DIY Striped T-Shirt in 3 Easy Steps

Jun 11

Tutorials

Barton Damer gave us permission to repost his handy DIY guide on making a striped t-shirt in your own backyard with just a spray bottle, duct tape, some bleach, and some good ole American ingenuity.

This weekend I had some fun with duct tape and some bleach making this tee shirt design. Check out these 3 easy steps. If you decide to make your own version, come back to this post and leave us a Flickr link to check out a photo of what you did!

Step 1

Use duct tape to mask off your design onto a dark colored tee. I decided to make stripes on a black tee.

Step 2

Spray your t-shirt with a bleach/water mixture. I used 70% bleach and 30% water. Let your shirt dry after you spray it to your liking.

Step 3

Wash and wear your tee. Easy as 1, 2, 3!’

DIY t-shirts in 3 Steps


Go Media is a creative agency based in Cleveland, Ohio. Besides the GoMediaZine, we also work for clients and sell stock artwork and design files on the Arsenal.

bleach, distressed, DIY, t-shirt

This post was written by:

Barton Damer - who has written 6 posts on GoMediaZine.


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92 Comments For This Post

  1. Simon H. Says:

    That's cool :-)

  2. Ryan Hicks Says:

    oh that's not to bad looking; i might try this with different designs

  3. Marcus X Says:

    That's sick!!! Ugggh!!! Love it!!!

  4. Simon H. Says:

    That's cool :-)

  5. Simon H. Says:

    That's cool :-)

  6. Ryan Hicks Says:

    oh that's not to bad looking; i might try this with different designs

  7. Ryan Hicks Says:

    oh that's not to bad looking; i might try this with different designs

  8. Marcus X Says:

    That's sick!!! Ugggh!!! Love it!!!

  9. Marcus X Says:

    That's sick!!! Ugggh!!! Love it!!!

  10. Alice Says:

    Wouldn't the bleach weaken the fabric? It's a cool idea, but don't expect the t-shirt to have a very long lifespan…

  11. Mini Clover Says:

    Considering you can buy these shirts cheap at a craft store it's not that big of a deal. Can't wait to try this!

  12. Niki Brown | The Design O'Blog Says:

    Wow this is pretty cool! Will definitely have to try this. I wonder how the bleach will change colors on other color shirts?

  13. Evilis Says:

    A much more in depth tutorial is available here:

    http://www.stencilrevolution.com/forum/index.ph...

  14. Alice Says:

    Wouldn't the bleach weaken the fabric? It's a cool idea, but don't expect the t-shirt to have a very long lifespan…

  15. Alice Says:

    Wouldn't the bleach weaken the fabric? It's a cool idea, but don't expect the t-shirt to have a very long lifespan…

  16. Mini Clover Says:

    Considering you can buy these shirts cheap at a craft store it's not that big of a deal. Can't wait to try this!

  17. Mini Clover Says:

    Considering you can buy these shirts cheap at a craft store it's not that big of a deal. Can't wait to try this!

  18. UnikInk.com Says:

    Yes, the bleach weakens the fabric. I would recommend using a discharge waterbased ink with a handheld heat gun to activate the discharge agent. (~250 degrees)

  19. Niki Brown | The Design O'Blog Says:

    Wow this is pretty cool! Will definitely have to try this. I wonder how the bleach will change colors on other color shirts?

  20. Niki Brown | The Design O'Blog Says:

    Wow this is pretty cool! Will definitely have to try this. I wonder how the bleach will change colors on other color shirts?

  21. Barton Damer Says:

    The bleach can weaken the fabric if you use an excessive amount. I would not recommend trying to get down to a really white shade. Mine was a light splattering that only slightly removed the color. I've washed and worn it many times. I used an American Apparel tee.

  22. Evilis Says:

    A much more in depth tutorial is available here:

    http://www.stencilrevolution.com/forum/index.ph...

  23. Evilis Says:

    A much more in depth tutorial is available here:

    http://www.stencilrevolution.com/forum/index.ph...

  24. UnikInk.com Says:

    Yes, the bleach weakens the fabric. I would recommend using a discharge waterbased ink with a handheld heat gun to activate the discharge agent. (~250 degrees)

  25. UnikInk.com Says:

    Yes, the bleach weakens the fabric. I would recommend using a discharge waterbased ink with a handheld heat gun to activate the discharge agent. (~250 degrees)

  26. Barton Damer Says:

    The bleach can weaken the fabric if you use an excessive amount. I would not recommend trying to get down to a really white shade. Mine was a light splattering that only slightly removed the color. I've washed and worn it many times. I used an American Apparel tee.

