Fixative on t-shirt?

[Monkeyboard]

Ok this might sound really gay and fanboyish but...

I got myself a signed t-shirt from Emanuel and the Fear and I figured it would fade pretty quickly (marker of sorts probably not waterproof) so would some fixative of sorts help it stand the test of time?

[culturejam]

I made some tie-dye shirts and the fixative of choice for those is soda ash.

I'm not sure how well that will work with Sharpie ink...or even in it's ink in there or a dye.

[Monkeyboard]

Well it's ink but ink is water/alcohol of sorts + dye as far as I know.

Anyway soda ash is 200 grams per euro so it's worth a shot.

I can only find it in powder form. I presume you have to make a solution out of it?

[culturejam]

I can only find it in powder form. I presume you have to make a solution out of it?

That is correct. Google "DIY tie dye" to see what kind of dilution to shoot for.

[Monkeyboard]

Thanks a ton!

However thinking about it I'm better off sticking it in a box or a frame or something. The novelty of wearing it will wear off like with any t-shirt and I have discovered I'm oddly nostalgic and sentimental.

However I have learned an awful lot about fixatives and dyeing. So you're still my new personal hero

[culturejam]

Glad to be of service.

You should try a tie dye shirt. I made a few and they came out great (and the color is still very bright/vibrant). Here's one:

[nbabmf]

You're such a hippie.

[culturejam]

You're such a hippie.

You bet!

[Monkeyboard]

How easy/cheap is that to do?

Also it doesn't have to be hippie. Replace those colours with black and red and white and you have a completely different, though somewhat cliché, effect.