I'd come a cross an article in a magazine a while ago offering suggestions about how to make a vintage t-shirt, you know the kind that's soft, worn out and super thin to the point of being nearly threadbare because it's 10 years old? I couldn't remember all the tips, so I culled a few off the web. Here are the suggestions (each is a separate tip). The technique is basically find a way to distress the fabric without destroying it.
Wash the fabric repeatedly with any of the following methods:
- Machine wash with hard objects such as load of tennis balls, sandpaper, rock salt
- Hand wash with sand, rocks or try using Dryer Balls
- Soak it in water, salt and vinegar
- Bleach and wash repeatedly
American Apparel is apparently also selling tshirts in different weights. Seek out the paper thin ones. If you are looking for information on fading tshirts, preshrunk.info has a method for doing that.
Comments
08/16/06 @ 07:42
Just tried out, what you were describing here. Works really well. Thanks for the instructions.
03/09/07 @ 13:22
so i am using the viniger and salt how long should i leave the shirts in with it.
thanks
04/17/07 @ 19:16
will putting tennis balls in my washing machine harm it??
04/18/07 @ 06:33
Didn't harm mine, but you can try the Dryer Balls if you're concerned.
05/04/07 @ 14:29
Did the viniger and salt work out for you, and if so how much did you use?
08/24/07 @ 04:07
Viniger and salt is also a good method. But sometimes I had the problem that the colours totally changed (so I mean red in a slight green), so maybe it depends on the quality of the shirt if it really works well.
10/31/07 @ 19:01
I'm also using the salt and viniger method, but I'm not sure how much to use and for how long. Please help me out!
01/20/08 @ 07:46
I can't wait to try this one out.
02/21/08 @ 15:30
never heard of it. does this really work. will try out on my vacation.
02/26/08 @ 08:06
An interesting way to use all the tennis balls I have sitting around the house. I will give it a go with some shirts I can experiment with.
Also will be interesting to see how the tennis balls end up after a wash in the machine.
09/02/08 @ 19:02
Interesting idea, I will have to try it out.
09/04/08 @ 14:38
For salt & vinegar, I've read that you want to leave the shirt soak in it for 6-8 hours then wash a few times. It may take a couple times to get the vinegar smell out.
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