100+ Tie-dye Patterns and Ideas

If you’re searching for tie-dye patterns you’re at the right place. This page contains over one hundred videos showcasing some of the most stunning tie-dye designs. If you’re new to the craft, then be sure to check out our beginner’s guide to tie-dye.

The patterns are ranked by difficulty. We have taken into consideration the relative difficulty of each one and how much time they take to accomplish. An easy pattern can be completed in as little as 5 minutes, while advanced patterns may require multiple hours of work.

You can compare different variations of the same tie-dye techniques. Find out which ones you like best. I hope you have a good time exploring the world of tie-dye.

Easy Tie-dye Patterns

Easy to replicate without any craft experience. These tie-dye patterns are perfect to get started with. As opposed to painting, sculpting or other fine arts, tie-dye is very forgiving for newcomers. You will amaze yourself on the first try.

There are many folding techniques you can do right now. The beauty is that you don’t need to be perfect. Even a rough approximation of the technique is enough to give you amazing results.

Common folds can be found here, such as the spiral, crumple, and fan fold. Be sure to share you favorite techniques with your friends. We learn quicker when sharing tips together.

– Press on a shirt to play instructions –

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Single Arm pattern.

Single Arm Spiral

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Two-arms Spiral pattern.

Two-arms Spiral

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Rainbow Spiral pattern.

Rainbow Spiral

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Blackback Spiral pattern.

Blackback Spiral

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Pastel Crumple pattern.

Pastel Crumple

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Heavy Crumple pattern.

Heavy Crumple

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Random Crumple pattern.

Random Crumple

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Camo Crumple pattern.

Camo Crumple

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Fire Crumple pattern.

Fire Crumple

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Slash Crumple pattern.

Slash Crumple

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Fan Fold pattern.

Side Fan Fold

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Top Peacock pattern.

Top Fan Fold

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Diagonal Pleat pattern.

Diagonal Pleat

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Pleated V pattern.

Wedge

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Oasis pattern.

Oasis

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Fireworks pattern.

Fireworks

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Eyeball pattern.

Eyeball

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Heart pattern.

Heart

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Snowflake pattern.

Snowflake

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Target pattern.

Target

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Double X pattern.

Double X Pattern

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Geode pattern.

Geodes

Straight Pleat Tie Dye Pattern

Straight Pleat

Diamond Tie Dye Pattern

Diamond

X Tie Dye Pattern

X Pattern

Pyramid Tie Dye Pattern

Pyramid

ZigZag Tie Dye Pattern

Zig Zag

Water Drop Tie Dye Pattern

Water Drop

Intermediate Tie-dye Patterns

You are ready to try new things. Intermediate patterns are next on your list. You will see the same basic folding techniques used. Only this time with complex dyeing patterns. You will see advanced spirals and geometric shapes.

Don’t be afraid to try your hand. Don’t shy away from intimidating designs. Do what pleases you the most and you’ll have a fun time learning.

Skills are transferable from one technique to the other. Most of it is building muscle memory. For now choose the patterns that interest you the most and the rest will follow.

– Press on a shirt to play instructions –

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Blue Lightning pattern.

Blue Lightning

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Skeletal Spiral pattern.

Skeletal Spiral

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Spirograph pattern.

Spirograph

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Fragmented Spiral pattern.

Fragmented Spiral

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Six Colors Spiral pattern.

Six Colors Spiral

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Criss-Cross Spirals pattern.

Criss-Cross

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Shifting Spiral pattern.

Shifting Spiral

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Reverse Spiral pattern.

Reverse Spiral

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Peacock pattern.

Peacock

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Double Peacock pattern.

Double Peacock

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Sunflare pattern.

Sunflare

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Black Hole pattern.

Black Hole

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Chain Links pattern.

Chain Links

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Rasta Pleat pattern.

Rasta Pleat

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Right Angle Pleat pattern.

Right Angle

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Fish Scales pattern.

Fish Scales

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Geometric pattern.

Geometric

Kaleidoscope Tie Dye Pattern

Kaleidoscope

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Star Mandala pattern.

Star Mandala

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Sunshine Mandala pattern.

Sunshine Mandala

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Candy Corners pattern.

Candy Corners

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Reverse Spine pattern.

Reverse Spine

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Rorschach pattern.

Rorschach

Lotus Mandala Tie Dye Pattern

Lotus Mandala

Earth and Sun Tie Dye Pattern

Earth and Sun

Nautilus Tie Dye Pattern

Nautilus

Advanced Tie-dye Patterns

Flex your tie-dye muscles with these impressive techniques. Advanced patterns can be difficult to get on the first few tries. They employ the most advanced folding and dyeing techniques known.

These patterns will help you solidify your understanding of the guiding principles of tie-dye. This is the time for you to try out your own unique ideas. Create some of the most sought-after and expensive items of the craft.

– Press on a shirt to play instructions –

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Complex Spiral pattern.

Complex Spiral

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Mosaic Spiral pattern.

Mosaic Spiral

Winter Wonder Tie Dye Pattern

Winter Wonder

Mindscape Tie Dye Pattern

Mindscape

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Diagonal Wigwag pattern.

