There are a lot of internet tutorials and DIY blogs on “screen printing” t-shirts. Here are a few I read up on before trying:
Here are the steps I did:
1. Make/find an image you would like on a t-shirt. Simple, angular images work best. You use the negative space, so the image needs to have negative space. I tried to replicate a colorful image, but had the best luck with one- or two-color images.
2. Print image.
3. Use light-colored or sheer hose to stretch across an embroidery hoop. I bought really cheap, as-large-as-I-could-find (or as large as I could ascertain since hose sizes have names like “QQQ” and “AZ1”). Even with large hose (you can’t use the top part of control top hose – the mesh is too closely-spaced together) and cutting the leg part apart to make the largest flat surface, it was still a bit of an ordeal stretching the mesh across the embroidery hoop and securing the clamp-thing. I thought this part would be the easiest, but it was the hardest. Maybe if I had ever used an embroidery hoop for anything before buying one for 99 cents at Walmart the day before I would have been more savvy. Live and learn.
4. Put embroidery hoop covered in hose over image print-out (with hose side touching the paper). Trace image onto hose using marker/sharpie.
5. Paint around image with Mod Podge. I’ve read you can use tape, too, but even on an image that seemed to have a lot of straight lines, when I tried this way it was time-consuming and boring, plus painting is fun. Also the whole reason I was doing this was to use up a giant thing of Mod Podge I had had for a year, so, Mod Podge.
6. Allow Mod Podge on hose to dry. Once dry, lay embroidery hoop (hose side touching fabric) on the shirt you're using. Paint the un-Mod Podge-ed areas with whatever color you choose. Peel away the embroidery hoop. Hang shirt to dry.
Ta da!
