Update your colored T-shirt wardrobe using a bleach stencil design. This unusual craft creates a white design on colored T-shirts. Add words or designs to create stunning one-of-a-kind T-shirts.
Things You’ll Need:
Large kitchen trash bag
Colored T-shirt
Newspaper
Optional – Plastic stencil
Bleach
Small glass container
Sponge, cotton swabs, cotton balls or white rag
Plastic water bottle with pull-up spout
Instructions:
Step 1 – Cover a flat work surface with a large kitchen trash bag. Place the colored T-shirt in the center of the trash bag. Smooth out all wrinkles.
Step 2 – Stack six double sided pieces of newspaper. Fold the newspaper in half then into a quarter. Insert the thick stack of folded newspaper inside the T-shirt. Position the stack of newspapers under the location of the bleach design.
Step 3 – Pour approximately ½-cup of bleach into a glass container.
Step 4 – If using a stencil, position the stencil in the desired location. Dip a sponge, cotton swab, cotton ball or white rag in the bleach. Immediately dab or wipe the bleach over the stenciled area. Repeat the process for the entire design.
Step 5 – If free-handing a design, fill a water bottle with a pull-up spout with bleach. Squeeze and squirt a design on the front of the T-shirt.
Step 6 – Allow the bleach to sit on the fabric from 1 to 5 minutes. The longer the bleach sits, the whiter or lighter the design will become.
Step 7 – Place the T-shirt in the washer by itself. Wash and dry as normal.
When bleach stenciling a brand new T-shirt, wash it first. The washed fabric will absorb the bleach at a much faster rate.