An ombre design is a coloring technique that utilizes lighter and darker shades of the same color. This can be achieved by holding different portions of the t-shirt in the dye bath for varying times. Plunge the t-shirt into the dye bath fully for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the shirt is the lightest desired shade. Remove 1/3 of the shirt from the dye bath and allow the rest of the shirt to soak until it is a shade darker than the first immersion. Remove another third of the shirt and allow the final third of the shirt to soak for the longest duration for the darkest portion.
This shadowed look can also be achieved by using three shades of the same color, such as light blue, blue and indigo. As with all tie dyeing, use your lightest shade first.
Use the color wheel to choose three colors that are harmonious with each other. Tie the shirt into three strips of equal length. Soak each section in a different color of dye. Rinse, allow to dry and remove the ties for a shirt that has three separate sections of color.
Alternatively, choose three colors that make interesting combinations when allowed to run together. Immerse the top third of the shirt into one color, and the second third of the shirt into another, allowing a small bit of the dyes to mix and create a separate shade where the two colors mix. Do the same for the final third of the shirt.
The spiral is a classic tie-dye design. Pinch the center of the t-shirt to create a peak. Use a clothespin to secure the peak. Wrap the rest of the t-shirt into a spiral around the center peak. The shirt should look like a lumpy pastry. Secure the shirt with two separate rubber bands, positioned perpendicular to each other. The shirt bundle is separated into four quadrants of colors.
You can use four different dyes for each of the quadrants, or use three colors and allow the fourth to remain undyed. You can also allow the colors to mingle in the fourth quadrant of the t-shirt. Most classic spiral patterns use the primary colors of red, yellow and blue, allowing two of the primary colors to create a secondary color in the fourth quadrant. Use a color wheel when selecting your colors to determine what colors will mix well.