Clothes and Fashion

I know more and more young people who make their own T shirts. Of course they don’t see it as a “job” or as an economical activity, but as a hobby or a way of self-expression. I don’t know if you have teenage children, but if I see them happy designing their own T shirts, I am a happy parent myself… Nothing shows more self-expression than clothing you’ve signed with your own style. T-shirts are the most commonly worn article of clothing in the US,  so it makes sense to make a unique shirt expressing your fashion sense. You can make your own T shirt inexpensively, and have lots of fun as well..

Because a T-shirt is a casual clothing item, it can be decorated with a variety of mediums.  When you make your own T shirt, you can decorate with paint, silk screening, embroidery or beads. If your budget is small or you have little artistic experience, start with paint for your first project. 

Painting on cotton should only be done with undiluted acrylics or  fabric paints.  A package of at least three brushes  and a fabric pencil is necessary to your make your own T shirt project. These supplies are sold in crafts stores and art supply stores.

Use the fabric pencil to draw an outline of your design on the t-shirt.  Place a piece of cardboard on the inside of the shirt, to make sure no paint drips through to the other side. 
With the fabric straight, use smooth, even brush strokes to fill in the outline, and then let dry. Once dry, the shirt should be washed to allow the fabric and newly applied paint conform to a uniform “stretchiness”.

If you’re going for a more elegant look, try embroidery. Embroidery threads come in dozens of colors, so you can sew elaborately shaded designs if you wish. Embroidery needles are inexpensive, so buy at least one package of assorted sizes. A wooden  embroidery hoop is also needed to hold the cloth taut as you stitch.
 
Use the fabric pencil to draw your design on the shirt, and then begin your stitching.   Again, wash the finished T-shirt before wearing.

For a more professional and expensive look, try screen printing. A screen printing kit runs about $40 dollars and comes with everything you need to make your own T shirt. All the instructions needed come with the kit.  A nylon screen is placed over the fabric, and a chemical burns the design onto the T-shirt.  With practice, you may also be able to screen print on other things like pants, skirts, and dresses.

Few things look richer then glass beads for a make your own T shirt project. Entire motifs can be made from glass beads, but some practice is needed to get it right. 
Using fishing line or nylon thread, weave the beads tightly against the shirt, taking care not to rip the fabric. This can be time consuming, but the effect is stunning!

If you plan on making more than one t-shirt, consider investing in economy packs of supplies like fabric pencils, thread, beads, or paint. Don’t be disappointed if the first one doesn’t come out just right. Practice makes perfect when you make your own T shirt.

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