Keep Your T-Shirts' Writing Intact: Tricks To Preserve Your Favorite Tees

how to keep writing on a t shirt

Writing on a T-shirt is a fun and creative activity that can be done without any fancy tools or expensive materials. With just a plain T-shirt, some fabric markers, and a few other simple items, you can easily create your own custom designs that will last. In this guide, we will cover the steps to ensure your writing or drawing on a T-shirt stays put, from preparing the shirt and choosing the right markers to setting the ink and caring for your creation.

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Using fabric markers

Step 1: Choose the Right Fabric

Fabric markers work on any material, but they work best on cotton or polyester. These fabrics absorb ink better and prevent smudges. Light-coloured T-shirts are ideal if you want the colours to pop. On the other hand, black or dark-coloured shirts are better if you plan to use metallic fabric markers.

Step 2: Choose Quality Fabric Markers

Do not use regular permanent markers on fabric. Once washed, the ink will bleed and create a mess. Fabric markers come in three types: ink-based, gel-based, and paint-based. Arteza, Super Markers, Crafts 4 ALL, Crayola, and Ohuhu are some recommended brands. A black fabric marker will stand out on a light-coloured fabric, while a white or metallic marker will show up well on a dark fabric.

Step 3: Prepare Your Workspace

Ensure your workspace is clean to avoid unwanted stains. Use a table with an even surface to make it easier to draw on the T-shirt. Gather all the materials you will need, such as cardboard or freezer paper, pencil, stencil, and fabric markers.

Step 4: Select or Create a Design

You can search online for fabric marker T-shirt design ideas or create your own. Your design can be an illustration, doodle, calligraphy, or anything else you can imagine. The different types of fabric marker tips allow for thin lines with felt tips or calligraphy strokes with brush tips.

Step 5: Transfer the Design to the T-shirt

There are several ways to transfer your design to the T-shirt:

  • Stamping: Use stamps with your desired patterns or text, decorate them with marker colours, and place them on the T-shirt.
  • Stencilling: Place a stencil (a cut-out paper, plastic, or metal sheet with holes) on the T-shirt and fill the holes with fabric markers.
  • Tracing with a pencil: Place your design under the fabric and trace it with a pencil. This method works best with light-coloured T-shirts.
  • Using parchment paper and a flat iron: Trace your design on parchment paper, then place the paper on the T-shirt and iron over it to transfer the design.
  • Using white carbon paper: Place white carbon paper inside the T-shirt, attach your design on top, and trace the design with a pencil.

Step 6: Outline and Colour the Design

Use a pencil to outline your design on the T-shirt, then go over it with a fabric marker. After outlining, use wide-tip markers to fill in the design. Hold the marker pen upright to avoid smudging.

Step 7: Set the Design

Allow the ink to dry completely, then use a hairdryer or iron to heat-set the design. You can iron over the design or from the backside, depending on the marker's instructions. This will help prevent the design from running or bleeding when washed.

Step 8: Wash the T-shirt

Wash the T-shirt in cold water for the first few washes. Wash it separately from other clothes to avoid colour bleeding. Air-dry or machine-dry the T-shirt.

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Picking the right ink

Instead, opt for fabric markers, which are specifically designed for writing on clothing. These markers come in various colours and tip sizes, allowing you to create different effects. Fabric markers are easy to use and inexpensive, making them a great choice for customising your T-shirts.

If you want to add a splash of colour to your design, consider using acrylic ink markers or paint pens. Acrylic paint needs more time to dry before you can set it with an iron, but it will make the colours pop.

When choosing the right ink, consider the design you want to create. If you're planning to write words, you'll need a different tip size than if you're drawing a picture. You can also use a tailor's chalk pencil to sketch your design before adding ink, which will help you check the placement and positioning.

Additionally, it's important to prepare your T-shirt before writing on it. Wash and dry the shirt to remove any chemical coatings that could interfere with the ink. Then, stretch the shirt over a large, flat surface, making it as tight as possible without overstretching. This will make it easier to write on and prevent the fabric from gathering.

