How to Print Your Own T-shirt Using Silk Screen
A blank T-shirt
Textile paint of your preference
Acetate
A cutter or an X-ACTO knife
Your design
Silk screen
A hard rubber ink spreading tool - old slippers work or hard window wipers that you
usually see on gas stations
A frame
Large Staples and a staple gun
Create your design!
First, you must create a design of your t-shirt. Make a design that is simple and easy to cut. You will be tracing your design on a acetate so keep it simple. You may want to print your design on a bond paper with high contrast.
Create The Stencil!
Put the acetate on top of your design. Secure the edges by placing tape on them. Then, trace-cut your design to your acetate. Use a cutter or an X-ACTO knife. You may want to take time on this step as it will greatly affect the looks of your t-shirt. A good stencil can also be used over and over again
Make your Screen
Using just the silk screen without a frame can be like using a pen without the ball point. Get a wooden frame about 50% larger than your stencil. Get your staple gun. Tacks can work but Staples are the best. Secure firmly one end of the screen to the frame then staple it. Then continue with the opposite edge. Note that the silk screen should be stretched or else the textile ink won't "stick" properly to the shirt.
How do you find out if your silk screen was placed properly? - If it's smooth and does not have wrinkles, it is done right.
Print!
Now here's the fun part - Printing your design over your shirt. First, place your shirt on a smooth flat surface like a table. Fasten it using scotch or masking tapes.
After that, fasten your acetate stencil on your shirt. Use masking tapes. Then place your screen on top of your stencil. Hold it firmly. Then apply your textile ink on the topmost area of your design. Spread it uniformly on your design. Don't go over the edge of your acetate.
After you have spread your ink, lift the screen then remove your stencil.
Dry
Dry your shirt (not under the sun!). Then iron the back part of the design using medium heat to meld the ink on the cloth.
Now you have your own self-made T-shirt!
Published by Mikhail
A Student Who Does not like Writing But Writes anyway. View profile
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