There is a better way to create the ultimate vintage looking T-shirt, without paying outrageous prices for a cotton blend shirt that’s faded juuuuust right. With a little more time and a lot less money, you can achieve this look at home. Just follow these instructions:
Follow these steps to make your t-shirt look aged or vintage:
1. Soak your T-shirt in a solution of 8 cups water and 1 ½ cups of salt for around 3 days. To make the solution, bring the water to a boil and slowly stir in the salt. Remember to let the mixture cool off before adding your shirt, or the shirt may shrink.
2. After the 3 days are up, wring out your T-shirt and rub down both the inside and outside briefly with a super fine grit sandpaper. Go easy over any designs, silkscreening or iron-ons–the paper will take them right off.
3. Hang your shirt out to dry and fade in the sunshine.
4. Rinse the shirt quickly and wring it out in your sink.
5. Wash your shirt in the washer and dry in the dryer and you normally would.
A soft, perfectly aged T-shirt should emerge. If you have any other tips on how to create a vintage t-shirt we would love to hear them.
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May I ask questions to clarify?
After the 3 days of soaking, wring, turn inside out– gently rub the backside of the transfer with sandpaper? Then turn shirt rightside out, do the same (even gentler) over the transfer itself?
Thanks for the help!
This is great thanks! I think it’s so dumn that people would actually buy vitage looking shirts for over $20 when they can make it themselves or get one at a thrift store… such a waste of money :/
Anyway, here is a link from Men’s health that gives a bit different instructions to create a vintage tee. I haven’t tried either yet so if anyone knows which process is more efficient and successful, let me know!
http://www.menshealth.com/best-life/vintage-t-shirt