When we got the materials for our retreat they said that we’d be doing a tie dye project so we brought our pre-washed white shirts along.  I had anticipated standard tie dye…rubber bands, string and dipping in dye baths or squirt bottles.

When we got to the building we found out that it was tie dye with Sharpie Markers and rubbing alcohol. I’ve wanted to try this technique since Elizabeth blogged about it. Of course, there are always so many techniques and so little time.

It’s a very simple process…you just make dots. Seriously. You can create what ever you want.  I’m sure you could draw as well but dragging the marker on the material isn’t always the easiest.We had a piece of cardboard between the layers of the shirt so it wouldn’t bleed through to the back.

We did learn that certain colors of Sharpies spread more than others. Not sure why. Also the bigger the dot…the more it spreads. As well as the more alcohol you put on the further is spreads.

Fun and much less messy process than dye baths.

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I also wanted to say “thank you” once again to Patty for the wonderful birthday surprise. Look at the sweet package of goodies I came home to on Sunday.

Patty was kind enough to share some of her “new” quilt pieces with me and one of her lovely looking and smelling lavender wands.