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Preparing the T-shirt

The first step in preparing your T-shirt for writing is to select the right shirt. You can use a plain, single-colour shirt, or you can choose a shirt with existing prints that you want to add to. If you are using a brand-new shirt, it is recommended to wash it first using a regular wash cycle. This process will help the ink from the markers hold better onto the fabric. New shirts often have a chemical coating called "sizing", which can be removed by washing, preventing the ink from smudging and fading.

After washing and drying the shirt, it's now time to prepare your work area. Lay out several layers of scrap paper, such as parchment paper, cardboard, or newspaper, on a hard, flat surface to protect it from staining. You can also use sheets of paper, but avoid newspaper if there is a risk of the ink transferring onto the fabric. Place the T-shirt on top of the protective layer and weight it at the corners. If you're using paper, fold a few sheets and slide them inside the T-shirt to prevent the ink from bleeding through to the other side. If you're using cardboard, place a piece of cardboard inside the shirt; it should be roughly the same width as the shirt to act as a barrier.

Now, it's time to stretch the shirt. The tighter you can stretch the fabric without overstretching it, the better. This step ensures that the fabric won't gather while you're writing, which could ruin your design. You can use a big, flat writing surface or a table for this step.

Before you start writing, you can use a tailor's chalk pencil to sketch your design onto the T-shirt. This step will help you check the placement and positioning of your design. Don't worry about the chalk ruining your shirt, as it is designed to wash off easily.

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Drawing the design

Before you start drawing your design, it's important to prepare your work area and T-shirt. Cover a hard, flat surface with several layers of newspaper to protect it from any potential stains. Stretch your T-shirt on top of the newspaper and weigh it down at the corners. If you're using a new T-shirt, it's recommended to wash it first using a regular wash cycle to remove any chemical coatings that could interfere with the ink. Then, place some folded newspaper or sheets of paper inside the T-shirt to prevent the ink from bleeding through to the other side.

Now it's time to choose the right markers for your design. If you're planning to write words, consider the size of the tips to ensure even spacing and consistent letter sizes. Fabric markers are specifically designed for writing on clothing and are less likely to fade or smudge over time compared to regular ink markers. Acrylic ink markers or paint pens can also be used if you want to add a splash of colour to your design.

If you're feeling creative, you can draw your design freehand directly onto the T-shirt. However, if you want a more precise and structured approach, consider using a stencil or sketching your design with a tailor's chalk pencil before applying the ink. This will help you visualise the placement and layout of your design.

Once you're happy with your design, it's time to set the ink. Turn the T-shirt inside out and cover the design with a couple of sheets of paper. Set your electric iron to a high, cotton setting without steam, and carefully iron over the paper using a steady back-and-forth motion for about 4-5 minutes. Repeat this process on the outside of the T-shirt after it has cooled down. Alternatively, you can use clear fabric paint to set the design permanently.

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Setting the ink

Firstly, turn the t-shirt inside out. Place a few sheets of paper over the design and another sheet on the reverse side. This step is crucial as it prevents the ink from transferring to your iron. Use scrap paper, parchment paper, or cardboard for this step. If you don't have any of these, then regular paper or newspaper will do, but be aware that there is a risk of the ink or the newspaper print transferring onto the fabric.

Next, take your electric iron and set it to the highest temperature setting. Carefully iron the paper that is covering your design. Use a gradual, steady back-and-forth motion for around 4-5 minutes. Repeat this process on the outside of the shirt after turning it inside out again. Make sure that you do not use any steam while ironing.

If you want to be absolutely sure that your design is set, you can use clear fabric paint to set the design permanently. This can be purchased from most fabric stores.

Even after setting the ink, be careful when washing your shirt for the first few times. Use a mild detergent and a light wash cycle only for the initial washes.

Frequently asked questions

You will need a T-shirt, ink markers, an electric iron, and scrap paper.

Wash and dry the T-shirt, place cardboard or paper inside it to prevent ink from bleeding through, and stretch the shirt over a flat writing surface.

Turn the shirt inside out, place paper over the design, and iron it using a gradual back-and-forth motion for around 4-5 minutes. Repeat the process on the outside of the shirt. You can also use clear fabric paint to set the design permanently.

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