Tie-dyeing socks can be a fun project for beginners. Children will love wearing bright, funky designs they’ve created themselves.

What you'll need:

• 100% white socks
• Nontoxic fabric dye such as Rit®
• Salt (if your dye directions require it)
• Rubber bands (Various widths of thick and thin work best if you can find them.)
• Plastic cups for each color dye you’re using (large enough to submerge your socks in if you’re using only one color)
• Plastic sheets or garbage bags to protect your work surface
• Rubber or plastic gloves to protect your hands
• Bounty® paper towels to clean up spills and blot between “dips”
• Pennies or buttons (optional)
• Plastic bags

Directions:

1. Prepare your work surface so it’s covered in plastic and paper towels are close at hand.
2. Mix the dye solution according to package directions. Use a separate bucket or bowl for each color.
3. Begin crumpling, folding, bunching, or twisting the socks into various designs, and bind each section tightly with a rubber band. Alternating thick and thin rubber bands will give you more interesting patterns. Placing three or four rubber bands about a half inch apart will produce stripes. For small circles, bunch pennies or buttons into the fabric and bind them tightly with a rubber band. Dye will not penetrate bound areas of the fabric, so the more areas you “tie,” the more intricate your design will be.
4. Once you’re satisfied with your design, put on your gloves and begin dyeing your socks. If you’re using only one color, immerse both socks in the dye solution. Leave the socks in the dye solution about 20 to 30 minutes, depending on how dark you want the socks. Stir them occasionally with a plastic spoon. Remember that the color will lighten when washed, so if you want a deep, dark color, don’t be afraid to leave the socks in longer. Once the socks are dark enough, rinse them under cool water, squeezing them until the water runs clear.
5. If you’re working with more than one color, use small plastic cups (or eye droppers or squeeze bottles) to slowly pour the dye solution directly on the fabric. Start with the lightest color and end with the darkest. Work directly over the container in which you mixed that color so the extra dye solution spills back into it. Squeeze out the sock after each application of the color. Continue pouring the dye solution onto that section until the color is as dark as you want it. Rinse the section with cool water until the water runs clear. Then blot the section with a paper towel.
6. If you don’t want two colors to bleed together, cover the dyed sections with a plastic bag bound with a rubber band. Move on to the next section and color. Repeat this process until you’ve covered the entire sock with color. Do the same for the other sock.
7. When you’re finished dyeing the socks, squeeze out any moisture still left in the socks to prevent colors from bleeding or dripping into each other. Remove the rubber bands and lay out the socks to dry (or hang them up if you prefer). Let the socks dry overnight.
8. When the socks are completely dry, wash them separately in cold water, or follow the washing directions suggested by the dye manufacturer.