I just came back from an eight-day cruise where we crafted, ate, and had as much fun as possible. I came home, unpacked and was excited to get crafty with some new t-shirts I bought for $8 each.
The technical term for this technique is called “discharge dyeing”, it’s where you use bleach to remove color from fabric, but I like to think of it as “bleach art.”
I’m going to show you four ways that I used bleach to design some cool summer tees! Ready?
OK, supplies:
– cotton t-shirts – this is crucial. It has to be at least 60% cotton or the bleach and dye will not grip the fabric.
– bleach (a bleach pen is good too)
– spray bottle
– plastic table cover
– Tulip One-Step Dyes
– Tulip Sticky Fabric Stencils
1. STENCIL TECHNIQUE
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Place stencils all over the front of the shirt. You can use all parts of the stencils! |
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Apply bleach over areas you want lifted. TIP: For a cleaner edge, brush on lightly. I gobbed way too much on, which is why my design is blurry, but I still like it! |
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Let it sit for 20 minutes and then peel away stencils. Wash in cold water and a bit of laundry soap. Hang to dry. |
2. STRIPES
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Wash shirt and dry. Apply bleach in an extra Tulip Dye bottle and make stripes across the shirt. Let it sit for 20-30 minutes, wash in cold water with a bit of laundry soap in the machine, let dry. |
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Finished look! |
3. FAUX PATINA BLACK SHIRT
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Wash with a bit of laundry soap in your machine and set out flat. |
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Mix the Tulip One-Step Dye in teal, lime green and purple. Apply to all the bleached areas, randomly. Let it sit for about 6 hours and then wash in your machine and hang to dry. |
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Here it is! Doesn’t it look like patina? |
4. TAPED STRIPES
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I as going to add dye to this, but after I looked at it, I decided I liked it as is!! |
Love, Maya
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