How to Screen Print T-Shirts
Screen printing allows you to transfer unique designs onto t-shirts, so you can express your interests, personality traits and opinions. There are lots of creative things you can do with screen printing.
First: Collect supplies
Get a ready-mixed screen printing ink from a craft store or online. Ready mixed inks give a more consistent color and texture. Make sure that the ink you purchase is color-fast, or the color can wash away when you launder the garment. Make a metal screen, and stretch a piece of it over a frame and staple it tight. Pre-made screens are available for purchase but are often very pricey. You will also need a squeegee; these are typically least expensive at an automotive store. Finally, gather a plain sheet of paper, masking tape, a craft knife and a cotton t-shirt.
Second: Cut your design
Cut the design you wish to print on the t-shirt out of the paper. Use the craft knife to cut away the design. Make sure that the edges are smooth and even, or your design can have rough or feathered edges. Never rip pieces away from the paper instead of cutting them loose.
Third: Tape down the mesh
Tape around the edges of the mesh to shrink it down and make it fit the stencil. For example, if the paper you cut your design from is an 8 1/2 by 11 sheet of typing paper, put masking tape around the edges of the mesh until you are left with an 8 by 10 square in the center. This prevents paint from seeping out over the edges of the stencil and ruining the design.
Fourth: Paint the shirt
Place the stencil on the shirt, and then lay the mesh over the stencil. Put a large blob of ink at the top of the screen and then push it down the screen with the squeegee, through the screen and down onto the stencil and t-shirt below. Lift the screen away from bottom to the top, and then remove the stencil.