Beautiful Sampler Quilt
• Swimsuit Cover-Up
• Mickey Mouse Tie Dye Shirts
• Tie Dye Tights
• Tie Dyed T-Shirt Vest
• Tie Dyed Onesies
• Tie Dye Fringe Bottom Tanks
• Tie Dyed Pillows
• Tie Dye Skirt
• Tie Dyed Fabric Jewelry
• Tie Dye Denim Shirt
• Tie Dye Jeans
• Ombre Dyed Dish Towels
• Tie Dye Laundry Sack
• Make Your Jeans Summery and Colorful with This DIY Dye Tutorial

Sharpie Tie-Dye T-Shirt

This is an easy t-shirt project that is perfect if you have little ones that want to try their hand at tie dying. You need a white shirt, some clips to make the design and a few Sharpie brand markers. You can use however many colors you want and make any design you choose, which is what makes this t-shirt so great. There are no rules to follow with regards to design and tie dying so use your creativity and make a shirt that is perfect for summer.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Marthastewart

Rainbow Tie-Dye Shorts

Imagine wearing these cool colorful shorts this summer! You just need an old pair of shorts or pants that you can cut off and they don’t necessarily have to be white. Use those old faded jeans for this project.

Once you have finished with your coloring, you can add embellishments to really make them stand out. There is no specific design technique to these. You use whatever colors you want and create whatever design you prefer.

They are great for wearing to the beach or pool and are sure to spark attention with their bold colors.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Xcomemoda

Ombre Maxi Dress

Maxi dresses have certainly come back into style (they were actually really popular back during the original tie-dye days). You can create a beautiful Ombre designed maxi dress in just a couple of hours from start to finish.

You can purchase a dye kit or use whatever dyes you may have on hand. The gist is to gradually increase the color hue so that it looks lighter on bottom and darker on top. This is a great and very popular look and this maxi dress is really easy to create.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Pearmama

Wave Design Tank

Create a lovely wave design on a tank top or t-shirt and this is a great project to do in any color you want.

If you want a tank but don’t have one, just use an old plain white t-shirt and cut out the sleeves and the top just a bit.

This is a relatively easy and quick project and one that will give you the perfect top for wearing out this summer.

You can do several of these with different colors and have a great new summer wardrobe, plus they go with any shorts, pants or even skirts.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Boifromipanema

Tie Dye Mary Janes

You can create adorable tie dyed shoes with just a few supplies and a couple of hours of time.

Note that you will need 100% cotton shoes to do this project. The gist of the project is to dye the shoes and then create an adorable star or other shape in another tie dyed color that contrasts with the color of the shoes.

These are great summer shoes and you can do several pairs in different colors. You could also use canvas tennis shoes for this one if you prefer them over the Mary Janes.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Condoblues

Tie Dye Hair Extensions

Imagine having loads of color for summer – in your hair! You can easily create colorful hair extensions using a tie dye method and the great part is that you don’t actually have to wear your color all the time.

You can also do this with your natural hair if you do want to wear color all the time so the choice is absolutely up to you.

You can purchase clip-in extensions at most beauty supply stores if you prefer not to permanently color your real hair. Either way, these are a great way to show off a little color this summer.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Glitterinc

Tie Dye Lunch Bags

If you are heading out to the beach (or if you just want something fun for your lunch at work) you can make these really neat tie dyed lunch bags. There are different ways to create a stunning lunch bag and you can choose from any of them.

You will need to purchase (if you don’t already have one) a reusable lunch tote and then just choose the colors and design that you want.

These are great for kids to take to school and they can help you to pick out the colors and design that they want.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Favecrafts

Embroidery Hoop Art

Create a work of art for any wall with a few embroidery hoops and an easy tie dye method. You can do these in any color and use hoops of different sizes to create beautiful wall décor for any room in your home. Do them in different shades of the same color or multiple colors.

These are also great for Holiday decorating. Simply do hues of greens and reds and add to your Christmas décor. You can get embroidery hoops at a craft store or be on the lookout at yard sales – you can normally pick them up for less than a buck.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Inspiredbycharmreviews

Tie Dye Summer Tote

Really hit the beach or pool in style when you carry this easy to make tote with a great tie dye pattern. For this project, you need fabric and some batting for the quilted part of the tote. You make the entire tote from scratch so a bit of sewing is required.

You could also simply tie dye an old tote that you already have on hand but it’s much better to make the entire thing, don’t you think? This is a really easy project even for beginning sewers and will give you such a colorful tote to carry around this summer.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Prudentbaby

Tie Dye Bedding

Girls will absolutely adore their tie dyed bedding set that you can create easily.

