DIY Reverse-Dyed Graphic T-Shirt

Bleach or reverse-dyed graphic tees are the latest fashion craze to take over social media (along with regular tie-dye). For around $30 to $40 dollars, these trendy tees can be purchased from retailers like Urban Outfitters or small shops on Etsy. Or, you can take the DIY route and make your own reverse-dyed graphic t-shirt.

For this super-simple project, all you need is an inexpensive graphic tee (like the ones below), a sharp pair of scissors (I actually used my Cricut scissors, but any small, sharp scissors would be fine), a cheap spray bottle (I got mine at Wal-Mart for less than a dollar), bleach, and water.

A quick note: while black graphic t-shirts are usually the ones you see and it’s what I used here, you can absolutely use different colors. Just know that darker colors work best.

Step One

I used a graphic tee from the Men’s department in a size M (to ensure it would be extra oversized).  I wanted to give it a distressed, boyfriend style in addition to the bleach dye so I started by ripping the seams out of the sleeves.

With a sharp pair of scissors, this is very easy to do. Just run the scissors under the threads on the inside of the sleeves hem and snip away. Note: I skip over the side seam to avoid making nay accidental cuts I don’t want. It also adds to the distressed style.

Once all the threads are snipped, start pulling them out. Keep those scissors handy in case you run into any stubborn stiches.

Step Two

Next I cut the tee to be cropped and give it a raw hem. Best thing about doing a DIY crop tee versus buying one? Cropping it to your preferences. As a petite gal, I love tees that are slightly cropped and hit right around the waist band of my high-rise shorts or jeans. But as someone who’s well past their high school years, I’m not trying to show off my bellybutton to strangers.

Cutting off the bottom of the tee doesn’t require any measurements (though, if you’re an overachiever, feel free to use a ruler or measuring tape to get a perfectly straight cut). All I do is put the t-shirt on, determine the length I want it, and make a small snip. Then I take it off and make my cut. I do err on the side of caution and cut it just a smidge longer than I want it because the raw hem may roll up of fray over time.

Step Three

The last thing I do to give my tee that distressed look is cut off the collar. This is another step that’s totally up to your preference. In fact, you can skip this step and leave the collar intact if that’s your preference.

I like giving my tees a casual off-shoulder style so I take my scissors and remove the crewneck. If you want to just give it a raw hem without the neck being oversized, cut the collar off just at the seam. For more of the off-shoulder style, cut a little lower. One thing to note: keep the cut fairly close to seam on the front and back and widen it out around the shoulders (I cut this part about half an inch past the seam).

If you cut too much off the neckline in the front, the tee ends up being lower cut instead of off-shoulder.

Step Four

Now it’s bleaching time!

First, wet the t-shirt and wring it out so that it’s damp. Then, pour your bleach in a spray bottle with a little water. I did about a 1:3 ratio of water to bleach. I have done this with straight bleach before and, depending on how thick the material of your shirt is, it may work out fine. However, if the material is too thin, the bleach can eat away at the fabric and create holes.

I did the actually dying in my bathtub to make sure the bleach didn’t end up on anything it could damage (and to keep the dogs away from it). You could also use a trash bag or plastic sheet to protect any floors or countertops during the process.

Then all you do is spray away. I alternate between sprays from a distance (finer mist) and close up (more concentrated sprays). You should see the bleach start to work pretty quickly.

After every few sprays, wait to see what it starts to look like and then adjust where your spraying. When you’re done with the front, wait a few more minutes before flipping it over to spray the back. The bleach on the front will soak through and if you flip it over to spray too soon, you’ll end up with a much heavier bleach pattern on the back.

Step Five

When you’re happy with your design, let the shirt sit for 10-15 Minutes. Then, rinse it thoroughly in warm water until the water runs clear.

After that, just wash the shirt to make sure all traces of bleach are gone. (This way you don’t end up with any unpleasant surprises the next time you do laundry). And it’s done!

Heres a few more tips to note. If you decide the collar isn’t wide enough once it’s been washed and dried, dampen it a little and gently pull on it to widen. I highly recommend using fabric softener and/or dryer sheets with any clothing items that have a raw or frayed hem (keeps the fibers from being too stiff and rolling or sticking up).

For more tie-dye fun, check out my DIY Tie-Dye Shorts tutorial!