How to Make a Christmas Sweatshirt, Turtleneck, or T-Shirt

Would you like something casual to wear to dinner Christmas day? How about a Christmas sweatshirt, T-Shirt, or even a turtleneck? You can make one yourself. All you need is a computer, a printer, a plain dark or light colored sweatshirt, or T-shirt, and Avery computer transfer paper. You can even use this method to make a Christmas tree skirt if you want to.

Or with the economy putting a tight squeeze on everyone's expenses, a Christmas turtleneck, or Christmas tree skirt, would make a great homemade gift, too!

So, if you want an inexpensive, one of a kind Christmas shirt this is how you make it.

1. First, you will need a plain light colored T-shirt, turtle neck, or sweatshirt. You can purchase a dark colored shirt, or sweatshirt, but you will have to be certain that you buy the correct transfer paper. You can find an inexpensive one at a thrift store, Michael's Craft Store, or Wal-Mart.

2. Next, you will need to make a transfer for your shirt. You will need to purchase Avery Ink Jet T-Shirt Transfer Papers- 8 ½" x 11" Number 3271 from Wal-Mart, or a computer store, like Staples. Buy the transfer paper for light colored cotton/polyester blend fabrics for the light T-Shirt, or sweatshirt, or the transfer paper for dark colored cotton/polyester blend fabric for the dark T-shirt, or sweatshirt.

3. Next you will have to design the transfer. Get creative.

4. You can design it in Microsoft Publisher 2007, or you may use Microsoft Word 2007 if you like. If you've never worked with text art, and graphics, you can find directions under your help menu. I found the clip art of Santa Claus on-line at http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/clipart/default.aspx, or you can use your Microsoft clip art disk for Microsoft Office 2000 if you have any older MS Word version. These clips are royalty free, and you may use them as long as you own a Microsoft Office product. The clip art in this article are examples that I found at Associated Content approved site, www.istockphoto.com, royalty free. You may use it, but I would guess you would want to be creative and design something for yourself individually. You can also scan in a photo of a family member, and use it for your design, but you will use a lot of ink! For example, you can dress your little one as an angel, and use that picture, but because the dress is white, I would use a dark T-shirt, and dark transfer paper, so the image will show up. Also, keep in mind if you want a red Santa Claus to show up don't buy a red T-shirt.

5. The next step is to print your design. Remember to set your printer for mirror image, and test print.

6. To iron on the transfer onto the T-shirt, or sweatshirt follow the directions listed in your Avery T-shirt Transfer Instructions.

7. Let the ink dry.

8. You can use fabric glue, and follow the edges of the design, and then add gold, red, green, or silver glitter. You can also follow the letters with fabric glue, and add red, gold, green, or silver glitter. Let dry, and shake off excess.

You are ready to get dressed. Out the door you go to that yummy Christmas day dinner.