T-shirt designs created with stencils and bleach

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By Phillip Torrone
Posted 2007/04/16 @ 1:00 pm
Category Craft

benjiwenjifoofoo writes -

All you do is go to Target or wherever there are plain colored shirts for sale. Then you get a stencil. You can cut out text printed out from your computer, or lay odd shaped objects on the shirt like a doily (as in the first picture) or an Abalone board (as in the second) then spray a 50/50 bleach/water solution on it and watch as it changes color. When it gets bright enough you throw the shirts into the wash alone with just a tiny bit of soap.

cre.ations.net – Creation: T-shirt designs created with stencils and bleach – Link.

Related:

Bleach spritz clothing – Link.
Freezer paper stencil with bleach – Link.
Weekend Projects: DIY T-shirt Designs – Link.

BY Phillip Torrone

Editor at large - Make magazine. Creative director - Adafruit Industries, contributing editor - Popular Science. Previously: Founded - Hack-a-Day, how-to editor - Engadget, Director of product development - Fallon Worldwide, Technology Director - Braincraft.

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5 Responses to T-shirt designs created with stencils and bleach

bonniegrrl on April 16th, 2007 at 3:10 pm said:

that’s an awesome idea! thanks for posting!

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noriyori on April 16th, 2007 at 3:14 pm said:

This is great!

I recently made a bleach pen using one of those invisible ink markers you get with the invisible ink craft books.

simply open the marker and thoroughly wash the ink sponge and soak it in bleach water for a few minutes, Put it back in the pen and get drawing!

some photos: http://dontclickitdude.com/bleachpen/

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noriyori on April 16th, 2007 at 3:15 pm said:

This is great!

I recently made a bleach pen using one of those invisible ink markers you get with the invisible ink craft books.

simply open the marker and thoroughly wash the ink sponge and soak it in bleach water for a few minutes, Put it back in the pen and get drawing!

some photos: http://dontclickitdude.com/bleachpen/

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BillCoderre on April 16th, 2007 at 8:01 pm said:

1) DILUTE DILUTE OK!

Do not put straight bleach on anything. It will make holes appear, probably soon, maybe after a few washings.

2) TIMING IS EVERYTHING!

As soon as the fabric has lightened enough, get the bleach out of the item as fast as you can.

Ideally, you get the washer full of water, then toss the bleached items in when they are ready, and swirl them around for a moment. If you have a side-load washer, just put the item on the ground and spray water from a hose on it for a minute or two.

3) You still might get holes eventually.

That’s life with bleach. The best kinds of clothing items to use for this are denim (jeans) or all-cotton T shirts. They hold up best to bleach. Best place to get them is a thrift store. Makes the inevitable holes less sad.

4) Negative Tie-Dye

Crumble the dry shirt up into an irregular ball. Tie with twine, not too tight. Put 1″ of dilute bleach in a shallow plastic whatever, or a 5 gallon pickle bucket. Carefully dip just parts of the shirt into the liquid. Then put the shirt on the ground, and watch for the bleaching to happen. Then cut open the twine and get the shirt rinsed as fast as you can.

Repeat several times if you like.

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octel on May 13th, 2008 at 10:47 am said:

1) DILUTION IS NOT REQUIRED
Full-strength bleach is better because it bleaches the top surface of the cloth faster. This means that you get the intended results quicker, before the bleach has a chance to really get deep into the fabric. Also, it uses less of your time!

2) BLEACH-STOP IS EVERYTHING
There are many commercial bleach neutralizing chemicals out there, but the most practical is hydrogen peroxide (3% sold at any drugstore). Once you’ve bleached to the desired color, pour the hydrogen peroxide onto your project (or better yet soak it). This can be achieved with a baking pan or similar container. Rinse afterwards and if you’re paranoid follow it up with another H2O2 bath

3) IF YOU DO IT RIGHT THE FABRIC WILL LAST FOREVER
Or at least the normal life of the fabric. The bleach-stop will neutralize the bleach and prevent it from continuing to eat the fabric. Plain water may not get everything out and could actually spread and lodge the bleach into other parts of your project.

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