How to Stretch the Screen for Silk Screening

The silk-screening fabric must be taut across the surface of the frame but not pulled too tightly. The wooden frame, often an embroidery hoop, holds the fabric without slipping during silk screening.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Lay the fabric across the sil-screen frame. The fabric should be centered as best as possible on the frame.

2. Loosen the fastener on the embroidery hoop. The screw on the hoop should be loosened by hand until the frame is opened up about 1/2 inch or more.

3. Press the opened outer hoop down over the inside hoop that has the fabric draped across it. Push down gently to move the hoops together until their edges are flush. The inner hoop should be inside the outer hoop with the fabric between them.

4. Pull the edges through the outer hoop to tighten the fabric on the hoop without overstretching it.

5. Move around the hoop, gently pulling the fabric. This will tighten the fabric evenly. The fabric should be held in the frame as symmetrically as possible.

6. Tighten the wing nut or screw on the outer hoop as you go around the frame. This will hold the fabric tightly and evenly across the entire surface to guarantee the optimum surface for silk screening.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't stretch out the materials of the screen since that will distort the silk-screening image.