Discharging Tutorial

Here's the supplies: Cleanser with bleach (my product of choice), any brand should work; a cup with some water in it; containers and plastic forks for mixing; foam brush ~















To make a thin solution, mix 1 cup of cleanser with 5-6 Tbsp. of water. It will be thin, similiar to thin pancake batter. I've used this wallpaper paste brush for heavy applications of the discharge solution ~












This is how I create an "eclipse" on cloth: take different sizes of plastic lids and place them randomly on your cotton. Slowly pour some thin solution to cover the lid. Take a fork or spoon and push the solution off the sides of the lid ~
(the fabric is black cotton sateen from Jo-Ann's)












When the cleanser is almost dry, carefully remove the lids from the fabric. This is what it will look like with all the eclipses ~










I left the cleanser/discharge solution on for about an hour. Here's the finished piece after rinsing, soaking in water and anti-chlor, washout and dry ~
















To make a thick paste for stamping, mix 1 cup of cleanser with 4 Tbsp. of water. It will be very thick, but not dry ~














Using a foam brush, apply the cleanser/discharge paste to your stamp, a little at a time. If you get wayward "glops" on it, you can wipe off the excess around the edges before you stamp on your cloth. Using your fingers, smooth it out to about 1/8" thick ~


















Apply to the fabric using firm pressure. Keep it in place for 5 or so minutes. When you lift the stamp, the paste remaining on the stamp will be solid, and slightly dry. If you wish to use it again right away, lightly spritz the paste on the stamp with water, making sure it doesn't drip ~

*the color of the cloth in this photo is not correct*











Here are 2 finished pieces - hand dyed cotton lawn and sateen ~




By using this method of discharging, you get an added bonus: if friends stop by, they'll assume you've been cleaning because of the aroma of the bleach and the fragrance added to the cleanser - it's such a fresh scent - now if they only came up with either a lavender or lime scented one...I can dream, can't I? the end.