Creating Custom T-Shirts: A Diy Home Guide

There are several ways to make your own t-shirts at home, ranging from simple and cheap to more complex and costly methods. The cheapest and simplest method is using iron-on transfer paper, which can be purchased at any craft store. You will also need an inkjet printer, an iron, a cotton underlay, and scissors. Another simple method is screen printing, which requires a stencil, screen, screen ink, and a squeegee. For those who are more tech-savvy, direct-to-garment (DTG) printing uses a ready-made fabric printer to apply images to a shirt in minutes. This method is more costly, with printers ranging from a couple of thousand dollars to well over ten thousand. For those who are artistically inclined, you can also use fabric paint to create unique designs.

Direct-to-garment printing

DTG printing offers several advantages over other printing methods. Firstly, it allows for highly detailed images with a high colour accuracy, making it suitable for printing photographs or graphic effects. Secondly, it can be used on a wide range of fabrics, including cotton, polyester, nylon, and fleece, although it works best with natural fibres that absorb ink, such as cotton and bamboo. Additionally, DTG printing does not require a minimum order quantity, making it ideal for small print runs.

To get started with DTG printing at home, you will need to invest in a DTG printer, which can cost a few thousand dollars for personal use. You will also need a heat press and transfer media. The printing process itself is straightforward and can produce images on t-shirts in just a few minutes.

• Create a digital design using vector graphic design software such as Adobe Illustrator. Ensure that your design is sharp and does not have fuzzy lines.
• Save your design as a high-resolution JPEG, PNG, or SVG file.
• Upload your design to a free online t-shirt mock-up tool and place it on a t-shirt template. Choose any additional design features and save your template.
• Order a custom shirt by selecting a print-on-demand platform and a print provider close to your location to minimise shipping costs.
• Once you receive your custom shirt, apply your design using the DTG printer, which will print on a transfer media (a thin film).
• Use a heat press to manually press the water-based inks captured by the transfer media into the t-shirt.

Iron-on transfer paper

Materials and Tools

You will need an inkjet printer, an iron, a cotton underlay (you can use a cotton pillowcase), scissors, and transfer paper. Purchase transfer paper from stationery or craft stores. Choose between iron-on paper for light-coloured shirts or dark-coloured shirts. Check the product packaging to make sure you buy the right option.

Note that the iron-on printing method works best with cotton fabric shirts.

Steps

Printing

When printing out your design, the steps you'll need to take will depend on whether you're using transfer paper for darker shirts or lighter fabrics.

With light transfer paper, you'll have to place the image face down. This reflects the image backward, so you need to mirror the design (especially if you're working with text). Select the mirror image or reverse setting in the print options window. You can also flip the image in an editing program.

No additional action is required for dark shirts – the graphic will appear exactly as it's shown on your screen, with the transfer paper face up.

Instead of regular printer paper, load the printer with transfer paper. Choose a high-resolution image setting, check the print preview for safety, and click Print.

Cutting

Cut out your design very carefully, using sharp scissors. Any remaining blank paper will leave an imprint on your shirt, so it's important to be thorough and patient during this step. Use a paper craft knife if needed.

Ironing

Once done, place your cotton underlay on a hard, smooth surface that can withstand heat – an ironing board will not suffice. Turn on your iron and set it to a cotton setting or high temperature. Check the transfer paper packaging for any specific instructions. Place your t-shirt on the cotton underlay and start ironing to get a flat surface.

Now, it's time to apply your transferred image to the shirt fabric. This step will determine whether your final results meet your expectations, so take your time to be extra precise. Measure out your dimensions and centre your placement.

• Light-coloured fabrics – transfer paper goes face down.
• Dark-coloured fabrics – transfer paper goes face up.

Press the transfer paper on your shirt and start ironing with a firm hand, starting from the centre and moving outward. Slide the iron swiftly to prevent burning and face the entire paper surface following the transfer paper instructions (up to a few minutes), depending on the size of the design.

Leave the t-shirt area in a well-ventilated room for a few minutes until the paper cools down. Take a corner of the image and carefully peel off the paper. If the image gets stuck, repeat the ironing process. Your design should be ready now.

Aftercare

The design can be fragile during washing, so use a gentle cycle and turn the shirt inside out before loading the laundry. Don't place iron-on transfer shirts in the dryer since it can damage and peel off the design.

