Wet, wild, and, yes, a little messy, tie-dyeing is the perfect way to keep kids (and even adults) entertained on a summer day. For this simple "resist" technique, fabric is cinched so that when it’s immersed, certain areas resist the dye. The undyed areas form decorative patterns against the dyed ones.
The technique requires minimal equipment and supplies that are available at any supermarket or hardware store. Simply set out bowls of rubber bands, clothespins, marbles, and garments (for best results, use 100 percent cotton) and experiment with a variety of expressive patterns. Below are four popular designs. Both you and the kids will be thrilled with the results!