How to Screen Print a Design That Wraps Around the Shirt

Designing a shirt with graphics on both the front and the side is simple.

Many people choose to make their own screen printed shirts in order to express their personal style. Original artwork can be rendered onto a shirt in fabric ink to create a look no one else has. Some of these unique designs wrap around the shirt's side or back to create visual interest. Though wrap-around designs seem complicated to do at home, they're actually quite simple.

Things You'll Need

• Design
• Shirt
• Cardboard
• Screen printing supplies
• Fabric ink

Instructions

1. Choose a design that is wide enough to wrap around the side of the shirt. For best results, choose a simple design.

2. Place your hands and arms in the shirt's bottom opening so one arm is against the shirt's front and the other is against its back. Spread your arms apart, so the side you want to print on is now stretched flat. Remove your arms and put the shirt down on your work space. If you want more of the design to show up on the shirt's front or back, twist the shirt so that part is flat, too.

3. Place the design and the shirt in your screen printing device accordingly.

4. Make sure your shirt is flat and the design is positioned so it wraps around the shirt exactly how you want it to before you print.

Tips & Warnings

• Print on several areas of the shirt by letting the ink dry and twisting the shirt so different areas are flat on your work space.

References

• Threadbanger: DIY Screen Printing How-to