You can do everything from the sheets and pillow cases to the comforter and even the window coverings if you want. Let your daughter choose her own color scheme and then just create the look from white bedding with the dyes of your choice.

This really is an easy project and one that you can complete in less than a day.

The colors will change the look of the room dramatically and for a lot cheaper than you would pay to buy tie dyed bedding.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Ilovetocreate

Tie Dyed Wreath

Dress up your front door for summer with a great tie dyed wreath – plus there’s a tutorial for cloth napkins as well.

This wreath looks great in multiple colors and you can accent it with plastic sunglasses, silk flowers or just about anything you want. Add seashells to give it a great beach-y look or just leave it plain. It’s filled with color and much easier to create than it looks.

The wreath is made from cloth napkins but you could use old t-shirts that are cut into squares if you want.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Howtonestforless

Tie Dye Embroidery Thread

If you just don’t know yet what you want to create and you love to embroidery, you can make your own tie dyed embroidery threads.

You can use these threads to create just about anything from cross-stitched pieces to bracelets. Just choose lighter colored threads so that the colors come through as they should.

The process is really easy and when you are finished, you will have loads of tie dyed threads to create a number of different projects in the future.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Isewcute

Tie Dyed Beach Towel

Tie dye your own beach towels or just create colorful towels for bath time at home. You can pick up a few white towels (or wash cloths) at your local Dollar Store for just a dollar or so each and then just choose the colors that you want to use.

You could have an entire bathroom filled with colorful towels or use them for the kids’ bathroom. If you have old beach towels that are faded or plain looking, just add some color to them with this easy tie dying technique.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Theswelldesigner

Tie Dyed Caftan Cover-Up

Little girls (and big girls, even) will love this colorful caftan styled cover-up that you can tie dye in a multitude of great colors. The caftan is made from a towel and just a bit of sewing is required.

Overall though, this is an easy project and one that will cost you very little, especially if you already have a towel that you can use. If you are planning to make this one for adults, you may need to use one of those larger bath sheets or a beach towel.

It’s a really easy project that gives you a great cover-up for the pool or beach.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Thismamamakesstuff

Girls No-Sew Tie Dyed Dress

This is a great summer dress that you can make for your little girl out of a men’s white cotton t-shirt. You just have to do a bit of cutting and then the tie dying process. This is the perfect dress for summer parties and what makes it really great is there is no sewing required at all.

You could do several of these in different colors or even make one for yourself – although it would be a bit short. It’s a great halter style with no back that will be cool in more ways than one.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Mamanibbles

Tie Dye Socks

Teenage girls will love these socks that you create from plain white socks and a little tie-dyeing.

The instructions call for white knee socks but you could use this method to tie-dye shorter socks too if you want.

You can use socks that you already have on hand that may not be as white as they used to be or pick up a few pairs and create different looks for each pair.

The process is really easy and she’s sure to adore wearing these out this summer.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Theimpatientcrafter

Tie Dye Braided Headband

You could buy a braided headband that is already tie dyed, but you’ll pay nearly $20 for one and you can actually make it yourself for about $2. You will need to tie dye an old t-shirt and then cut strips from the shirt to create the headband.

This is one of the easiest headband projects out there and one that will take you less than an hour after you have the shirt dyed. You can use one shirt to create several different looks or make a few in the same color scheme and share them.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Dmvsgotstyle

Tie Dyed Scrappy Scarf

Ok, so you may not normally think scarves in summer, but this one is really light and really adorable. It’s made from an old t-shirt that you can tie dye in any color combinations that you want. The torn, shabby look is great and because of it, this is a really cool scarf that won’t burn you up during the hotter months. Just choose a t-shirt and get dyeing or you could use another tie dyed shirt that you’ve recently done and perhaps it didn’t turn out as you had hoped.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Cutoutandkeep

Easy Tie Dye Apron

Create an adorable tie dyed apron from an old t-shirt. This is a great project that gives you an apron you can wear when doing other crafts or you could use it to cook.

This is also a great project for gifts.

You just have to cut the t-shirt appropriately after you have tie dyed it and then there is just a minimal amount of sewing to get the strings attached. This would be a wonderful Father’s Day gift for the man in your life who loves to grill.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Ilovetocreate

Tie Dyed Watercolor Tunic

You will need a tunic to begin this project but you can normally pick those up for just a few dollars. Or, you could sew one yourself and then use the instructions to give it a great watercolor tie dye effect. This is great for lounging around the house or even wearing to the pool or beach.

You let the colors bleed into each other and they end up creating a design that resembles summer flowers. This is a great idea for gifts for Mother’s Day or anytime you need something unique and easy to create.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Ilovetocreateblog

Tie Dyed Converse

Ok, so Converse is not the cheapest shoe on the market so you can do this with other brands if you want to save a little money.

