For this look, you’ll be creating a design with multiple lines of symmetry. To do this, you’ll first fold the shirt into a wedge shape and apply the dye in whatever combination you like. Then, when you unfold the shirt, you’ll reveal the unique kaleidoscope pattern. To make a tie-dye mandala design: Following the diagram above, fold the shirt in half along the diagonal line. The shirt is now folded in eighths.

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. 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. And of course, you can use a lot of these folding techniques for bleach dying or reverse tie-dying. To learn more about that process, don’t miss my articles about How to Bleach Tie-Dye a Sweatshirt and 5 Folding Techniques for Bleach Tie Dye. More Tie Dye Tutorials

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 3.5 inches wide. (You can make wider sections if you like.) Press the edges of each fold well to get sharp creases. Pull the pinched fabric up to a point, and smooth the rest of the shirt down to create a skinny cone shape. 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.

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 TechniquesSandwich the fabric bundle between two matching triangles of cardboard. Secure well with rubber bands. 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.