I just have to tell you I have the coolest in-laws. Really. Reeeally. My sister-in-law is fantastic. She speaks fluent Cantonese from living in China for a year and a half. She’s getting her masters in Engineering. She throws a serious dance party. She has excellent taste in music and it was her birthday last week.
While lurking the “Sale” section at Urban Outfitters I came across a radical black men’s tee that had bleached spotted stripes. Sadly it didn’t fit Chris or me, so I logged the idea in the back parts of my brain to use at a later date. The later date ended up being (surprisingly) a few days later when I was thinking of what to make for Lindsay’s birthday.
I got a basic shirt from you-know-where and revamped it using a little bit of bleach and a lot a bit of packing tape. It was super simple. I just laid the shirt flat on some cement, taped stripes down, mixed 1 part bleach 1 part water and flicked at the shirt with a brush like a crazy lady. I was smart and wore junky clothes and took great care to dispose of the packing tape without getting any stray bleach on me. After I bleached up both sides of the shirt I threw it in the wash (with rags as to not waste water and not ruin any other clothes). I would’ve been done at that point, but I had to add a little flair on the side. If you asked me how I did it, the only terms you’d hear are “scrunch this”, “squish that” and sew.
My biggest fear was that I creating a heaping, bleached mess, but it worked! I’m disappointed that I didn’t think ahead and make two while I was at it. I think it looks pretty snazzy.
wow! your skillz are amazing.
i like it a lot.
This shirt is a rainy day in the front and the night sky in the back as seen through window blinds.
I agree- that does look pretty snazzy! Very creative!
Love this! You did such an amazing job.
You have more creativity in your pinky finger than I have in my whole body! Love this shirt!
Melissa, you fascinate me. You have the ability to see, and then figure how to make what you have seen or imagined. Your talents and energy are awesome. The shirt is beautiful.
this shirt turned out so great! what a neat idea. the flair you added really makes this shirt. i’m sure your sister-in-law will be thrilled!
looks great! i made bleached shirts all the time in high school. the only bad thing about them is they eventually burn holes through your shirt :( I don’t know if that was because I washed my shirts too much (from wearing them so often) or if i used too much bleach….it might have been from using too much bleach!
That’s awesome! And the perfect solution if you accidentally get bleach on a t-shirt (though I might have to do it on purpose now).
Do mine do mine!!!!
LOVE this! what a stellar idea, and your handy work is top notch, as always!
very clever, love the idea!
This is hot hot hot!! And you are so dang cute! I have so many plain-jane shirts that need a little spicing up! Hopefullly I won’t end up putting too much bleach and have holes all over – although maybe that would be kinda cute too!