If you do have white converse (or another rather light color) and you want to make them a little more unique, you can use this tie dye method to change them up a bit. Note that you can buy shoes that are already tie dyed but the cost goes up with any customization that you choose.

It’s much cheaper just to get plain ones and tie dye them yourself.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Ilovetocreateblog

Tie Dyed Yoga Pants

If you have planned on getting in shape this summer and you want a great pair of yoga pants, this is the perfect project for you. You simply take a plain old pair of yoga pants and turn them into something that you will be proud to wear to the gym.

This is a really easy process.

So easy in fact that you may want to make a few different pairs in different colors so that you have something unique to wear every day when you work out. You can use iron on designs or create your own.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Ilovetocreate

Tie Dye Watercolor Curtains

This is a great project for girls’ rooms. If you want to add lots of color and a bit of uniqueness, these watercolor curtains are absolutely perfect. You actually make the curtains from white sheets which you can pick up at Wal-Mart or the Dollar Store for less than $5 each.

Or, hit some yard sales and see what you can find even cheaper. Once you have the sheets, just tie dye them and create beautiful and colorful curtains that your little girl is sure to love.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Madincrafts

Tie Dye Magnetic Memo Board

Tie dyeing is not all about clothing. You can actually create some wonderful items for your home – like this gorgeous tie dyed magnetic memo board. The material comes from an on t-shirt that you tie dye in whatever color or combination of colors that you want.

Then you just have to assemble the memo board and put on it whatever you want. This is a great project for girls’ rooms or you can use it in the kitchen to keep family messages organized.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Itsybitsypaperblog

Ombre Wicker Basket

You can actually use tie dye methods to do more than cloth.

This wicker basket has a beautiful Ombre design that comes from the same process as tie dyeing those old t-shirts. You can do this with tiered baskets or just any wicker that you want.

Imagine having an Ombre wicker hamper in the bathroom or this would be great in a room that has tie dyed bedding. You can create loads of wonderful home décor with a bit of wicker and a good tie dyeing process.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Thevspotblog

Toddler’s Tie Dyed Heart Dress

Create adorable little dresses for your toddler with old t-shirts and a bit of dye.

The project is very easy and perfect for beginning sewers. You can make one dress out of each t-shirt so if you have a stack of old shirts that you don’t really need, create dresses in different colors for your little one. You could also make these and give them away as gifts.

Parents and girls alike are sure to adore their colorfulness and they will really help to beat the heat this summer.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Littlepinkmonster

Beautiful Sampler Quilt

Did you know that you can create an entire quilt in tie dye? Well, you can and you are sure to love the ease of this project. Even if you don’t quilt, you will still be able to make this lovely piece and it would be the perfect gift for anyone on your list.

You just have to have white fabric, which you can get from stacks of old t-shirts and then choose the colors that you want to use.

Do all of the squares in the same color or make a multi-colored quilt.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Alwaysexpectmoore

Swimsuit Cover-Up

This great swimsuit cover is made from an old t-shirt and is so easy that you simply won’t believe it.

The only sewing that’s required is attaching the braid in the back to the bottom of the cover. You just have to cut the t-shirt appropriately and then braid the strips in the back.

It really is easy and simple to create different sizes just by getting t-shirts in different sizes. If you wear a medium shirt on average, you’ll want to get a large for the cover. Little girls’ sizes can be done with small women’s shirts or larger sizes of kids’ shirts.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Adventuresofamiddlesister

Mickey Mouse Tie Dye Shirts

Kids will absolutely love these great Mickey Mouse t-shirts that you can easily create yourself.

You will need a shirt for each of your little ones and dyes in reds and blues. The design ends up with a red Mickey Mouse head right in the center (or you could move it if you wanted) and surrounded by blue and white.

These are great if you are planning a trip to Disney World this summer or if you just have toddlers who really love Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Kidsactivitiesblog

Tie Dye Tights

Tights are so in, even for summer and you can create great colors with tie dye.

White tights are going to work best for this although you could do lighter, pastel colors if you want to darken them up a bit. The process is so easy that you’ll want to do all of your tights this way.

These are going to be a great hit with preteens and teenagers and even little girls will love the unique colors. It is recommended that you wash them in warm water completely separate from other clothing the first couple of times to ensure that they don’t bleed or run.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Whimsy-love

Tie Dyed T-Shirt Vest

Who knew an old t-shirt could be turned into something that is completely appropriate for the office? You can make this really neat t-shirt vest with an old shirt and then use the Ombre effect for tie dyeing to give it this unique look.

