How to Make Your Own Graffiti Words on a Hoody

Add graffiti-style graphics to hoody sweatshirts with stencils.

Hoody sweatshirts are relatively inexpensive and available in a wide variety of colors, sizes, and styles, such as with zippers or pockets. Personalizing a hoody sweatshirt with graffiti-style font is a simple process that requires few supplies and not a lot of time. Before painting the hoody, Michael's Arts and Crafts suggests laundering without fabric softener.

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Printer
• Card stock paper
• Utility knife
• Newspaper or piece of cardboard
• Hoody sweatshirt
• Tape or pins
• Fabric paint
• Sponge or paintbrush

Instructions

1. 

   Graphics can be placed almost anywhere on the sweatshirt.

   Download the desired graffiti-styled font to your computer and decide upon the desired word or phrase you wish to add to the hoody. Print out the phrase onto thick card stock paper.

2. 

   Utility knives cut crisper lines than scissors.

   Create a stencil by using a utility knife to cut out the printed portion from the paper.

3. Before painting the fabric, place some newspaper or a piece of cardboard in between the layers of the sweatshirt.

4. Secure the stencil to the sweatshirt with tape or pins.

5. Apply paint to the fabric with a sponge or a stippling paint brush. Keep the stencil on the fabric until the paint has fully dried.

6. Launder the hoody according to instructions on the fabric paint package.

Tips & Warnings

• Phrases can be placed anywhere on the sweatshirt, including the center of the chest, the hood portion or the back of the sweatshirt. If placing the graphic on the back of the sweatshirt, consider where the hood will naturally fall when not placed on the head.

• Cut the stencil on a hard surface or a self-healing mat, which protects surfaces such as the kitchen table from cuts.

References

• Michaels Arts & Crafts: FAQs About Fabric Painting

Resources

• DaFont: Downloadable Graffiti Script