How to Tie Dye Baby Onesies

Making tie-dye onesies is such a fun project to do and they make great baby shower gifts that provide a gorgeous pop of color to the baby’s wardrobe. These adorable onesies will start any baby out rocking some fun styles from a very young age. I am so excited to walk you through these different ways in which you can learn how to make tie-dye onesies in several different patterns.

The great thing about this project is that you can add your own twist (no pun intended lol) to these onesies making them uniquely your creation. Plus, what’s cuter than a baby wearing tie-dye?!

Let’s jump right in by looking at what supplies you will need in order to make some adorable tie-dye onesies!

How to Make a Tie Dye Onesie: A Fun DIY Tutorial

What You’ll Need

Plain White Onesies

Before getting started, you will want to pick up some nice and soft plain white onesies to tie-dye. If they are soft, organic cotton is nice. Otherwise, any other type of soft cotton will work well.

You can find white onesies in sleeveless, short-sleeved, or long-sleeved onesies. If you are looking for a summer favorite then you might want to try the short-sleeved version, or for a cool-weather wardrobe staple perhaps the long-sleeved onesies are a better option. What style you choose is completely up to you.

Also, the good news is that tie dyeing can also help to give new life to old clothes. If you have old, plain onesies laying around, you can also try tie-dying them to help give them a face life!

Dye Colors

Next, you will want to select your type of dye and your dye colors. There are a variety of colors, dyes, and tie dye kits to choose from.

Tie dye kits offer the convenience of having everything included in one package. However, the downside is that you may not have all of the colors you want or be able to make the colors as prominent because of the limited amount of dye powder.

You can also pick up individual packages of powdered or liquid dye. This allows you to choose exactly which colors you want and how many. Then you will need to remember to pick up the other supplies you need, such as bottles to mix the dye in, rubber bands, and plastic gloves.

Although choosing your individual dye colors might be less convenient, this is my personal preference because it is often the more cost-effective option, and you can make the colors more prominent. I like to pick up packets of powdered Tulip dye, then use disposable water bottles, or plastic squirt bottles to mix them in.

Feel free to select whichever kind of dye works best for you, whether they are tie dye kits, reactive dyes, or individual packages of powdered dye.

When selecting your colors, keep in mind that colors mixed together will make other colors. This is especially important in tie dye because your colors are highly likely to mix.

Rubber Bands

You will want to have rubber bands on hand to help hold the onesies in place so that you get your desired tie-dye design. In addition to rubber bands, you could also use string in some cases to hold the cloth in place.

Tweezers, Fork, or Pencil

When making the popular swirl tie dye pattern, you will want to have some tweezers, a fork, or a pencil with an eraser on hand to help get the tight swirl. My favorite to use is tweezers, as they tend to hold best, but you can also use your fingers to pinch and swirl if needed.

Disposable Gloves

You will want to have some disposable gloves to protect your hands from getting dyed as you work on this project. You can use any type of disposable or plastic gloves you have on hand.

Plastic Bag

After you are done with your project you will want to have a plastic bag to wrap the project in, to let it set.

Wire Rack and Rimmed Cookie Sheet

Especially if you are working on this project inside, you will want to be sure you have a work surface that will contain the dye, as well as one that is easily cleanable. If possible, this project is best done outside. But if working inside, I would suggest using a wire cooling rack inside of a rimmed cookie sheet as your work surface.

Paper Towels

You may also want to have some paper towels on hand to help clean up any dye that escapes.

Washable Marker

To make the heart-shaped pattern, you will also want to have a washable marker to draw the heart.

A Word of Caution: When tie dying, remember that you are working with dye that is going to color cloth. This means that if you get it on your clothes, you are going to end up with permanent spots on your clothes. It’s a good idea to wear old clothes, or a craft smock to protect your clothes when working with tie dye.

Now that you know what supplies you should have on hand to begin this project, let’s get started by looking at step-by-step instructions on how to tie dye onesies in different patterns.

