Bleach-resist tee shirt

This week, I show you how to add a splash of color to a dark tee shirt -- using bleach! 

UPDATE: giveaway closed!

Thanks to all who entered, the lucky winner is Cindy! She said "My favorite bleach has always been Clorox but I love the new splash resistant formula. Gotta win this darling tee!" We'll be in touch with you soon, and congratulations!

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You can use a pre-made tee for this project, or you can make your own tee using the free Liberty Jane Trendy Tee Shirt pattern. (Making your own tee allows you to run tests on the fabric before bleaching your final tee....this can be a good idea if you are timid about just jumping in.) 

You'll need a dark colored doll tee shirt, some masking tape, diluted bleach in a spray bottle, and vinegar. (Don't forget some safety gear -- bleach is a pretty nasty critter!)

The most dilute bleach solution that will work, is one part bleach to eight parts water. Of course, if you want more extreme color change, you can use a stronger solution than that -- but don't go beyond one part bleach to two parts water. I'm using about a 1:4 ratio of bleach to water, in this tutorial. 

Using an exacto knife and the masking tape, cut out some shapes ("resists"). You could also do this with scissors. 

Carefully, peel up the resists, and stick them down firmly to your shirt. Protect the back of the tee with a piece of scrap cardboard, and you're ready to bleach!

Protect your work space with an old rag towel, and then apply the diluted bleach in a couple of quick sprays. It takes a few minutes to see any activity, so don't fret if you don't see anything at first. (It can actually take up to 10-15 minutes for maximum color change.)

While you're waiting, mix up equal parts of water and vinegar in a bucket. The vinegar will neutralize the bleach, and thus put a stop to its fiber-eating activities. 

When you're happy with how much the color has lightened, drop your shirt into the vinegar and water mixture. Swish the shirt around, and let it sit for another 15 minutes or so.

Peel off the bits of masking tape, and throw the tee in the wash. Let it dry, and you're done!

I love the way this technique uses ordinary household supplies, to get such a 'tough urban girl' feel. 

*Giveaway Closed*

Now -- would you like to win this fun little tee? 

To enter, you only need to leave a comment below, finishing this sentence: 

"My favorite kind of bleach is....." 

We'll pick a winner on Monday, 22 September, and get in touch via email. 

Thanks for following along, everyone -- have fun with this!

For Pixie Faire,
Melinda