So here’s tutorial #3 in the bleach series! It’s an easy way to customize a shirt, fabric by removing color instead of adding it.
For my first project I used a $1 doily as my stencil. I placed it on a navy t-shirt and sprayed a mist of bleach over top:
I moved the stencil to another location and sprayed again. You can see the color starting to change at the top:
Navy….turning to a dark pink/purple:
Finished:
You can also use vinyl or freezer paper stencils. Boo picked out this image and my Silhouette machine quickly cut it out. I placed a piece of vinyl shelf paper in between the shirt layers too:
I used a sponge to dab the bleach around the stencil and I used a spray bottle to mist around it:
Once the shirt began to change colors, I sprayed the back of the shirt with bleach. Then I threw the shirt into the wash and here’s the finished result:
Bleach stenciling is an easy way to add lettering to a shirt too. Here’s one I made for Mr. LBB…..so he could sport the Lil Blue Boo name. You could also use a bleach pen for lettering.
Finished! And….it’s something he’ll wear!
Visit the other two projects from this week by clicking the images below:
I am in love!!!
I am the Queen of Bleach ( not on purpose ) but now I have an excuse and I will love it. Awesome!
You are just toooooo much!
That is so cool! I can’t decide which is my favorite. Do you have to wash it off immediately when it gets to the color you want it to be? Or will it keep removing color even after you wash it off? Do these questions even make sense?
Seriously… I love them all! 😀 I can’t wait to give it a try… Now to find a doily.. hmmmm great excuse to go thrifting! 😀 Or…. cut one with my silhouette…. either way.. Win Win! Thanks for sharing! 🙂 🙂
We were just talking about making our own team shirts (at my school, we’re the special areas team) yesterday and now I can show them this! Thanks for the tutorial!
i don’t know what i did wrong but i tried the freezer paper lettering on a t shirt and when i removed the paper the bleach had all spread underneath and the words were a mess 🙁
Great post! I cannot WAIT to try this, the bird shirt is too cute!
I totally have that doily! I’m going to update some shirts.
Excellent ideas! LOVE the “Imagine” shirt!
Just curious, why did you spray the back of the bird shirt? Why not the front?
That is the front of the shirt.
This is so freaking awesome and genius! Do you have a general guide to know what each color turns into after bleaching by any chance? Though it seems it’s often a red/pink/yellow… Can’t wait to try this!
Curious, any idea how well the clothing holds up wash after wash? The clothing I have that have had accidental encounters with bleach tend to get holes and fall apart. I love this idea and the look!!
What a great idea! I love your blog and am so glad I have found it. I look forward to your wonderful craft ideas as well as your inspiration. Your blog is one of my favorite places to visit.
Take it this outdoors or open a window for the fresh air! I cranked out a lot of these at once for my lil’ one and WHEW!
Oh my time I love this idea, thanks for sharing. I saw where clorox advertised you could do this with there clorox pen which I was going to try this week, but with the pen I thought it was limited to just hand writing..i did this same idea on crinkle gauze fabric when I make my swim sarongs I sell, but I never thought of clorox. I was using white fabric, laying down shells then using Ritz fabric dye in a stay bottle to get the image. This works so much better and gives you more color choices. Going now to follow your socials and subscribe. Glad I found your blogspot via this pinterest.com share. Hope you find time to stop by my blogspot and join me too 🙂 have a great week
Your shirts are so awesome! Have you had any issues with the bleach degrading the fabric? I’d love to try it!
Great idea! However, I’ve heard that one should treat the garment/fabric with a chlorine neutralizer after bleaching, to prevent the fibers from deteriorating. You can get it from a swimming pool supplies store.
Quelle jolie idée ! Bravo
For the LIL BOO BLUE stencil, did you use your machine to cut out the letters? Could I use individual letter stencils (like for paint stenciling)? How did you stop the edges from bleeding? Thanks so much for the tutorial – have been looking all over for a fabric stenciling DIY for t-shirts that are going in my daughter’s loot bags! Thanks again! P.S. On neutralizing the bleach so the fibers don’t deteriorate: apparently a spray of vinegar does the trick!
I just did a light mist with a pause in between and it didn’t bleed. I used my Silhouette machine to cut the letters 🙂
*LIL BLUE BOO