How to Stencil Clothes

Stenciling is a fun and convenient way to personalize your clothes or other fabric projects. Using freezer paper to create your stencils with this method makes it easy to stencil precisely, with relatively fine details. There are plenty of advanced variations possible, but the basic process can be done by almost anyone in just a few minutes.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Clothing to stencil
• Freezer paper
• Cardboard or cutting mat
• Acrylic paint or ink
• Razor knife
• Stencil brush or sponge

1. Choose the design you want to stencil on your clothes. To begin, your design should include only one color and it should be an image that can be completely cut out without destroying the paper. If you have any shapes (such as the letter "o") which can't be cut out of a stencil in one piece, try dividing them into several sections.

2. Transfer the design onto the paper. Freezer paper has wax on one side, so make sure to draw, print or copy your image onto the unwaxed side. Each stencil can be used only once, so if you want to print several of the same image, make several stencils.

3. Using the cardboard or cutting mat to protect your work surface, cut out your image.

4. Position your stencil on the fabric, waxy side down, and carefully iron it down. Check to make sure that the edges and any small parts of your stencil are well attached.

5. If your clothing has several layers, like a shirt, put a piece of cardboard between the layers to keep the pain or ink from bleeding.

6. Gently dab paint or ink onto the stencil with the brush or sponge, making sure to cover the fabric thoroughly. Check for any gaps created by the drying ink and add another coat if necessary. Wait for the ink to dry thoroughly.

7. Carefully remove the freezer paper. Run a low temperature iron over the image again to help set the ink.

Tips & Warnings

• You can stencil multiple color images on clothing by using a similar method. Make a master stencil with the entire image on any type of paper. Cut out the areas that will be the first color, and trace them onto one piece of freezer paper. Then cut out the areas that will be the next color, and trace them onto a second piece. Repeat until you have completed all the colors you want, then prepare the stencils and print them one at a time, being extra careful to dry the ink between each printing.