If you are proud of your alma mater and want to demonstrate this pride by wearing an old college t-shirt, you may be looking for a way to make it look new. Your college T-shirt can be a link to your past or just serve as a reminder of the college experience. To get it looking its best, you need only basic sewing skills and a thorough cleaning. Even if you choose not to wear the shirt, you can still find new uses for it once you improve its look. Does this Spark an idea?
Soak to remove any stains from the garment. For spot cleaning the shirt, you can dab a chemical cleaner onto the stain and let it to set for several minutes before rinsing. The type of stain will determine how best to treat it. For example, ink stains can be removed with hairspray. Bleach can be used to remove stains from white T-shirts.
Repair any holes or damage on the shirt. If the hole is small, you can use a simple needle and thread to close the hole. If the hole is larger, you may need a sewing machine to cover it with a patch. Patches can be applied with an iron or by sewing in place.
Re-dye the material to restore its original hue. It's likely that years of washing the same shirt repeatedly has caused it to look faded and worn. To restore the color, wash the shirt with fabric dye in a washing machine or large tub. Repeat as necessary until you have reached the right level of color saturation.
Tips
- If the shirt is too damaged to wear, you can transfer the design to a new t-shirt. Cut out the design and sew onto a new piece of clothing.
- Repurpose the shirt for new use. If the shirt is too faded or damaged to wear, you can cut it and sew it to use as a tote bag or a patch for a bag or clothing.
