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: 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. In the pictures above, reference the diagram on the left and the finished blue shirt. To make shibori-inspired square folds: Wrap rubber bands around the cone of fabric, starting about an inch below the point of the cone. You can add as many or as few rubber bands as you want.

Learn how to make beautiful and unique tie-dye patterns with these easy tie dye folding techniques and step-by-step pictures. I’ll show you how to make all sorts of tie-dye designs, including the crumple technique, the spiral pattern, and the bullseye design.Next, fold the shirt widthwise in a series of accordion folds. I made each fold about 3.5 inches wide to match. The resulting bundle of fabric should be a square shape. For tie-dyers looking for more color options or a more professional quality dye, I recommend ProcionMX dyes from Jacquard or Dharma Trading Co. With a little patience, you can fold the fabric to create a tie-dye heart in the middle of the shirt. Here’s how to make a tie-dye heart:

Following the diagram above, fold the shirt in half along the diagonal line. The shirt is now folded in eighths. Lay the shirt out on the table. Fold it in half lengthwise. Then fold in half again widthwise. The shirt is now folded into quarters. Starting at one end of your line, begin making small accordion pleats. Follow along the drawn line, folding the pleats in such as way that the marker line appears straight on the top of the folds. This means that you’ll be making the pleats a little deeper on the outside section and a little shallower on the inside section to accommodate the curve of the line.Lay the shirt flat on a table. Pinch a small section of fabric at the center of the shirt. (If you want the bullseye to be off-center, choose a small section off-center.) Following the diagram above, fold the shirt in half again along the diagonal line. The shirt is now folded into sixteenths. 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. 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. 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.

You can create lots of different patterns by folding and tying the fabric in different ways. The folds, rubber bands, and ties resist the dye, keeping it from saturating the fabric evenly. Any part of the fabric that doesn’t get dyed will stay white, creating the design. Easy Tie-Dye Folding Techniques Folding a rainbow shape is very similar to folding a heart – but even easier! Here’s how to make a tie-dye rainbow shape:Pull the pinched fabric up to a point, and smooth the rest of the shirt down to create a skinny cone shape. There are lots of different tie-dye patterns and folding techniques that you can use to create unique designs. Here are a few of the various designs you can create with tie-dye. 1. Spiral or Swirl Tie Dye Lay the shirt flat on a table. Pinch a small section of fabric, and pull it up to create a small pointed cone shape.