Families don’t need to match to belong together. They just need to show up in their own colors.
Dash-dyeing is a hands-on dye method I developed in my studio: you wet a piece, sprinkle powdered dye, mist it and watch the color travel. There’s no folding or binding, and you can see your pattern as you make it, which makes it wonderful for kids (and for grown-ups who think they aren’t creative). Everyone chooses their own colors, so your family photos end up looking like a rainbow instead of a uniform.
Three ways to dye as a family
| In my studio | At your place, everyone pays | At your place, you treat | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | A Saturday with the kids, up to 6 people | Reunions and parties where each household pays | Reunion shirts, milestone birthdays and anniversaries |
| Where | My studio in Grand Rapids | Your home, cottage, park or venue | Your home, cottage, park or venue |
| Price | $50, includes 3 items; extra pieces $10 | $50 setup; $10 per item, paid by each person | From $150; you cover setup and the first 10 items |
| Book | Friends & Family Dye Session | Host an Event | Special Event |
In my studio: a Friends & Family Dye Session
Bring up to six people, kids included, to my home studio for an hour and a half. I set everyone up with gloves and all 150 colors, show you how it works, and then let everyone play. The session is $50 and includes three items; each extra piece is $10.
At your place: Host an Event
For a bigger family gathering, I’ll bring the dye studio to your backyard, cottage or park pavilion. You pay a $50 setup fee, and each person or household pays $10 for each item they dye. It keeps things simple when lots of branches of the family are coming.
At your place, on you: a Special Event
Want everyone to have a reunion shirt without passing a hat? With a Special Event, you cover the setup and the first ten items. You can provide shirts printed with your family name or reunion year, and everyone dashes their own colors over them. Extra pieces are $10 each.
Family dye day ideas
- Reunion shirts: printed with your family name, dyed in each person’s colors. Unified, never identical.
- Grandparent day: grandkids and grandparents dye a matching pair of bandanas.
- Birthday party: each kid dyes a shirt to take home instead of a goody bag.
- New-baby welcome: the family dyes onesies, swaddles and a blanket for the newest member.
- Memory pieces: dye a loved one’s old shirts so everyone can carry a piece of them.
Is it kid-friendly?
Yes. Kids are often the best dash-dyers in the room, because they don’t overthink it. A few tips:
- Ages 4 and up usually do great with a grown-up nearby. Little ones can dash with help.
- Gloves and aprons are provided. Dress kids in clothes that can get a little color on them.
- Short attention spans are welcome. A piece takes just a few minutes, and kids can dye more than one.
What to bring
- Natural-fiber pieces: cotton, rayon, linen or hemp. Kids’ tees, onesies and old favorites all work.
- Empty-handed? Blanks are available: t-shirts $10 and bandanas $5.
- Pieces go home bagged to set. Rinse the next day, and wash them alone the first time.
Find your way in
Not sure which one fits?
In the studio, a Friends & Family Dye Session fits up to six. At your place, Host an Event if everyone pays for their own pieces, or book a Special Event if you’re treating your people. Tell me about your group and I’ll help you choose.
More joy is possible.