CRi, Choice. Respect. independence. (formerly known as Community Residences, Inc.), is a community-based organization with a focused effort on providing people with developmental disabilities and/or mental health needs the resources, supports and services they need to live their lives with purpose, actively engaged in communities of their choosing. CRi’s mission fully supports a person’s ability to exercise control of their life’s choices, and to live in and contribute to communities of their choosing, as young adults through aging in place. We believe in serving individuals within the communities in which they live & supporting the individual’s choices and independence.
Give the gift of color this holiday season! CRi supports 350 individuals in our group homes and not everyone has a family member or guardian to make sure they receive gifts during the holidays. For this year’s holiday gift for CRi individuals, we are soliciting community members to make tie dye towels! CRi individuals LOVE color and tie dye towels are a fun way to bring an extra pop of color into the lives of residents while also reflecting their individuality and personality. This project is also a creative way for members of the community to connect with the individuals we support by making a unique towel each time as all of the individuals that CRi supports are unique.
If you have any questions about this project, email us at volunteer@mycri.org.
Thank you so much for making this holiday season special for individuals supported by CRi!
DIY Tie Dye Bath Towels
This website is a great reference complete with photos - https://www.tiedyeyoursummer.com/how-to-tie-dye-towels
Supplies
- White bath towel (roughly 28”x54”) - Amazon or Walmart
- Tie dye kit
- Apron
- Rubber, latex, or plastic gloves
- Rubber bands
- Tarp, plastic drop cloth, or large garbage bag
- Plastic wrap/plastic bag
- Wire rack
Getting Started
- Wash the towel first before dying.
- Make sure not to use any fabric softener or dryer sheets. This will prevent the dye from adhering to the fabric.
- Make sure to prep your space.
- Find a good flat surface and lay down your plastic drop cloth. You might want to secure the edges with tape as not to accidentally pull up the plastic while you’re working.
- Make sure you wear an apron and gloves to not dye your clothes and hands.
- Planning your design is the most important step! Choose your colors and pattern.
- Check out this website for a slew of patterns all with step by step instructions and photos for reference: https://sarahmaker.com/tie-dye-patterns/
- Use rubber bands to make the indents in the towel for the desired effect.
- Place the twisted/wrapped and rubber banded towel on a wire rack to dye to make sure the colors don’t bleed into each other.
- Be sure to thoroughly cover all exposed areas of the towel with dye. *NOTE – towels are thicker than t-shirts so you will probably have to use more dye than you might expect to get the appropriate coverage.
- When done dying the towel, wrap in plastic wrap or plastic bag (garbage bag or plastic shopping bag) to keep the towel moist and set aside for the colors to set (ideally 8-12 hours).
- Remove the plastic wrap (NOT THE RUBBER BANDS) and, using cold water, rinse any excess dye from the towel until the water runs clear.
- NOW remove rubber bands.
- Wash the towel by itself according to instructions on the towel tag to help the colors set.
- Pick up another towel and start again with a different design and set of colors! Our goal is to get one towel for all 350 individuals in our group homes!
**Don’t forget to take a few pictures of the process and your final product to share on social media @MyCRiNow!**
Tie Dye Towels can be dropped off or mailed to the following addresses:
Chantilly HQ
14160 Newbrook Dr, Chantilly, VA 20151
Donation boxes are located in the lobby beyond the double glass doors
Accepting donations Monday - Friday from 8am to 5pm and Saturdays from 10am to 12pm
Arlington/Falls Church Maintenance Office
7297A Lee Hwy, Falls Church, VA 22042
Donation boxes are located in the lobby just inside the front door
Accepting donations Monday - Friday from 10am to 2pm
Richmond Office
812 Moorefield Park Dr Suite 310, Richmond, VA 23236
Donation boxes are located right inside the glass doors.
Accepting donations Fridays 10am-3pm.
