Nothing says “this is a party” quite like bunting—and giving an assortment of red, white, and blue bandanas a reverse tie-dye treatment makes for pretty patriotic color scheme. (You can also use pastel bandanas for a spring gathering or orange and yellow bandanas for a fall harvest party.)
What is reverse tie-dye?
While traditional tie-dying involves adding colorful dye to fabric, reverse tie-dyeing involves using bleach to remove or fade color.
How to reverse tie-dye
Step 1: Wash 100% cotton bandanas (or, if preferred, squares of cotton fabric in another motif); do not dry.
Step 2: Fold, scrunch, or crimp wet bandanas and hold together with rubber bands, kitchen twine, or binder clips.
Step 3: Soak in a solution that is 2 part bleach to 1 part water until faded. (This can take anywhere from 15 minutes to 2 hours. Note, new red bandanas seem to be pretty colorfast, and we found that vintage ones tend to bleach better.)
Step 4: Once desired level of bleaching has occurred, immediately remove bands, twine or binder clips and thoroughly rinse under cold water. Wash if desired. Use bandanas to make a garland, as napkins, or as a neckerchief.
NOTE: If you prefer to use dye over bleach, follow the same instructions but soak the washed and tied bandanas in a dye bath (Rit Dye works well) instead.
