DIY: Galaxy Shirt

Materials:  Let's see what's inside the goodie bag for this DIY!

• Bleach.
• A plain t-shirt.
• A spray bottle.
• Water.
• Something to put between the layers of your shirt as well as under it to protect it from the bleach.
• Protective gloves.
• A hanger.
• Scissors

Now, let's move on to the bleaching technique!

• Gather sections of the shirt and twist, as if you're getting ready to tie dye.  
• Using the spray bottle, spray the twist multiple times. 
• Straighten out the shirt to reveal a cool nebula pattern.  Repeat all over to get desired effect.
• To add 'stars' or 'planets', use the tube in the bottle to speckle drops of bleach all over.
• Leave out in the sun for about a half hour (usually between twenty and forty minutes, but sometimes more).  I checked on the shirt every ten minutes just to be safe though.  
• When the shirt has lightened enough to tickle your fancy, bring it inside and soak it in water.  I switched off between temperatures ranging from luke warm, to room temperature, to mildly cold.  
• Squeeze out water and leave to dry.  I hung mine in the shower to catch the water.  Be careful, bleach and the pigment of your shirt may drip.  

 Cutting the shirt!

• This part is optional.  With scissors that cut cleanly through your fabric, decide how you'd like your shirt to lay.  Feel free to use a tank top that fits you well to measure out where to cut to mimic that style.
• I cut along the seams of the arms, neck, and bottom.  Then I evened everything out.  I may cut the neck a bit deeper too.

I tried this technique on another shirt of a different material, and the bleach didn't show up as well, so just be ware!  The shirt I used is one from a craft store - the usual cheap boxy shirts.  The pattern came out looking  great!  Purple shirts give a light purple/pink look, black gives off orange, and other colors usually produce a lightened/whiter version of the original pigment.  I also used ripped up pieces of paper towel to sponge on some pink, blue, purple, white, and gray fabric paint.  You can use a tooth brush dipped in white paint to flick on little dots as well.  I hope you enjoyed this DIY! 

-Ali