custom designed shirts

custom designed shirts i'll be the first to admit

06/15/2006

Many people believe that if they want custom designed shirts, they have to go out and pay someone to print them, but often, they can make their own for next to nothing at home, as a fun and entertaining craft project. Of course, if you want hundreds of custom designed shirts to sell, perhaps at a craft fair or music or sports event, then its best to hire someone to print them for you, but if you are just making one or two for you and your friends, it will be much quicker and easier just to do them at home.

Go ahead and relax and try to take in every word I'm about to tell you.

How you should make your custom designed shirts depends mostly on what kind of effect you are going for. If you only want words on your shirt, or very simple designs, and you don't mind a rough, homemade appearance, the easiest way to may custom designed shirts is with either a sharpie or a fabric marker. A fabric marker will set automatically, and last for quite a while, but costs a little more. You probably have a sharpie lying around your house right now, so you could get to work if you have an old tee shirt to write on. But when making custom designed shirts with a sharpie, always wash them in cold salt water when you are done. This is the only way to get the color to set. Otherwise, it will bleed all over when you wash your shirt, causing a horrible mess granted that.

Another way to make a custom designed shirt is with a stencil and some paint. You can use many different kinds of paint. I have made several custom designed shirts with just a cardboard cut out stencil and a can of spray paint, which has a very stylish, punk kind of look for it, like a spray painted stencil on the wall would have. Personally, I think it looks fabulous, but if you are looking for a more finished appearance, you can use silk screen. It takes a little longer to set up, and the supplies can cost a little more, but silk screening has its advantages. It will give you the clearest image of all of these methods, just like a professionally made shirt once you get the hang of it. And with silk screening, you can make many different shirts, with different colors, off of the same design, and they will all maintain the same smooth, well made appearance there is no doubt that.