Instructions to Tie Dye a Baby Onesie

Prepare the Onesies for Dye

Before you start making any of these patterns, please follow these steps:

1. Wash and dry the plain white onesies to remove any residue that might prevent the dye from working as it should.

Mix the Dye

2. Mix the dye colors according to the package instructions. Be sure to shake or mix each one very well.

Get Ready

3. Arrange your work surface so that the dye will be contained. I like to use a rimmed cookie sheet with a wire rack as my work surface to keep my project out of any dye that runs down.

4. Have your plastic bag and rubber bands easily accessible.

5. Put gloves on.

Tie the Onesies

6. Determine what pattern you want to make on your onesie and secure it with string or rubber bands to hold it in place.

Apply the Dye

7. Now it’s time to select your tie-dye pattern and begin making your tie-dye!

Make sure you check out the detailed instructions below for instructions on how to fold your onesies in different ways.

Different Pattern Types

The Tie Dye Swirl

The tie-dyed swirl or spiral is probably the most common tie dye design to make. This is when you create a multicolored spiral shape across the surface of the fabric. This design is especially fun to make using a lot of different colors.

1. Lay the onesie flat on your work surface.

2. Determine where you want the center of the swirl to be, then use tweezers or your fingers and pinch it, then gently turn it to form a spiral shape. Make sure that the outer edges are folded into the spiral and that there are no major bumps.

3. Use rubber bands to secure the onesie in place.

4. When it is secured, you can start adding your dye in sections on the onesie. Keep in mind that colors near each other will blend.

5. Dye the top side, then carefully flip it over, and repeat the same pattern on the other side so that the colors go all the way through.

6. Place the tie-dyed onesie in a plastic bag, seal it, and let it set for a minimum of 8 hours, but the longer it sits the better. I like to let it sit for 24 hours, before rinsing.

Tie Dye Stripes

Tie-dyed stripes can go across the onesie, or my favorite is to make vertical tie-dyed strips up and down the onesie. You can make them as wide or as thin as you want.

1. Lay the onesie flat on your work surface.

2. Next determine how you want your stripes to go. I like to make vertical stripes. To do this, you will want to lay the onesie so that the shoulder snaps are at the top, and the crotch snaps at the bottom. Then carefully fold it into a fan shape, working from the bottom up or top down.

3. Once it is folded, secure it with rubber bands.

4. Apply the dye in sections across the onesie, then flip the onesie over and apply the same colors to the back as are on the front side.

5. Place the tie-dyed onesie in a plastic bag, seal it, and let it set for a minimum of 8 hours, but the longer it sits the better. I like to let it sit for 24 hours, before rinsing.

Tie Dye V

Making a V-shaped dye pattern is a fun one, and it looks super cute. The pattern usually starts and the neck of the onesie and has V-shaped lines of different colored rows across the onesie.

1. Lay the onesie flat on your work surface.

2. Use a flat surface, like a ruler to help you fold the onesie in half from top to bottom, or from the neck to the snaps at the bottom. Once folded straight, remove the ruler.

3. Turn the onesie so that it is at a slight angle. Then carefully fold it, using a fan fold. Secure the onesie using rubber bands or string from top to bottom.

4. Apply the dye in sections or strips.

5. Turn the onesie over and make sure that the dye has gone all the way through, if not add the same color pattern to the back side.

6. Place the tie-dyed onesie in a plastic bag, seal it, and let it set for a minimum of 8 hours, but the longer it sits the better. I like to let it sit for 24 hours, before rinsing.

Tie Dye Bulls Eye

A tie-dyed bull’s eye is when you have a circle dyed in the center, or somewhere on the onesie, then there are circles going out from the center, like the bull’s eye of a target.

1. Lay the onesie flat on your work surface.

2. Determine where you want the center of the bull’s eye to be. Then use your fingers to pinch off the center of the bull’s eye. Start by securing rubber bands around the center and work your way back, pulling the onesie with you as you go.

