Five MORE Ways to Design Your Own T-shirts

Did you enjoy my last article about crafty ways to reconstruct a tired T-shirt? Hungry for more? Here are five more excellent ways to add some personal flair to a plain old shirt.

Iron-on transfers
This method works very well, and will give you pro-caliber results every time. Just find or create an image on your computer, print it onto special transfer paper, and iron it onto your fabric! You can buy T-shirt transfer paper at most craft and office supply stores. Make sure to follow the instructions on the package of paper you buy, because the procedure varies for each brand. While choosing an image to transfer onto your t-shirt, keep in mind that the iron-on transfer will produce a mirror image version of that picture onto your shirt. So if you choose an image that isn't symmetrical or contains text, you will need to use a computer program (like MS paint) to flip it horizontally (producing a mirror image) so that your finished transferred design won't be flipped backwards.

Funky findings
If you're skilled at sewing, adding unusual findings to a shirt can create a quirky, unusual look. Crazy buttons and zippers in unlikely places will spice up an ordinary T-shirt. But don't stop there, get creative! Adding clasps, like those found on overalls, bits of chain, metal eyelets, small hinges, and other imaginative hardware will make people look twice at your unique garment.

Add some pockets
Adding pockets is a great way to introduce new fabrics into a shirt, and can be a functional addition to your garment. Look at the way pockets are formed on your other clothes before attempting this. You want to make a pocket that will lay flat once it is sewn, because otherwise you might get strange bulges in your shirt. Don't stick to what's conventional! Making a heart or triangle-shaped pocket is a fun way to mix things up! If your pockets are purely decorative, then jazzing them up with small bows, buttons, or fabric flowers can make them even cuter!

Glitter and jewels
Plastic jewels and craft glitter are easy to find, and, if used in moderation, can truly take a top to the next level. A great use for jewels is to create a design made purely of gems. Simply draw a simple design, like a heart or a star, on your shirt with a washable marker. Then glue jewels on the design (with fabric glue, check your craft store), filling in or outlining the shape that you drew. When you launder the shirt, the marker lines will disappear, but your amazing jeweled design will remain!

If you want to do something with glitter, check your craft store for permanent glitter spray that is intended for fabric. It's just thinned-out spray-on glitter glue that can be used to give your whole shirt a pleasing coat of shimmer. The glitter is combined with permanent glue, so it won't disappear after its first wash.

Chop it up
Taking out the seams, shredding up the edges, and cutting out the neck of a t-shirt can turn it from boring to a fashionable show-stopper! Just make sure not to go overboard: you don't want your shirt to look destroyed, and you definitely don't want to risk it coming apart in the wash. Try altering your shirt into a tank top, halter top, or one-shoulder top with nothing but a pair of scissors. If you accidentally cut too much, you can always wear another shirt underneath and go for that layered look!