About

Cost
$ $ $ $ $
Difficulty
• • • • •
Time
2h00

Who knew Grandma's doilies could make cool shirts?
Inspired by one black shirt ruined by a few drops of bleach, and the beautiful designs of Indonesian Batik fabric.

Check out more examples of
<a href="http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog.jsp?CATID=cat1273846&_DARGS=/joann/sections/cat/CatListingMain.jsp.1_A&_DAV=48"><b>Indonesian Batick fabric prints</b></a>

You can easily get Doilies from the thrift store or dollar store.

Posted by Ryals_Shoal from Marysville, Washington, United States • Published See Ryals_Shoal's 17 projects »
PrintEmbed
  • How to dye with bleach. Bleach Stencling With Doilies - Step 1
    Step 1

    Since you will be working with bleach, I recommend wearing old clothing suitable for the job.

    Start off by cutting through one edge of a thin (but sturdy) cardboard box, then unfold it and lay it flat. The cardboard will be used to slip inside the shirt to prevent the bleach from soaking through to the other side.

  • How to dye with bleach. Bleach Stencling With Doilies - Step 2
    Step 2

    Lay out your newspapers, leaving pleanty all around your work area to prevent bleach from the spraybottle getting on the table.

    Slip the cardboard into the shirt, making sure that it snugly fits and position the shirt over the newspapers.

  • How to dye with bleach. Bleach Stencling With Doilies - Step 3
    Step 3

    Position the doily where you would like your pattern, making sure that both the doily and the T-shirt are smoothed out flat.

  • How to dye with bleach. Bleach Stencling With Doilies - Step 4
    Step 4

    Make sure that the spray bottle nozzel is set to MIST.

    Then spray the bleach water evenly onto the doily. Depending on the quality of the spray bottle, it may drip while you spray.

  • How to dye with bleach. Bleach Stencling With Doilies - Step 5
    Step 5

    Wait a few minutes for the bleach to take effect, and carefully check under the doily to see if the bleach is having the desired intensity. You can adjust the intensity by placing the doily back and spray it again.

  • How to dye with bleach. Bleach Stencling With Doilies - Step 6
    Step 6

    I then used a different type of doily for the neckline of the shirt.

  • How to dye with bleach. Bleach Stencling With Doilies - Step 7
    Step 7

    The shirt is still a little wet, but the outline of the doily can be seen...it looks a bit like something out of the Mothman Prophecies movie to me! o_O;

  • How to dye with bleach. Bleach Stencling With Doilies - Step 8
    Step 8

    I decided to modify my T-shirt into a tank top, I did this by trimming off the neck hem and the sleeves.

  • How to dye with bleach. Bleach Stencling With Doilies - Step 9
    Step 9

    Ta da! The finished product! Be sure that it is completely dry before you handle the fabric.

  • How to dye with bleach. Bleach Stencling With Doilies - Step 10
    Step 10

    For a different technique of bleach doilies, you will need the tin foil (or wax paper) and the heavy book.

    Pour your bleach water into a large bowl.

  • How to dye with bleach. Bleach Stencling With Doilies - Step 11
    Step 11

    Soak the doilie, then wring it out getting as much water out of it. If it is too wet the pattern will bleed on the shirt.

  • How to dye with bleach. Bleach Stencling With Doilies - Step 12
    Step 12

    Carefully place the wet doily on the shirt, taking care that the doily is smoothed out.

  • How to dye with bleach. Bleach Stencling With Doilies - Step 13
    Step 13

    Place the tin foil (or wax paper) over the shirt.

  • How to dye with bleach. Bleach Stencling With Doilies - Step 14
    Step 14

    Then set a big heavy book onto the area where the doily is placed. Wait 10-20 minutes.

  • How to dye with bleach. Bleach Stencling With Doilies - Step 15
    Step 15

    Take off the book, tinfoil, and carefully peel the doily and marvel at your creation! Be sure that the fabric is completely dry before you handle the fabric. Good luck! :)

Versions

See all 5 »

Comments

Jay D.
Jay D.
Love this project. Thank you for sharing such a wonderful idea. Jay
Reply
CraftyBirdCollective
CraftyBirdCollective · London, GB
Just what my faded black tees have been waiting for... thank you for sharing!
Reply
A.nonny.mouse
A.nonny.mouse · 3 projects
how much bleach should I mix with the water? just for clarification
Reply
Sokje
Sokje · Almere, Flevoland, NL · 8 projects
This is so cool!
Definitely going to do this! ^^
Reply
Mickie
Mickie · Grand Junction, Colorado, US · 43 projects
that so cool.
Reply
edie d.
edie d. · New York, New York, US · 41 projects
Oh, the doilies are such a cool idea with bleach-dyeing. Thanks for the tip!!
Reply
CraftMeBeautiful
CraftMeBeautiful · 1 project
This is Heavy, Can't wait to try it.
Reply
CraftMeBeautiful
CraftMeBeautiful · 1 project
This is Heavy! I Can't wait to try it.
Reply
Interstellar Supernatural
Interstellar Supernatural · Fayetteville, North Carolina, US · 32 projects
so cute if i wasn't allergic totally would do
Reply
Aliehs
Aliehs · San Juan, San Juan, PR · 19 projects
i work with tie dye and batik and this its awesome, great job!!!!!!!!
Reply
Load 12 more comments...

More Projects