Upcycled & Embellished T-shirt

Step 1:

Remove color from old T-shirt using Rit Color Remover. Using large cooking pot, follow color remover package instructions to remove color from T-shirt (I did this for my daughter as she watched.). The color may change and/or fade, but not necessarily to white. The blue shirt in this tutorial changed to a faded orange. Launder shirt after color is removed.

Prepare T-Shirt for Dyeing:


1. Cut off sleeves just before the shoulder seam.

2. Cut neckline, front and back, in a deep V.

3. Cut ½” strips of fabric from sleeves, as many as you can.

4. Insert freezer paper inside of T-shirt. Using Batik-EZ resist medium from the bottle, create swirly designs on T-shirt as desired. Let resist dry thoroughly.



Dyeing Tank Top:

1. Cover work surface with a plastic table cover.

2. Wearing disposable rubber gloves, shake dye bottle; then measure and mix 1 teaspoon Cocoa Brown dye with 2 cups hot water (140° F); stir well. Test color. Add more dye for more intense colors or use more water for lighter colors.

3. Using a large foam brush, paint dye around batik design and over entire body of shirt, both front and back. Keep freezer paper in shirt. Also, immerse 2 fabric strips in dye solution for several minutes.

4. Wrap shirt and fabric strips in plastic wrap, sealing edges. Place in microwave on high for 2 minutes. Remove from microwave and let cool.


5. Rinse in warm water to remove Batik-EZ. Continue to rinse in cool water until water runs clear. Wash in warm water with mild detergent and dry.