  27. Barton Damer Says:

    The bleach can weaken the fabric if you use an excessive amount. I would not recommend trying to get down to a really white shade. Mine was a light splattering that only slightly removed the color. I've washed and worn it many times. I used an American Apparel tee.

  28. jeff_finley Says:

    It would probably weaken it, but it's not a big deal. You might get holes in it, but just makes it that much more hip.

  29. jeff_finley Says:

    It would probably weaken it, but it's not a big deal. You might get holes in it, but just makes it that much more hip.

  30. jeff_finley Says:

    It would probably weaken it, but it's not a big deal. You might get holes in it, but just makes it that much more hip.

  31. Adam Pendle Says:

    i love things that can be done with stuff found around the house !! :) nice job

  32. Adam Pendle Says:

    i love things that can be done with stuff found around the house !! :) nice job

  33. Adam Pendle Says:

    i love things that can be done with stuff found around the house !! :) nice job

  34. SA Says:

    Very Cool !!!!

  35. SA Says:

    Very Cool !!!!

  36. SA Says:

    Very Cool !!!!

  37. Celeste Says:

    I suggest cutting a stencil design in an acetate sheet and then, using a light layer of spray glue, pressing it onto the shirt. I made a bad-ass t-shirt to wear to a show two years ago this way! :) Still have it, too… still in pretty good condition. If you don't go heavy on the bleach mixture, it won't eat through the shirt.

  38. Celeste Says:

    I suggest cutting a stencil design in an acetate sheet and then, using a light layer of spray glue, pressing it onto the shirt. I made a bad-ass t-shirt to wear to a show two years ago this way! :) Still have it, too… still in pretty good condition. If you don't go heavy on the bleach mixture, it won't eat through the shirt.

  39. Celeste Says:

    I suggest cutting a stencil design in an acetate sheet and then, using a light layer of spray glue, pressing it onto the shirt. I made a bad-ass t-shirt to wear to a show two years ago this way! :) Still have it, too… still in pretty good condition. If you don't go heavy on the bleach mixture, it won't eat through the shirt.

  40. Alex Beltechi Says:

    This would be so cool to use with a hand drawn stencil. Thanks, man. Totally gonna do this!

    The web needs more simple DIY stuff like this. They're so practical and engaging.

  41. Alex Beltechi Says:

    This would be so cool to use with a hand drawn stencil. Thanks, man. Totally gonna do this!

    The web needs more simple DIY stuff like this. They're so practical and engaging.

  42. Alex Beltechi Says:

    This would be so cool to use with a hand drawn stencil. Thanks, man. Totally gonna do this!

    The web needs more simple DIY stuff like this. They're so practical and engaging.

  43. Anthony Says:

    Good stuff. I remember this from junior high.

    You have essentially shown how to make a positive and a negative.

    How about doing it with some nifty stencils? that would be cool.

  44. Anthony Says:

    Good stuff. I remember this from junior high.

    You have essentially shown how to make a positive and a negative.

    How about doing it with some nifty stencils? that would be cool.

  45. Anthony Says:

    Good stuff. I remember this from junior high.

    You have essentially shown how to make a positive and a negative.

    How about doing it with some nifty stencils? that would be cool.

  46. Club Penguin Says:

    Could you use a different ratio of bleach to water to get lighter or darker stripes?

  47. Club Penguin Says:

    Could you use a different ratio of bleach to water to get lighter or darker stripes?

  48. Club Penguin Says:

    Could you use a different ratio of bleach to water to get lighter or darker stripes?

  49. Michael Thomas Says:

    Cool, I will remember this next time I want to dress up like Dennis the Menace!

  50. Michael Thomas Says:

    Cool, I will remember this next time I want to dress up like Dennis the Menace!

  51. Michael Thomas Says:

    Cool, I will remember this next time I want to dress up like Dennis the Menace!

  52. em Says:

    ive done this before but i used ceder branches just layed over top of the shirt and it looked amazing

  53. Sara Reffler Says:

    Awesome! I'm totally going to try this!

  54. em Says:

    ive done this before but i used ceder branches just layed over top of the shirt and it looked amazing

  55. em Says:

    ive done this before but i used ceder branches just layed over top of the shirt and it looked amazing

  56. Sara Reffler Says:

    Awesome! I'm totally going to try this!

  57. Sara Reffler Says:

    Awesome! I'm totally going to try this!

