Things You'll Need:
- dark cotton, rayon or linen fabric; small pieces about one foot square
- bleach
- water
- spray bottle
- hydrogen peroxide
- bowl
- plastic to cover work area
- apron
- stencils
- cutouts from freezer paper
- bleach pen
- rubber gloves
-
Step 1
Put some plastic down over your table to protect it. Wear an apron and gloves to protect yourself.
-
Step 2
Lay your dark fabric down on top of the plastic. You can use black, which is the most popular to use, but you can also use any dark fabric as long as it is cotton, rayon or linen. You may want to do a test piece first to see if it bleaches out like you want.
-
Step 3
Lay your cut out(s) or stencil onto your fabric. You can iron freezer paper designs onto your fabric for it to stay in place. In the photo above I used feathers. I just laid them on top of the fabric. I have also used leaves and other objects.
-
Step 4
Have your peroxide water solution ready in a bowl. It should be a mix of one part hydrogen peroxide to eight parts water. This solution will be used to neutralize your bleach.
-
Step 5
Have another bowl ready to rinse the fabric with clear water.
-
Step 6
Mix a bleach solution of half bleach half water into your spray bottle. Spray this solution onto your fabric that has your cutouts on it. If you are using a bleach pen then go ahead and make your design.
-
Step 7
You do not have to saturate it the fabric fully. You can make it as saturated as you want depending on the desired effect you want. In my feather photo I sprayed it lightly to create a speckled effect. Wait to let the bleach work until it has reached the color you want. I waited until it turned a rose color. If you wait longer it will eventually turn lighter and lighter. So, that is up to you how long you wait.
-
Step 8
When you get the color you want, rinse the fabric under clear water and remvoe the cut outs. Then put the fabric into your peroxide/water solution to sit for about five minutes or so. It will not hurt for the fabric to sit longer in this solution. This solution is neutralizing the bleach so it won't eat holes in the fabric.
-
Step 9
Remove the fabric from the peroxide/water solution and remove excess water. Then put into clean water and let sit for an additional 10 minutes.
-
Step 10
Dry the fabric by hanging up or putting in a clothes dryer. Press your fabric if desired when ready to use.
