Printing your own t-shirt is a fun and inexpensive way to make a t-shirt that shows the name of your band or team mascot or to feature an interesting image or pattern. To get started, buy a plain t-shirt, create a design and choose a printing method. This article provides instructions for printing in three methods: stencil, screen printing, and ironed printing paper.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Using a Stencil
Step 1. Gather equipment
To print on a t-shirt with a stencil, you only need a few basic supplies. You probably already have most of them at home. If not, you can buy it at a craft or art supply store. Gather the materials below:
- Regular t-shirt made of cotton. Note that paint and ink can penetrate cotton fabrics, if this is a concern for you, you can use a thicker ink. The color of the shirt you choose should be light enough (or dark enough) for the paint color to show through.
- stencil. You can buy ready-made stencils at a craft store or you can make your own out of thick cardboard.
- Paint and ink. Acrylic fabric paint is a good choice for printing on t-shirts. You can also use cloth ink. Look for the type that fades in the washing machine.
- Small paint roller and paint tray. You will need these tools to print on the t-shirt evenly. If you have a roller, you can use a wide paint brush.
- duct tape. To hold the stencil while you apply the paint. Yellowish-white tape is suitable for this.
Step 2. Wash the shirt
Cotton t-shirts shrink when washed, so it's important to machine wash and dry them before printing your designs. If you wash after printing, your design may shrink. When the t-shirt is dry, iron it so it doesn't wrinkle during printing.
Step 3. Set the workspace to print
Place the scrap paper on a hard flat surface. Lay the shirt on the surface and straighten it so there are no creases or wrinkles. Place the stencil on the part of the shirt you want to print the design on. Tape the stencil to the shirt to keep it in place.
- If you're worried the paint will seep through, place the cardboard inside the shirt; to prevent paint from penetrating the back of the shirt.
- To prevent paint from getting on your nice clothes, it's a good idea to use old clothes before you start painting.
Step 4. Prepare the roller
Pour the paint into the tray. Roll the roller over the paint several times to make it even around the surface of the roller. Do the test on a piece of paper.
Step 5. Paint the shirt
Sweep the paint firmly and firmly, using the roller to fill the design in the stencil. Close the design over the stencil by a few centimeters. Be careful not to apply paint on the outside of the stencil.
Step 6. Lift the stencil
Carefully lift the stencil off the top of the shirt and set it aside. Now wait for the paint to dry before touching the shirt again.
Step 7. Iron the shirt
Once the paint is completely dry, place a clean cloth (such as a dish towel) over the design. Set the iron to high heat and iron it over the painted area of the shirt. This will help the paint harden so it doesn't smudge.
Step 8. Put on and wash the shirt
Now you can use your new t-shirt. After dirty, wash the t-shirt using cold water separately from other laundry. Over time you will be able to wash it along with other clothes.
Method 2 of 3: Screen Printing
Step 1. Gather equipment
Screen printing is an art form that can be as complex or as simple as you want it to be. The basic concept is to use screen printing to spread the paint over the stencil. Using this method, it is possible to apply multiple layers of color and create complex designs. This is what you need:
- Shirt. You can screen-print almost any fabric, but cotton is best for beginner printers. Don't forget to wash, dry and iron before printing.
- screen printing. Available at art supply stores. Choose one that is the same width as the shirt.
- Screen printing ink. Choose one or more colors to create a design.
- Sweeper made of rubber. This tool is used to smooth the ink on the screen printing and apply it to the t-shirt.
- Craft paper. Use paper that is cut to the same dimensions as the screen printing.
- Craft knife. It is used to cut your designs on craft paper.
Step 2. Create a stencil
Use a craft knife to cut designs out of craft paper. You can draw first before cutting. Make the design as complex or as simple as you want. If you want to create more than one color layer, use a different stencil for each color.
Step 3. Prepare your workspace
Cover the flat surface with scrap paper. Lay the shirt on the surface and smooth out creases and creases. Use stencil paper on the t-shirt where the design will be printed. Place the template on top of the stencil.
Step 4. Ink the screen printing
Place a spoonful of ink on the screen. Use a rubber sweeper to spread it evenly on the screen. Sweep a second time with a rubber sweeper over the screen printing.
- It takes practice to master putting ink on the screen printing (and the t-shirt underneath). Try doing it with only two strokes: one vertical and one horizontal. This will ensure you use enough paint to produce an even print.
- Make sure the edge of the paper stencil goes through or is longer than the edge of the screen print. Otherwise the ink on the t-shirt will go out of bounds of the stencil.
Step 5. Remove the screen printing and let the ink dry
Carefully lift the screen and check the results of your strokes. Allow the paint to dry completely before using or washing the shirt.
Step 6. Use screen printing again
When lifting the stencil from the t-shirt, the paper stencil should stick to the paint on the stencil. You can place it on top of a second t-shirt and use the ink again to reprint the design. Repeat with as many shirts as desired.
Step 7. Wash the screen printing
Water-based screen printing ink dries quickly, and is difficult to remove once dry. Wash with warm water after use.
Method 3 of 3: Printing with Ironed Printing Paper
Step 1. Prepare the equipment
You only need a printed paper t-shirt with an iron, and a printer. Printing paper with an iron is available at many craft stores.
Step 2. Create a design
Use design software to create graphic designs to print on t-shirts. You can choose a photo or image you find online or create a new one. What's great about this method is that there is no limit to the number of colors that can be used.
Step 3. Print the design on the printing paper with an iron
Fill the paper in the printer so that it can be printed on the side of the paper that will transfer the design to the t-shirt.
Step 4. Place the shirt on a flat surface
Smooth the shirt, get rid of wrinkles and folds. Place the ironing printing paper with the design facing up on the shirt. Place a light cloth such as a dishcloth on top of the paper.
Step 5. Iron the paper
Place the hot iron on the fabric until it is hot enough to reach the shirt. Hold the iron over the shirt according to the printer's paper instructions.
Step 6. Lift the printer paper
Lift the cloth and use your fingers to gently lift the printing paper. The paper should come off easily, with the design already printed on the t-shirt. If you have trouble lifting the paper, press and hot iron one more time, then try lifting again.
