Here is another garage sale T-shirt transformed with a bit of soft scrub bleach. This time I traced my design onto freezer paper, cut out the design (or characters), ironed it onto my t-shirt then carefully applied the bleach. The results showed up within minutes.
The characters, copied out of the kids' Chinese workbook read Mom (I hope it is accurate). I still have 3 more T-shirts to play with and will post them when my crafting mood brings me back again to soft scrub bleach.
That is a character we don't use in Japanese. It looks cool, though.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you got the character off the textbook. I have seen a few odd t-shirts, wall hangings, and tattoos. One tattoo on a buff man's arm read "period" as in menstrual period. I felt very sorry for him.
I sent the books off to you yesterday. Thank you so much. I have traced 7 things off different books (mostly from yours), so we will see what I come up with.
Marie-
ReplyDeleteNow I'm really hoping I got it right! Did you tell the man what it really meant? Doesn't sound so manly on a buff guy.
Can't wait to see what you sew!
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ReplyDeleteAl -
ReplyDeleteThe characters turned out great! Can't wait to see the next ones - let me know when you are giving out orders . . . .
John
I couldn't bring myself to tell him.
ReplyDeleteI traced the pattern for the one dress in my liberty print dress book (puff sleeve and knee length), and included it in the package. I just traced all sizes so you have it all. What I should have done was to include the seam allowances while I was at it. You will have to do that when you cut the fabric.
Al--I love it. Jake is taking chinese and walked by and said it says mama--is he right? I want you to demonstrate this when I come up.
ReplyDeleteI had barely opened your blog when Rachel walked by and said, "That means mom in Chinese." I was impressed with her kanji recognition. I love this project, Al! I also love that you're always doing something creative. I find that my life is much saner when I have a creative project going.
ReplyDeleteOkay you need to explain this to me... you iron on freezer paper? Then how do you apply the bleach with the freezer paper on the shirt? Or does it come off and leave a mark? Can you do a special post for the creatively impaired??? I need step by step. I'm dying to try this though.
ReplyDeleteNow I'm curious...Griffin is in a Chinese immersion program. I'll have to check with him if he recognizes this as "mom".
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome project! And, by the way, you look FABULOUS Al! I can't believe you've had 6 children!
Caryn
These shirts are so awesome! Your so talented. How do you find the time with 6 kids running around. By the time I get to night I am so tired from the day that doing a project is not on my list. Can I bottle some of your energy?
ReplyDeleteThe project is so quick! I'm not that good at explaining things but if you do a google search for freezer paper stencils all sorts of tutorials will come up.
ReplyDeleteThe only difference with bleach is you don't want it to sit too long. It literally takes minutes and if it sits too long it can eat away at the fibers. Peel away the paper then rinse the garment, then wash (separately).
Thank you for the figure compliments but it may just be an illusion. This body is still covered in a layer of dough. It is time for some much needed toning......so maybe I should stop blogging or crafting or figure out away to multitask and do it all at the same time.
I try to tell myself walking to the playground, taking 6 kids to costco, doing 9 loads of laundry is a workout but I don't think it is enough. it is time to build and tone these muscles!
Al, Great project! I'll have to find some t-shirts to try it out. I'm sad to say that my tie-die that I made with you has a hole in it. It was the first T-shirt I wore out of the laundry. (even though it wasn't 4th of July). I'm glad you made me another one with Becca.
ReplyDeleteAllison, great idea. I think Liam and I need to make some 'scary' t-shirts for next week.
ReplyDeleteWhen you rinse the shirt do you use a sink...under running water or a bucket?
Kinney family-
ReplyDeleteGo ahead and just rinse in the sink. I forgot to tell you to make sure you put a layer of cardboard or newspapers underneath so the bleach does not go through to the back side.
I can't wait to see what you come up with!