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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: ozy clint on April 09, 2009, 11:41:00 PM

Title: giving my faded cotton camo a new lease on life
Post by: ozy clint on April 09, 2009, 11:41:00 PM
these pants have been through many muddy swamps in pursuit of boars and with all the washing they have faded considerably. so i broke out the permanent sharpie marker and set about reviving them.

i added heaps of contrast back into them simply by darkening the once black areas. it has made a huge difference to them. the left leg i've done. the right one is the original print. it is much more faded than it looks.

hopefully the 1st wash won't undo all my good work.
 (http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd349/ozyclint/DSCF1847.jpg)

i've got a matching top that i've allready done.
Title: Re: giving my faded cotton camo a new lease on life
Post by: BowHuntingFool on April 09, 2009, 11:56:00 PM
WOWZA, that turned out pretty good! I'm impressed!    :thumbsup:      :thumbsup:
Title: Re: giving my faded cotton camo a new lease on life
Post by: mbbushman on April 10, 2009, 12:14:00 AM
It should last quite a while before it fades. I've done that to my blaze orange in the past. I just drew my best copy of the Predator design with a permanent marker. It's probably been close to 10 years, and it still shows up fairly clear.
Title: Re: giving my faded cotton camo a new lease on life
Post by: saltwatertom on April 10, 2009, 12:21:00 AM
Huh? You can wash camo hunting clothes?
Title: Re: giving my faded cotton camo a new lease on life
Post by: Mo. Huntin on April 10, 2009, 12:36:00 AM
That looks good.  How long did it take?  Let us know how long it lasts
Title: Re: giving my faded cotton camo a new lease on life
Post by: doeboy on April 10, 2009, 07:36:00 AM
Ozzy,

Let us know about the odor of the marker on the pants after a few washings. i wonder how long it is going to smell? Great idea.
Title: Re: giving my faded cotton camo a new lease on life
Post by: JC on April 10, 2009, 08:19:00 AM
Looks great Clint.
Title: Re: giving my faded cotton camo a new lease on life
Post by: Deadsmple on April 10, 2009, 10:07:00 AM
:thumbsup:   I just had a "why didn't I think of that" moment! Thanks for sharing.
Title: Re: giving my faded cotton camo a new lease on life
Post by: doug g on April 10, 2009, 10:29:00 AM
That should last for a while. Sanford makes a laundry pen that is like a sharpie but specifically made to be washed repeatedly. If you can't find one locally I carry them in my store let me know. Doug, owner of Davison Office Products.
Title: Re: giving my faded cotton camo a new lease on life
Post by: Over&Under on April 10, 2009, 10:54:00 AM
I have to say, you are quite talented with that sharpie!!!  That is very impressive indeed!  Looks better than brand new!
Title: Re: giving my faded cotton camo a new lease on life
Post by: unclewhit on April 10, 2009, 11:12:00 AM
Ozy, great job, they are going to look like new when you get em' done.

On another note, did you find work? Are you going to stay in BC for awhile? Hope things are comming together for ya.
Title: Re: giving my faded cotton camo a new lease on life
Post by: ozy clint on April 10, 2009, 01:15:00 PM
smell is gone after a day of airing out.
Title: Re: giving my faded cotton camo a new lease on life
Post by: Shore08 on April 10, 2009, 02:36:00 PM
I'd always heard that the fading is actually the cotton 'pilling', and that it could be taken care of by shaving the item with a lady's razor. Never tried it, and I have no idea if it is true.

On the other hand, a sharpie is definitely more manly, and there is no denying your method worked great! Congrats man.
Title: Re: giving my faded cotton camo a new lease on life
Post by: LC on April 10, 2009, 05:47:00 PM
You know I'm not so sure I wouldn't leave it that way! The object is to break up the human outline remember. heck thats why I like to wear two different camos from top to bottom.
Title: Re: giving my faded cotton camo a new lease on life
Post by: wihill on April 10, 2009, 06:59:00 PM
I like it!  I think the only thing I'd do differently would be to not quite fill in the "black" limbs all the way, as it seems they clump up in a couple spots.  Other than that, I think it looks better than the original pattern.

Great job, Ozy!
Title: Re: giving my faded cotton camo a new lease on life
Post by: Big Ed on April 10, 2009, 07:33:00 PM
My problem is usually by the time they fade I grow out of them. LOL  Great Idea, I like the contrast.
Title: Re: giving my faded cotton camo a new lease on life
Post by: hunt it on April 10, 2009, 08:15:00 PM
Ozy,

Just draw that pattern on ya legs you won't need nothing but a loin cloth.  :D
Title: Re: giving my faded cotton camo a new lease on life
Post by: ozy clint on April 10, 2009, 10:29:00 PM
come through the 1st wash okay  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: giving my faded cotton camo a new lease on life
Post by: TRAP on April 11, 2009, 09:23:00 AM
I'd say you're half of the way to having a "like new" pair of camo pants.  

Nice job,

Trap
Title: Re: giving my faded cotton camo a new lease on life
Post by: Bonebuster on April 11, 2009, 03:26:00 PM
It will last just fine, I`ve been doing it for years. And if it does fade, just re-do it.
Title: Re: giving my faded cotton camo a new lease on life
Post by: Brian Krebs on April 12, 2009, 04:09:00 AM
I have kept my 'lucky jacket' alive for a long time with the use of a magic marker. It does work !    :archer:
Title: Re: giving my faded cotton camo a new lease on life
Post by: KSdan on April 12, 2009, 03:56:00 PM
Good job.  I have made my own ASAT that way.  I guess I should have marketed it about 25 years ago!   :banghead:
Title: Re: giving my faded cotton camo a new lease on life
Post by: Autumnarcher on April 12, 2009, 10:40:00 PM
Geez, don't go tellin my wife you can spruce up faded camo with a marker pen. If she knew that, I'd never get any new huntin  clothes! Shhhhh.
Title: Re: giving my faded cotton camo a new lease on life
Post by: Chris O on April 13, 2009, 09:58:00 AM
Now those look "sharp!"  haha, nice work!
Title: Re: giving my faded cotton camo a new lease on life
Post by: Jeff Strubberg on April 13, 2009, 10:15:00 AM
I made a set of Texas camo with those permanent paint pens you can buy at the craft store...they still look prety good after two years of washing.

Then I got the bright idea that RIT dye and a foam brush would be much faster.  The RIT dye job didn't last through three washings before it faded to uselessness.
Title: Re: giving my faded cotton camo a new lease on life
Post by: tarponnut on April 16, 2009, 01:17:00 PM
I also use fabric markers to spruce up or improve my camo. Like LC said, I never wear a matching top and bottom, the object is to not look like an object(but the background).
Title: Re: giving my faded cotton camo a new lease on life
Post by: JEFF B on April 16, 2009, 03:32:00 PM
hey clint they look good man.  :thumbsup:  well done