How to Screen Print Tees

Screen print your own t-shirts.

Screen print t-shirts with the help of a computer and some simple supplies. Develop your creativity with a project that will display your labors front and center on the t-shirt of your choice. This is a good project for teenagers. Children's t-shirts can be economically printed with their favorite storybook or cartoon characters. Screen print a bunch of family reunion t-shirts sporting a family logo and name for a memorable occasion that will include a t-shirt souvenir.

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Printer
• T-shirt
• 10-inch embroidery hoop
• 1/2 yard sheer tulle fabric
• Pencil
• Paintbrushes
• Mod Podge
• Newspapers
• Screen printing ink
• Plain paper
• Iron

Instructions

1. Find a high-contrast image on the computer for the t-shirt. Copy the image to the Microsoft Paint program. Save the image as a monochrome bitmap file to make the image black and white. Size the image to the appropriate size for the t-shirt, and print it out with the printer.

2. Position and stretch the tulle fabric in the embroider hoop. Tighten the hoop. Place the printed image directly under the tulle, centered. Trace the image with the pencil.

3. Turn the embroider hoop over. Paint all the negative space around the image up to the edges of the hoop with the Mod Podge and let it dry thoroughly.

4. Place several sheets of newspaper inside the front and back of the t-shirt. Center the screen image face down directly over the front of the t-shirt. Apply the ink to the image by stippling with the paintbrush, making sure the screen is fully saturated.

5. Carefully peel back the screen and let the ink on the t-shirt dry. Place a piece of plain paper over the image, and iron on medium heat for four minutes to set the ink.

References

• craftgrrl: Cheap screen printing tutorial