Folding the Fabric

• 1). Wash, dry and iron the material you want to dye.
  
  
• 2). Fold the fabric into a long rectangle, then fold the bottom half up to make a square.
  
  
• 3). Create an accordion fold centered on the upper left-hand corner of the square. Fold the first 30 degrees of the angle forward, over the middle 30 degrees, and the final 30 degrees backward, under the middle 30 degrees.
  
  
• 4). Tie the accordion fold into place as tightly as you can with string. Use more ties to create more complex patterns and fewer ties to create simpler patterns.
  
  

Dying the Mandala

• 1). Follow the instructions that came with the dye you are using to mix each color of dye for your mandala.
  
  
• 2). Drip dye from a syringe or baster onto each tied-off section of fabric. Use colors next to each other that will blend well. Insert the syringe into the folds in the fabric and drip dye inside to ensure that the material colors evenly.
  
  
• 3). Wrap your dyed material in tin foil, place it inside a plastic bag and leave it in a warm area for 24 hours.
  
  
• 4). Remove the mandala from its wrappings and rinse it in cold water until the water running off it is clear. Wash the fabric in warm water, using regular detergent. Hang it on a clothesline to dry.