  58. Edward McIntyre Says:

    Thanks Guys! I tried out this technique last night and it worked out amazingly. Check out photos here – http://twurl.nl/wjllxa

  59. barton damer Says:

    Wow! That's some intricate bleaching/taping. Turned out great!

  60. Edward McIntyre Says:

    Thanks Guys! I tried out this technique last night and it worked out amazingly. Check out photos here – http://twurl.nl/wjllxa

  61. Edward McIntyre Says:

    Thanks Guys! I tried out this technique last night and it worked out amazingly. Check out photos here – http://twurl.nl/wjllxa

  62. barton damer Says:

    Wow! That's some intricate bleaching/taping. Turned out great!

  63. barton damer Says:

    Wow! That's some intricate bleaching/taping. Turned out great!

  64. keiroro Says:

    wowww!!! i like that… maybe i should try!!!

  65. keiroro Says:

    wowww!!! i like that… maybe i should try!!!

  66. keiroro Says:

    wowww!!! i like that… maybe i should try!!!

  67. 2HARD2BSOFT Says:

    Just made these tonight. Didn't have a plan before we made them but they still turned out awesome.

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/36546799@N03/36381...

  68. 2HARD2BSOFT Says:

    Just made these tonight. Didn't have a plan before we made them but they still turned out awesome.

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/36546799@N03/36381...

  69. 2HARD2BSOFT Says:

    Just made these tonight. Didn't have a plan before we made them but they still turned out awesome.

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/36546799@N03/36381...

  70. 2HARD2BSOFT Says:

    Just made these tonight. Didn't have a plan before we made them but they still turned out awesome.

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/36546799@N03/36381...

  71. jeff_finley Says:

    That's pretty sweet!

  72. jeff_finley Says:

    That's gnarly!

  73. jeff_finley Says:

    That's pretty sweet!

  74. jeff_finley Says:

    That's pretty sweet!

  75. jeff_finley Says:

    That's pretty sweet!

  76. jeff_finley Says:

    That's gnarly!

  77. jeff_finley Says:

    That's gnarly!

  78. jeff_finley Says:

    That's gnarly!

  79. rory Says:

    Thanks for the advice…
    But could you also tell me how to build a time machine so I can beam back to 1993 when these nasty looking T-shirts were cool. Who the >*&% whats to wear a tie dyed Tee.

  80. rory Says:

    Thanks for the advice…
    But could you also tell me how to build a time machine so I can beam back to 1993 when these nasty looking T-shirts were cool. Who the >*&% whats to wear a tie dyed Tee.

  81. rory Says:

    Thanks for the advice…
    But could you also tell me how to build a time machine so I can beam back to 1993 when these nasty looking T-shirts were cool. Who the >*&% whats to wear a tie dyed Tee.

  82. fred Says:

    I spray on hydrogen peroxide as a 'stop bath' to kill the bleach, this allows you to control how long the bleach works as well.

  83. LainieP Says:

    you can use electric dishwashing liquid with a paint brush. It won't damage the fibers as much, you can leave it on for up to an hour!

  84. poopoojones Says:

    freezer paper FTW, iron it on an just peel it post bleach

  85. Embo Says:

    (: thanks i'm wearing one now.

    it isn't weakened by the bleach.. it's great!

    i'm going to do another now.. haha

  86. Embo Says:

    (: thanks i'm wearing one now.

    it isn't weakened by the bleach.. it's great!

    i'm going to do another now.. haha

  87. bravetheago Says:

    I guess I'm a little late posting, but I made a couple to shirts using the technique and they turned out great, especially for a first try. Just used a little bit of spray adhesive and acetate…

    http://www.bravetheago.com/blog/?p=148

    Thanks for this one!

  88. Rafael Schlobohm Says:

    Would the effect be different if the shirt has a different color? say, blue? :]

  89. Matt Says:

    Thanks for this nice work!
    dizi izle

  90. John Says:

    Great post!
    dizi izle

  91. Drinkingsouls Says:

    I just tried this, had been meaning to give it a go for a while. I used a dark grey t shirt and mixed about 60% water to 40% bleach. My t shirt turned color very quickly, within a minite or so. I found that if you wet the t shirt before applying bleach it takes a lot longer and gives you more time to get the look you want. I would reccommend wetting it before applying bleach. The shirt turned out great though! Just what I wanted.

  92. Graham Says:

    Thanks for the advice, this was a great project with my son. One word of caution: wear clothes that you don't care about! I trashed a shirt and a pair of shorts inadvertently during the project.

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