Heat transfer vinyl printing

Heat transfer vinyl (HTV) printing is a great way to personalise t-shirts with custom designs, logos, or text. It is a durable and aesthetic option for hobbyists willing to apply their designs to multiple fabric types. You can purchase pre-cut vinyl designs or create your own through a roll of heat transfer vinyl and a cutter.

Step 1: Create your design

Use vector graphic software to create a design. You can use design software such as Adobe Illustration, Photoshop, or CoreDARW to make the design for your vinyl t-shirts. If your design is simple, such as text and letters, you can write directly in xTool Creative Space.

Step 2: Cut out the vinyl

Send the design to your cutter, following the instructions and applying the appropriate machine settings. You can use the all-round craft machine, xTool M1 Ultra, to cut out the vinyl.

Step 3: Weed the excess area

Take off HTV material around the cutlines, using a weeder to scrape off the excess you don’t want in the final design.

Step 4: Apply heat press

Place the vinyl design on the heat press machine with the adhesive side on the shirt. Cover with wax paper or another protective coating. Press according to the instructions, and gently fold off the vinyl carrier after cooling.

Step 5: Remove the vinyl protective film

Finally, you will have your T-shirt ready. You only need to remove the protective film.

Step 6: Post-printing process

Wash the shirt and let it dry. Your shirt is now ready to use and sell.

Screen printing

Getting Started with Screen Printing

Firstly, you will need to finalise your artwork on the right transfer paper (a transparent acetate film used for the stencil). Place your custom shirt on the surface under the mesh screen. Place the stencil with your design on top of the mesh screen and press it onto the shirt.

Applying the Ink

Push the ink evenly with a squeegee (rubber blade) to access all the free areas of the shirt. You can also use a coating tray to apply the emulsion to the screen. Do this by placing the screen on a clean towel and tilting it away from you slightly. Place the coating tray at the bottom of the screen and carefully pour the emulsion onto the screen as you move the tray up.

Curing the Ink

Use a hairdryer to apply even heat to the design for several minutes. Cure the ink before using the next screen to add additional layers of the graphic in different colours. If you use the proper screen-printing technique and cure it, your t-shirt will be washing machine safe.

Cleaning the Screen

Wash your screen once you are done making your shirts. Use cold water and scrub it with a sponge to get the ink out. Let the screen air dry.

Bleach painting

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to bleach paint a T-shirt:

Gather Your Supplies:

You will need:

• Fabric-safe household bleach
• A synthetic-bristle paintbrush (inexpensive ones are fine, as they will be bleached)
• A glass or ceramic bowl
• A white towel or rag
• A piece of cardboard
• A dark-coloured cotton-blend shirt (you can try this method on a lighter-coloured shirt, but the bleach painting will show up better on darker colours)

Prepare Your Work Area:

Place your shirt on a flat surface and slide the piece of cardboard inside your shirt. The cardboard will act as an even surface as you create your design and will prevent the bleach from bleeding through to the back of the shirt.

Create Your Design:

Use white chalk to sketch out your design on the shirt. This could be your favourite saying, a logo, or any other artwork you wish to create. Don't worry if you need to smudge out the chalk lines and re-sketch the design—the chalk lines will wash out once you've completed the bleach painting.

Prepare the Bleach:

Pour a few cups of bleach into the glass or ceramic bowl. Use a towel to wipe up any drips to avoid getting bleach on your clothing.

Start Bleach Painting:

Dip your brush into the bleach and drag it along the edge of the bowl to eliminate any dripping. Use steady strokes to trace the chalk lines of your design. For an even bleach line, reload your brush every two inches, as the fabric will quickly soak up the liquid. Finish tracing your design, then take a break to allow the bleach to react with the fabric of the shirt.

Review and Adjust Your Design:

Look over the shirt. If there are any uneven spots or light areas, go back with your bleach-filled brush and even out the design.

Let the Bleach Process:

Let the shirt sit in the sun for at least an hour. This will allow the bleach to process and lighten the fabric. Depending on the cotton content of your shirt, the colour of your design will range from dark red to orange, pink, or even white.

Rinse and Wash Your Shirt:

Rinse and hand wash your shirt, then hang it to dry. Admire your new permanent bleach design! Wash the shirt with like colours, and the chalk lines should wash out, leaving only the bleach design.

Frequently asked questions