How to Make a Bullseye Tie-Dye Pattern

Make concentric rings by pulling the shirt into a narrow cone and tying bands at intervals.

Before you start

Use a prewashed white cotton shirt, rubber bands, a protected work surface and dye suitable for cotton. Follow your dye’s instructions for preparation, fixative, mixing, setting time and temperature. This folding guide does not replace the product instructions. Wear appropriate gloves and eye protection; avoid breathing dye powder and use dedicated dyeing equipment.

Fold and apply the colors

1. Lay your prepared shirt flat. Choose where the center of the bullseye will sit.
2. Pinch the fabric at that point and lift it, gathering the rest of the shirt beneath it into a long cone.
3. Wrap a rubber band around the cone near its tip. Add more bands along its length to divide it into sections.
4. Adjust the spacing: narrower sections create closer rings, while wider sections leave broader areas of color.
5. Apply different colors to the sections, rotating the cone to reach every side. Use dye gradually so the colors do not simply pool together.

Pattern tips

The point you lift becomes the center of the design. Keep the bands secure and apply dye around the whole bundle to avoid an unintentionally pale back.

Set, rinse and wash

Keep the tied fabric damp and allow the dye to set for the time and temperature specified on its instructions. Rinse according to those instructions before removing the bands and washing. Wash the finished item separately initially. Dry it and inspect the pattern before deciding what to adjust next time.

Find fiber reactive dyes, blank cotton shirts and more techniques in the Learning Center.

For background on fiber reactive dye preparation, see Jacquard’s manufacturer instructions. Use the instructions supplied with your own dye for quantities and timing.