Esther Kao
WhollyKao
It’s hard for me to throw things away, especially craft supplies. So I try creative ways to salvage things when I can. My most recent project? Turning fabric scraps into fun patterned tea towels.
Materials
scrap fabric (I used rectangular pieces that were 1.5′ wide x 3′ tall). You can also use old dishcloths.
Clorox Bleach Pen
large trash bag
plastic basin for rinsing the fabric
rubber gloves
scissors
thread
Start by cutting your trash bag apart and spreading it over your work surface to protect it. Lay the fabric out, then carefully draw your pattern or design using the bleach pen. It’s best to create simple shapes because the bleach will spread out when you wash it, causing causes thin lines to become pretty thick.
Let the bleach sit on the fabric. This may take anywhere between 15 minutes to an hour, depending on how well your fabric reacts to the bleach.
When the fabric is bleached to a color you like, put on your gloves, and rinse it out in your plastic basin. Gently rub off any bleach that has dried out under running water. Then wash your fabric (either by hand or in the machine).
Next, trim the fabric to size. You can either leave the edges raw, or hem them to prevent fraying.
Then take a step back and admire your new tea towels!
And if you’re looking for other fun ideas with the bleach pen, how about making fabric napkins?
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i have done those drawings with bleach and a brush (an old one). The problem is that the bleach never stops with bleaching, so it’s a great crafting methode, but it cost your towels or other fabrics i found out years ago.
I heard at the art academy years later that there is a stopping thing for the bleach but… i never had found that.
So it’s a great methode but… please take my warning seriously.
Thank you for sharing your great tute ;-D
I agree with Jet’s comment. Overtime, this wonderful project will turn to holes if the bleach process isn’t stopped. Once you have your desired look, it needs to go into a Sodium Thiosulfate bath.
Dharma Trading Co. gives a recipe and good instruction.
http://www.dharmatrading.com/info/ddp.html