Five Simple Ways to Design Your Own T-shirts

Need a crafty present, want to make shirts for a sports team, or just feel like making a fashion statement? Here are five of the simplest ways to make a bold statement with an ordinary T-shirt.

Bleach it out
Ever tried tie-dyeing a shirt? It can produce wonderful, tasteful effects if done properly. Now imagine using the same technique on a colored or black shirt, but instead of dye, using bleach! This can create some amazing patterns and color variation, and is definitely worth experimenting with!

If you've got a steady hand and a creative mind, then you could also try altering your shirts with bleach pens. Intended for precision bleaching on laundry, bleach pens are an amazing design tool, and can be used to make your mark on almost any type of fabric! Just make sure to put a sturdy piece of cardboard between the layers of your fabric while using your bleach pen so that your design doesn't soak through, and to let the bleach sit for about twenty minutes, or until it's as light as you intended. If you're not sure you're ready to go freehand, try writing your design in a washable marker, and then tracing over it with the bleach. When you wash the garment, the marker will fade away, but your precise, bleached lines will remain intact.

Remember, before doing any project with bleach, to properly protect your skin by wearing gloves, and to protect your lungs and brain by working in a well-ventilated workspace. It's also a good idea to wear all white, and work in an area where stray drops of bleach aren't likely to damage anything.

Weave it in
Visit your local craft store and stock up on decorative ribbon, yarn, and embroidery floss. Weaving colorful ribbons or threads into the sleeve or neckline hems of a shirt can create a vibrant and unique effect, and is very easy to do. For yarn or embroidery floss, just get a big sewing needle and stitch the threads into the fabric, precisely where you want them. For ribbon, cut slits into your fabric that are as wide as your ribbon, about an inch apart, and then weave the ribbon under and over for an awesome look. Run over this with your sewing machine to make sure it stays in place.

Tip: When weaving things into your t-shirt, be sure to allow a little extra for the stretch of the fabric. If you don't, you might find your shirt a little too constricting when worn.

Dye it
Sure, there are a lot of great pre-made shades of fabric dye out there, but why not buy a few bottles or boxes of primary-colored dyes and experiment with creating your own shades? This is a great idea for sports teams, summer camps and youth groups who are looking to show their unity in a color that nobody else will have. Make sure to try out your dye on a test swatch of fabric first, just to make sure you're in love with the color before you give the whole batch of shirts the plunge.

Stencils and Stamps
Designs you make on t-shirts will look more professional if the edges are crisp and the designs are uniform. Try making your own stamps out of foam or potatoes, or buying foam stamps from the craft store. Not into stamps? Try dipping your very own hands and feet into fabric paints to make some awesome one-of-a-kind patterns!
Homemade gift hint: If you've got small kids, this method could also be used to make a great family keepsake for your significant other.

You can also cut your own stencils out of cardboard or stiff paper and use spray-on fabric paint to create a silk-screened effect. No fabric paint? Moderate amounts of ordinary spray paint will work too: just remember to do it in a well-ventilated area, and keep in mind that metallic spray paints won't retain their sheen after they've been run through the washing machine.

Splatter paint (works with bleach too!)
Splatter painting your shirts is fun and easy for all ages! Splatter painting can get a little messy, so it's a good activity for the backyard. Just get some puffy fabric paints, and thin them down a little with some water so that you don't get big drips that will peel off of your fabric. Fling the paint off of a brush, your fingers, or right out of the bottle to create an abstract, lively masterpiece! I like using bright neon colors on black shirts for an eye-popping effect! Try limiting your color palette for a look that's a little more sophisticated, or using glittery paints for a sparkly look.

Get crafty with these fun ideas, and you'll be on your way to creating a unique, creative wardrobe!