Writers’ Paradise

Before you throw out that boring old T-shirt you never wear anymore, try customizing your T-shirt with one of these techniques:

• Make stencils by cutting shapes or letters out of the cardboard of an old cereal packet. Tape the stencil to the T-shirt and paint over it with fabric paint. Let the paint dry completely before removing the stencil. For a different look you can dribble or flick the paint over the stencil instead.
• Try customizing a T-shirt with buttons of all different shapes, sizes and colours. Start by arranging the buttons-move them around to see what pattern works best. A thick of buttons around the neckline looks good. Then sew them on to the T-shirt with a needle and thread, or chat by gluing them on with fabric glue.
• Use scraps of material to make pictures or patterns on the front or back of your T-shirt. Use fabric glue to stick them on. If you add some fabric paint to the edge of the scraps of material, it will help to seal them on to the T-shirt.
• Tie-dye a T-shirt your favorite color. Tie-dying is a seriously messy business so work outside if at all possible. Wear rubber gloves and old clothes in case you splash yourself ( dye, needless to say, is hard to get off).

For the best tie-dyed results, choose a T-shirt that is 100% cotton. Mix a packet powdered clothes dye with a pint of hot water in a bucket. Add five tablespoons of salt. Let the mixture cool to room temperature. Tie a long piece of string around the bottom corner of the T-shirt, then crumple it up and continue wrapping the string around up to the neckline. Tie a knot in the sting to hold it tight. Dip the T-shirt into the dye for 20 minutes, then leave it to dry completely before you untie the string. Rinse your T-shirt well.

• If you have tried everything and your T-shirt is just too old and boring to ever look good, make enough money to buy a new one by using it to polish your neighbors’ cars

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