DIY: Shirts

[FleasTheLemur]

How would one go about making his own shirts? Do I need expensive equipment or no? Would it be limited to just T-shirts or could I go with sweaters, caps, etc... and what of patches?

[Latifa]

www.stencilrevolution.com is a start. That has good stencil tutorials including some about shirts. If you look in the forum there's even a guide to stencilling shoes.

As for equipment, it's all pretty cheap. If you stencil them on ( a good method, you can give it to a friend afterwards )

You will need:

A shirt. Black or white is best. Cotton is more desirable than synthetics and the thicker the fabric, the better. If it's a new shirt, wash it to allow shrinkage.

A stencil. Some say cardboard, I say make an image on your computer and print it out. Get it laminated and cut it with preferably with a fine craft knife with a handle like a pen ( i think they are called exacto knifes. ).
Failing that, a craft knife. Do not use scissors, they will only suffice for extremely simple designs.

The paint.... unless you want to buy special fabric paint you have to mix acrylic with textile medium. Either way, you can't use a spraycan. Use a roller.

The method.. Stick a piece of thick carboard through the shirt to keep it stiff and stop crap going on the back. Tape down the stencil. If you don't want accidental paint spots in places ( IMHO this can look really cool, but whatever ) put some newspaper over the rest of the shirt.

Get some paint on the roller. Don't be sloppy, apply it evenly. Once you have an even coat, CAREFULLY remove the stencil and tape. Give it a blast with a hairdryer. If you want extra colour-locking power, put a piece of baking paper on it and lightly iron it.

Enjoy.

[Organic Revolution]

look through the forum and find my silk skreen
guide.

[Latifa]

Yes, but you have to apply different techniques on a shirt.

[which doctor]

A question: Is there anyway you can use spraypaint on a shirt? Will it hold to the shirt well? Will it come off in the wash? Is there spraypaint that is made for shirts?

[Latifa]

Perhaps if you spray the paint onto a layer of fabric medium, otherwise no.

[rioters bloc]

Originally posted by Fist of [email protected] 15 2005, 08:27 AM
A question: Is there anyway you can use spraypaint on a shirt? Will it hold to the shirt well? Will it come off in the wash? Is there spraypaint that is made for shirts?
yes

fabric spraypaint :)

the t-shirt with the anarchist girl in this thread http://www.revolutionaryleft.com/index.php?showtopic=41352 i did with white fabric spraypaint

[DisIllusion]

But wouldn't spray-paint clothes only work with white t-shirts and would be unable to wash?

[rioters bloc]

fabric paint doesn't wash off, as long as you iron it after it's dry

i've never used fabric paint on a white tshirt...yellow...black...green...grey...blue...pi nk...but never white ;)

[Rockfan]

Where do I get stuff laminated?

[rioters bloc]

at my work ;)

or officeworks, they do them for cheap-ish.

[Rockfan]

so at a stationary shop or something, cool.

[enigma2517]

what about iron-ons?

You design WHATEVER you want on a computer, go to a place like Kinkos that has high quality printers, put in the iron-on paper and the print it out.

Then just buy whatever color shirt u want and iron it on there.

My only concern is that it would be of low quality or would chip off easily.

[Palmares]

Originally posted by rioters [email protected] 28 2005, 01:10 PM
fabric paint doesn't wash off, as long as you iron it after it's dry

i've never used fabric paint on a white tshirt...yellow...black...green...grey...blue...pi nk...but never white ;)
How does fabric spray paint compare to fabric paint you squigy on?