Diagonal Wig-Wag

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the V Wigwag pattern.

V Wig-Wag

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Wedge Wigwag pattern.

Wedge Wig-Wag

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Fan Fold Wigwag pattern.

Fan Fold Wig-Wag

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Mirror Wig-Wag pattern.

Mirror Wig-Wag

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Ripple Pleat pattern.

Ripple Pleat

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Ripple Peacock pattern.

Ripple Peacock

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Mirror Ripple pattern.

Mirror Ripple

Completed tie-dye shirt featuring a Ripple Fan Fold design.

Ripple Fan Fold

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Gradient Fan Fold pattern.

Gradient Fan Fold

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Guitar pattern.

Rainbow Guitar

Completed tie-dye shirt made using the Mini Geodes pattern.

Mini Geodes

Fun Tie-dye Patterns

These patterns are a lot of fun. They are ideal for learning how the placement of dye affects the final result. Draw any shape you want on a folded shirt and keep your fingers crossed for the reveal.

Tie-dye is all about having fun. Sometimes the process is even more exciting than the result. Make cool patterns like these and you’re sure to amaze your friends and have fun doing it.

– Press on a shirt to play instructions –

Spiral-folded shirt dyed in the shape of a question mark.

Mysterious Spiral

Spiral-folded shirt dyed in the shape of a Happy Face Emoji.

Happy

Spiral-folded shirt dyed in the shape of an Alien.

Strange Encounter

Spiral-folded shirt dyed in the shape of an Ladybug.

Ladybug

Spiral-folded shirt dyed in the shape of an Flower.

Blooming

Folded shirt dyed in the shape of an erupting volcano.

Elements

Spiral-Folded shirt dyed in the shape of a Frog face.

Froggy

Folded shirt dyed in the shape of a Lion.

Lion

Spiral-folded shirt dyed in the shape of a Mad Cat face.

Mad Cat

Spiral-folded shirt dyed in the shape of a Squid.

Squid

Spiral-folded shirt dyed in the shape of a Tiny Tie-dye Shirt.

Tiny Shirt

Spiral-folded shirt dyed in the shape of a Mushroom.

Mushroom

Spiral-folded shirt dyed in the shape of Tiger Stripes.

Tiger Stripes

Spiral-folded shirt dyed in the shape of a Gift Box.

Gift Box

Spiral-folded shirt dyed in the shape of a Rainbow.

Rainbow

Spiral-folded shirt dyed in the shape of a Monkey face.

Monkey

Spiral-folded shirt dyed in the shape of a Watermelon.

Watermelon

Spiral-folded shirt dyed in the shape of Zigzag lines.

Zig-Zag Spiral

Spiral-folded shirt dyed in the shape of Straight Lines.

Straight Line Spiral

Spiral-folded shirt dyed in the shape of a Flame.

Monkey

How to use tie-dye patterns

Use the patterns on this page by first learning the basic process. This is easiest done by reading our complete guide to tie-dyeing.

  1. Choose your favorite pattern
  2. Prepare your supplies and work area
  3. Wet, then wring out a cotton shirt
  4. Fold and tie the shirt according to the pattern
  5. Prepare your colors
  6. Apply dye to the fabric according to the pattern
  7. Let the dye react for 8 hours
  8. Rinse out the shirt
  9. Wash your tie-dye shirt

This is where art meets science. Use your own artistic touch to build on the pattern and create something in your own style. No matter how exactly you try, it’s near impossible to 100% recreate a pattern. All tie-dye shirts have a unique fingerprint.

How to design tie-dye shirts

Patterns come in many variations, but something you can’t find exactly what you’re looking for. When this happens you may need to improvise. A pattern is the result of folding, tying, and dyeing a shirt. When repeated in the same way they produce a similar result.

First you should practice the basics a bit. Start with basic techniques until you get the hang of it. Start adding small variations to your designs. Compare and contrast your projects. You will soon understand how folding and color placement translates to the end result.

What makes a good tie-dye design?

The attractiveness of a shirt is purely subjective. We each have our own preferences. This is because some styles are contrasting. These are some words that could be used to describe the appearance of a tie-dye shirt:

Flashy

– Bright
– Bold
– Exciting

Elegant

– Soft
– Sophisticated
– Calming

If you’re more scientifically inclined you may have an interest for difficult and impressive techniques. Some characteristics you may find appealing in a tie-dye shirt:

  • Color saturation and brightness
  • Technical difficulty
  • Quality of execution

What are tie-dye patterns

Basic patterns are often referred to by the folding technique they use. More complex or hard to describe patterns can be named according to the shape, color, or general appearance of the design.

Designs can be made with or for any shape, size, and arrangement of fabric. They are usually made on shirts or tapestries. Most patterns can be used interchangeably on any blanks.

Tapestries are flat pieces of fabric. It can be considered to be a two-dimensional object for the purpose of folding and dyeing. Garments, on the other hand, are usually three-dimensional objects.

More Amazing Tie-dye Techniques

Had fun with this tie-dye tutorial? Just wait until you try these other popular tie-dye techniques.