The sleeves of the shirt are cut out for the vest and the front is cut completely open. The back has a really neat gathered look down the center that will look really great with tanks during the summer. This is such an easy vest to make and it really does look like something that you could wear anywhere.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Wobisobi

Tie Dyed Onesies

If you have a little one or you know someone who is having a baby, be sure to create some of these adorable tie dyed onesies.

They are so easy to make and you could create multiple looks from just one package of onesies. You normally get 3 to 5 in a pack so choose white ones and then add the colors that you want. You can use different design methods to make them all look unique even if you do them all in the same color.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Nourishandbenourished

Tie Dye Fringe Bottom Tanks

Take an old t-shirt, tie dye it and then cut it up a bit to create this beautiful and very fun fringed tank.

These really look like something straight out of the 60s but they are perfectly in style. They will look great with any shorts or jeans that you want to wear because they are filled with all sorts of color.

Making the fringe on the bottom is really easy, too. In fact, you may want to do a few of these in different colors and patterns to have one for every day.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Everythingfashiondiy

Tie Dyed Pillows

You can use these pillows as throw pillows for the living room or use them to add a splash of color to the bedroom. You need a white pillow case for each pillow that you want to make. Note that you can make your own pillow cases out of old t-shirts.

This particular pillow case project is made with all natural dye so while you still get a great tie dye effect, it’s completely free of dyes and other agents. It uses turmeric for the coloring.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Highondiy

Tie Dye Skirt

With an old white skirt, you can create a great colorful piece that will be much more fun to wear. And, you can wear this one even after Labor Day. Just get a white cotton skirt or you can make one yourself rather quickly even if you aren’t that skilled at sewing.

Once you have the skirt, you just tie dye it as instructed and you have a wonderful skirt that you can use for daytime or nighttime. If you really like it, do a couple in different colors and different lengths and really add some color to your summer wardrobe.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Burdastyle

Tie Dyed Fabric Jewelry

Take those old t-shirts and turn them into useful and colorful jewelry. You can easily create this necklace and bracelets from tie dyed shirts and a few other supplies. This is a wonderful project for preteens and teenagers and will look great on your vacation to the beach.

Not going to the beach? This will still look great and will give you a wonderful summery look no matter what you pair it with. Plus, it puts those old shirts to good use.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Dollarstorecrafts

Tie Dye Denim Shirt

Get this great denim shirt tie dyed look with an old shirt and just a couple of hours of your time. It’s actually a lot easier to create than it looks and it won’t cost you anything if you already have a boring old denim shirt on hand. If not, you can normally pick them up at thrift stores or yard sales for about a buck or so.

Then, just choose the colors (white works well) that you want to use and turn that boring old shirt into something that will be great as a jacket on cooler summer nights.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Belleofthebean

Tie Dye Jeans

Skinny jeans, low cut, boot cut or any other type of jeans that you prefer can be tie dyed to make them look completely different.

You really don’t have to use a white material when tie dyeing, as shown with these great skinny jeans.

You just have to ensure that the dye you are using is much lighter than your denim and you can do jeans of any color in a tie dye fashion. Speaking of fashion, these would cost a small fortune if you bought them already dyed but you can do them yourself for practically nothing.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Paperblog

Ombre Dyed Dish Towels

Dish towels really aren’t that expensive when you buy white and you can turn those white towels into great Ombre or tie dyed towels that really complement your kitchen. You can also use towels that you already have on hand if you want. These would make great gifts incidentally.

They are easy to create and you can make an entire collection of them for less than $20 which is much cheaper than if you bought them in different colors.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Quinncooperstyle

Tie Dye Laundry Sack

Give the kids a reason to put their dirty clothes away when you make them a tie dyed laundry sack.

You can do one in each color that you need or create a special one for the bathroom.

You don’t even have to buy a laundry bag to make this. It is created from old t-shirts so if you have a stack of shirts that you don’t need, you won’t have to pay anything to get this great laundry bag. Plus, it’s completely washable so you can just throw it in with the laundry from time to time to keep it clean.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - Lifeyourway

Make Your Jeans Summery and Colorful with This DIY Dye Tutorial

If you have old jeans that you simply don’t want to throw away, you can give them a great new look by following this tutorial from The Little Giggler. She not only dyed the jeans, she turned those flares into skinny jeans!

This is a great way to get a new wardrobe without spending anything. Just take those old faded out jeans or anything that you don’t really like the color on and bleach out the color. Then just dye them whatever color you want. Talk about saving money and you get a great new pair of jeans to boot.

DIY Instructions and Project Credit - thelittlegigglerto in