I’ve become a little obsessed with this “reverse dying” thing. I actually wanted to tie dye some shirts with my girls, so I went to the store and grabbed one of those big dye packs. Turns out, that I’ve been enjoying this reverse dying even more than tie dying. To be honest, I think that the “impatient” part inside of me likes this method better. The results are faster and immediate.
The changes are drastic. It’s tough to determine what each shirt will look like in the end, but that is kind of the fun side of it.
It’s such a super fast and easy DIY. I just poured about 3 parts bleach to 2 parts water, tied up my shirt with a bunch of rubber bands, and dipped it in the bleach water. Make sure to wear gloves and a mask, as bleach is brutal on our systems. This is shirt one…
I didn’t have any specific method for tying each shirt. I bunched up the fabric and tied it with a rubber band. I wasn’t really looking to get a “tie dye” pattern with these shirts. I kind of wanted them to be more subtle.
I let this shirt sit in the bleach water for about 20 second and then rinsed it out. There was more color left in weird places than I desired, so I wadded it back up, tied it with rubber bands, and placed it back in the bleach water for about 3 minutes. I did this yet another time, until all of the darker color was gone. I rinsed out the bleach with my hose until the water ran clear and then washed in my washing machine with detergent and hot water. Can you even believe the difference?!
My 16 year old daughter said that this is her favorite shirt that she owns right now. That pretty much means that I’m a fashion designer.
I used the same technique on this tank top and the rest of the shirts here…
I do love the way this one turned out too. The first sweatshirt it by far my fave, but this has even more drastic color variations, which I love!
I was wondering how this gray one would turn out. I didn’t think I would get much of an effect, since it was a lighter color.
I love the light grey/white colors in the result!
I forgot to take a before of this t-shirt. It was a black t-shirt to start with. I love the subtle differences in this one.
Have you ever tried reverse dying? Do you think it’s something that you would try? It sure is a fun and addicting process! I wouldn’t be surprised if everything that I own is bleached by the end of the week. I need to tie myself down with some rubber bands before I bleach my whole closet!
Which shirt is your fave? I would love to hear if you try this on some shirts of your own!
Absolutely love this!!! My kiddos will like this too!! Thank you for the tutorial!! ❤️❤️❤️
Ok it was fun to watch in stories but these all turned out so good! Favorite might be the black/ orange
Love this idea!! My daughter & I are going to give it a try tomorrow. My fav is the light gray but I also love the peachy color one!
Thanks for sharing. The first sweatshirt is my fave as well!!
Thank you! It’s fun to see the difference in them all!
Wow all turned out great. Like the colors on the first the most. Bleach away.
Thank you, Ronnie! That was my favorite too!
I’m pretty new following you but you are right up at the top of my list already! Love your stuff❣️
I love them all but I like the first and second ones best!! You’re so talented! I love it and you’re my absolute favorite to watch!!! Lol you always make me laugh! Thanks! 😘
I love how the black sweatshirt turned out and the shortsleeved T-shirt.
I love the first two! The colors in the tank top turned out really neat! I need to try this for my girls! And I love your stories and Chester but who doesn’t love Chester?
Love the sweatshirts they came out so cool. I want to do a While longsleeve T-shirt with black dye. Similar to your first t-shirt you did. Could you demonstrate how tie up the t-shirts? Thanks, Lisa
I absolutely love the peach colored shirt the most. Very subtle
What was the fabric make up of the shirts you were dying? Did you find that different fabrics behaved differently? This looks like such a fun project. I’m definitely going to plan on doing it during our next girl weekend at my place!
I love this, I tried it & my husband asked if I did it on accident 💔 guess mine don’t look as good as yours.
Nope..not doing anything for me..those clothes look very boring to me. I rather do the Color dying…We all have our likes and dislikes.
I loved watching this! The tank is my favourite! You just have to try rust dying now Natalie, you get amazing effects!! Just soak your fabric in a 50/50 vinegar water solution, then wrap old rusty items in the fabric, pop it all in a plastic bag and leave somewhere warm for a couple of weeks, the results are brilliant! 😀
I absolutely LOVE the way the black fabric turns to a blush color! I have to give this a try!!! Thanks Natalie!!☺️
I love the black sweatshirt that turned that pretty orange tie dye color.
I love what you did with all the clothes. My favorite is the tank top. To me, it looks like rust and reminded me of the handles on your apothecary dresser. I just love it.
Natalie has done it again. My favorite part is the subtlety of the bleached areas.
Thanks so much for sharing!
Michele