Host your own Tie Dying Party this summer, and be a trend-setting fashionista. Parents can help kids explore their creativity, while having an engaging, fun party.
Is your idea of tie dying the psychedelic 60s, hippies, and flower power? Or does your concept lean more towards batik and a retro interpretation? Whichever way that you prefer your tie-dying, it is a great concept on which to base your kid’s birthday party. Take advantage of the summer’s warm weather and the kids’ creativity to create a memorable event for all.
The Concept
Guests create a one of kind wearable creation --- a t-shirt, ribbon belt, baseball cap, or totebag --- and conclude the party with a fun and trendy fashion show.
The Details
Generally, two to three hours are needed for this party, in order for the garments to be dyed and dried. An ideal time to start this party is at 11:00 am. With this schedule, the guests can tie and dye their garments for about an hour, hang them out to dry, and then sit down for a light meal. If you wish to use this theme for a birthday party, now would be the perfect time to have a light lunch, serve the cake and open any presents. By the time that the meal is over, the garments should be fairly dry. If they’re still damp, plan several conditional activities, such as playing board games (Trivial Pursuit, Scene It or other teen friendly, conversation-encouraging games), making macramé friendship bracelets, or scrapbooking with digital photos from the party.
Conclude this party with a blow-out, music-pumping fashionista runway show of each guest modeling their unique tie dyed creation. An adult can act as the emcee of the event, and another can video tape the show. (Once the party is concluded this tape can serve as the centerpiece of the mailed thank you notes).
The Invitation
Use tie-dye decorated computer paper as the basis for your invitation. You can add a fun and funky retro font outlining the party’s details. Don’t forget to mention that the party will be held outdoors, weather-permitting, so that party goers will remember to wear their sunscreen. Be sure to request an RSVP, so that you know how many garments to provide.
Your Research
Before you implement this party, it’s critical to do your research. Practice tie-dying on your old T-shirts and cotton clothing, so that you have a good comfort level teaching and training the guests to make their own creations. There are a multitude of websites devoted to the practice of tie dying, that will help you in your exploration.
The second article in this series will focus on the party set up and implementation.
© Text by Janice Benoit. [May, 2007]. All rights reserved. Any unauthorized use will constitute an infringement of copyright