3. When the onesie is secured with rubber banded sections, use the bands as dividers and dye each section with your desired colors.

4. Turn the onesie over and repeat the same colors on the back side so that the colors go all the way through.

5. Place the tie-dyed onesie in a plastic bag, seal it, and let it set for a minimum of 8 hours, but the longer it sits the better. I like to let it sit for 24 hours, before rinsing.

Tie Dye Scrunch

A tie-dye scrunch is a simple yet random pattern. It’s almost like dyeing wadded-up cloths, only a little more of a pattern.

1. Lay the onesie flat on your work surface.

2. Then carefully scrunch the onesie together.

3. Secure the scrunched onesie with rubber bands.

4. Add the colored dye in sections on the onesie as desired.

5. Turn the onesie over and add additional color to the back if desired.

6. Place the tie-dyed onesie in a plastic bag, seal it, and let it set for a minimum of 8 hours, but the longer it sits the better. I like to let it sit for 24 hours, before rinsing.

Tie Dye Heart

Making a tie dye heart design can be difficult, but it is super cute if done appropriately. To make this design, you will want to be very careful and take your time, in order for it to turn out.

1. Lay the onesie flat on your work surface.

2. Fold the onesie in half from the neck to the bottom snaps.

3. Use a washable marker and draw half of a heart where you want it.

4. Now, you are going to use the line as your guide. Starting at the base of the line, fan fold the onesie on that line, keeping the line straight, even as it curves across the onesie. It’s extremely important that the line stays as straight as possible.

5. When the heart shape has been fan-folded into a straight line, use a rubber band and secure the onesie on that straight line.

6. Fan fold the rest of the onesie working out from where you folded the heart shape.

7. Secure the rest of the onesie with rubber bands.

8. To start dying the onesie, begin by applying dye to the heart shape, then add other colors of dye as desired. Be sure to apply the dye both to the top and bottom.

9. Place the tie-dyed onesie in a plastic bag, seal it, and let it set for a minimum of 8 hours, but the longer it sits the better. I like to let it sit for 24 hours, before rinsing.

Finishing your Tie Dye Onesies

How to Care for Tie Dye After it Has Set:

Let Set

After your tie dye project has set, and you are ready to rinse it out, you can follow these steps.

1. Use cold water to rinse any excess dye out of your onesies.

Remove Bands and Rinse

2. After you have rinsed for a few minutes, remove or cut the rubber bands, open the onesies so that they are flat, and continue rinsing out the excess dye until the water runs clear.

Wash and Dry

3. When it has been rinsed, add the onesies to your empty washing machine, turn the water as hot as the fabric can handle, and set it for a large load, then wash the onesies with a little bit of your usual laundry soap, and dry them.

Please note that the first couple of times the onesies are washed after the dye is set, you may consider washing them separately just to be safe. The first couple of times, there is still a slight risk that they may shed a little more dye. After that, they should be okay to wash with your entire load.

FAQs

Can you tie-dye a onesie?

Yes, you can tie-dye a onesie as long as it is made from the right kind of fabric. The best type to use is 100% cotton after it has been washed. However, you can also tie-dye onesies made from fiber like bamboo, hemp, linen, and rayon.

How long does it take to tie-dye a onesie?

It will depend on the method you use, however, if you use the one outlined above it will typically take a minimum of 8 hours, but no more than 24 hours.

Tie-Dye Onesies

Making tie dye onesies is such a fun project, and it allows you to make a fun gift or start your baby out rocking a fun style. I hope that you have found this tutorial to be helpful! Now, it’s time to get started making your creations!

Be sure to comment below and let me know how it went or tag us in your pictures! It’s so much fun to see your creations!

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How to Tie Dye Onesies

Materials

Plain White Onesies
Dye Colors
Rubber Bands
Tweezers Fork, or Pencil
Disposable Gloves
Plastic Bag
Wire Rack and Rimmed Cookie Sheet
Paper Towels
Washable Marker