Bleach Pen Fun

Most mothers would say, "Don't play with that bleach

pen and don't get it near dark fabrics."

But I am going to tell you to get it out and

to have some fun with it.

My good friend Lila taught the Young

Women at our church this fun and

artistic design method.

See her fabrics and patterns

by clicking here.

She is now designing for Riley Blake.

Here is a peek at one of her new fabrics

she is showing on her site.

Isn't she talented?

We love having her teach us new ideas.

You can use this to repair holes or just to decorate.

On this pair of jeans

 I tried to check for large rips

that were manufacture made before I bought them,

 but on this pair

I switched them out for another design on the

pockets and forgot to look at the front again

for huge rips.  I am ok with small ones -

see how we give in to fashion

after a while!

The rips were just a little too big for me

and I had purchased them on vacation so

couldn't return them.  I couldn't even get my teenage

daughter to wear them, the holes were too big for her too.

I figured they were

a lost cause, until I heard about this.

I decided to cut them off into shorts, and to use the

bottom legs for the patches.  You could just use

another pair of old jeans to cut a patch.

Hope you can see the penned outline of the leaves.

You might want to draw your design on paper

first and get it the way you want it.

Then using a Clorox bleach pen (use a fresh one so that

it flows smoothly), make your design. 

I like to have a paper towel in hand to catch

any drips by wiping the tip before and

after I draw.

You can let it air dry (like the flower)

or speed it along with a blow dryer.

Then cut the design out leaving a border.

You will need to open the pant leg up to sew

the patch on.  Since I was making shorts I

opened from the bottom, but with pants, just

open as much as necessary. 

Pin and sew in place.

Sew the pant leg closed.

Hem if you need to.

Here's the finished shorts.

(Self portraits are a little difficult.)

You can apply this to t-shirts also.

I did an internet search for swirl designs

then practiced it until I felt confident that

I could make it.

Insert a large piece of foil or wax paper inside

the garment so the bleach doesn't seep through.

You didn't have to do this on the jean fabric

because it is so thick.

I chose a previously worn black t-shirt.

I drew this one with a silver marker since the

fabric was so dark.

Draw over the design with the bleach pen.

Let the shirt sit until you have reached the

desired amount of bleaching.

Black takes quite a while.

Rinse in cool water

and wash and dry.

If you do make a drip, incorporate

it into your design.

I dripped, so then I decided to add

decorative dots.

Can you tell which dot is an accident?

I have a new outfit to wear today.

Have fun, the designs and applications are endless.

I think I will do a turquoise t-shirt next.

I will be posting this on

Just Something I Whipped Up Mondays.