Washed Denim Shirt

There's no magic to turning a simple white shirt into a faded-denim kids' shirt craft. Scrunching, rubber-banding, and some blue dye will do the trick to create a wearable craft that everyone in the family will love.

What You'll Need:

  • White shirt
  • Rubber bands
  • Bucket
  • 1/2 cup salt
  • Royal blue liquid dye (half of 8-ounce bottle)
  • Scissors

washed denim shirt
©2007 Publications International. Ltd.
The Washed Denim Shirt makes a great gift.

How to Make the Washed Denim Shirt:

Step 1: Dampen shirt. Lay unbuttoned shirt on a flat surface with centers together and sleeves next to body of shirt.

how to achieve a washed denim look
©2007 Publications International. Ltd.
Gather shirt in from the sides and up toward the top.

Step 2: Starting at the bottom of the shirt, use your thumbs and fingers to gather the shirt in from the sides and up toward the top. Continue this until you reach the top of shirt.

how to dye a shirt
©2007 Publications International. Ltd.
Rubber band entire gathered shirt into pie shapes.

Step 3: Put rubber bands across entire gathered shirt so that they form pie shapes. Keep adding rubber bands until shirt feels secure. The shirt should be flat and circular, with rubber bands crossing in all directions.

Step 4: Wearing rubber gloves, pour 1 gallon of hot water into the bucket. Add salt and stir to dissolve. Pour in half the bottle of dye. Stir until it is well mixed.

dye bath
©2007 Publications International. Ltd.
Add the shirt to the dye bath.

Step 5: Add the shirt, and let it soak in the dye for about 30 minutes. Stir every 5 minutes.

dyed clothing
©2007 Publications International. Ltd.
Remove rubber bands when water runs clear.

Step 6: Remove shirt from dye and rinse thoroughly in cool water. When the water coming from the shirt runs clear, remove the rubber bands.

Step 7: Lay shirt flat to dry, or tumble in clothes dryer with an old towel.

TIP: This is a great gift for Father's Day!

Next, discover a kids' shirt craft that hits the spot every time.

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