Creating Custom Stencils For T-Shirt Printing: A Step-By-Step Guide

how to make stencil for t shirt printing

Stencilling a T-shirt is a fun and creative way to personalise your clothing. Whether you're rescuing a stained shirt or creating a trendy design, stencilling is a great way to achieve unique results. All you need is a plain T-shirt, fabric paint, a sheet of cardboard, and a stencil made from contact paper, freezer paper, or plastic sheets. You can design your own stencil or use a commercial one, and with the right tools and preparation, you can achieve crisp, hand-painted results that will make your T-shirt stand out from the crowd.

Characteristics Values
Materials Contact paper, freezer paper, plastic sheets, fabric paint, paintbrushes, cardboard, sponge brush, stencil sheets, sponge paint brush, iron
Design Simple image with clear, solid, dark lines
Printing Print or sketch design, trace onto stencil material, cut out design
Sticking Peel off backing, place on shirt, press and smooth out
Painting Apply fabric paint, gently tap brush against stencil, do not drag, wait to dry, peel stencil off

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Using Contact Paper

Step 1: Design

Print or sketch a simple design with solid, dark lines. This will make it easier to see through the contact paper when tracing. This method is suitable for intricate designs and reverse stencils/silhouettes.

Step 2: Tracing

Tape your design to a flat surface and then tape the contact paper over it. Use a permanent marker to trace over the design. If you're having trouble seeing the design, tape the whole thing over a bright window.

Step 3: Cutting

Remove the contact paper from the template and place it onto a cutting mat. Now, cut out the design using a sharp craft blade. If there are any inner designs, be sure to save those as well.

Step 4: Sticking

Figure out where you want the design to go on your t-shirt, then peel off the backing from the contact paper and gently set it down. Start at one end, then smooth it down until you reach the other end, making sure to flatten out any ripples or wrinkles. Stick down any inner design cutouts as well.

Step 5: Painting

Place a sheet of cardboard inside the shirt to prevent the paint from soaking through to the other side. Squeeze out some fabric paint onto a palette and dip a foam brush or a pouncer into it. Gently tap the brush against the stencil, being careful not to drag it past the edges. Avoid using too much paint, as it can loosen the contact paper and leak underneath.

Step 6: Drying and Removing Stencil

Wait for the paint to dry, then carefully peel off the stencil. As the paint dries, run your hand inside the shirt between the fabric and the cardboard to prevent the paint from sticking to the cardboard. Some types of fabric paint need to be heat-set after drying, so be sure to read the label on your paint carefully.

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Using Freezer Paper

Freezer paper is a cheap and easy way to make a stencil for a custom t-shirt design. It is thick paper with a wax coating on one side, which can be stuck to fabric when heated with an iron. The paper side makes it easy to cut into custom shapes.

Materials:

  • Freezer paper
  • Fabric paint, acrylic paint with fabric medium, or fabric spray paint
  • Foam brush
  • Plain t-shirt
  • Cutting instrument (a Cricut machine, craft knife, or Exacto knife)
  • Cardboard
  • Parchment or baking paper

Steps:

First, print your design onto the matte paper side of the freezer paper. If you don't have access to a printer, you can also trace your design onto the paper side of the freezer paper.

Next, use your cutting instrument of choice to cut out your design. If using a Cricut machine, you can cut out two stencils, as the paper can tear easily.

Then, place a piece of cardboard inside your t-shirt, to prevent the paint from seeping through to the other side. Cut another piece of freezer paper and place it inside the shirt, on top of the cardboard, with the waxy side facing up.

Now, place your stencil on the shirt with the waxy side facing down, and iron it down. Make sure that all edges are stuck down properly, including any small inside pieces, like the hole in the letter 'e'.

Using a foam brush, apply paint to the shirt over the stencil. Be careful not to let the brush go under the edges. One coat should suffice, but if you need a second, wait twenty minutes before applying.

Let the paint dry for a few hours or overnight, then carefully remove the stencil.

Finally, use a dry iron to set the paint, and your custom t-shirt is ready to wear!

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Using Plastic Sheets

Firstly, sketch or print out your desired design onto a sheet of paper. The simpler the image, the better. If you are using a darker plastic sheet, ensure that you use thick, dark lines for your design.

Next, tape your design to a table and place a thin plastic sheet over it. You can use acetate or blank stencil sheets, which can be found in arts and crafts stores. Then, using a permanent marker, trace over your design.

Once you have finished tracing, carefully cut out the stencil using a craft blade. Make sure you only cut out the outer parts of the design and save these pieces, discarding the inner parts. You will need the straight edges to secure the stencil to the T-shirt.

Now, place the stencil onto your T-shirt, smoothing out any wrinkles or ripples. Tape down all four edges of the stencil sheet to secure it in place.

To prevent paint from soaking through the fabric and onto the back of the T-shirt, place a sheet of cardboard that is slightly larger than your stencil inside the shirt.

It is now time to apply the paint. Work from the outside edge of the stencil towards the middle, being careful not to drag the paint from the centre outwards, as this will cause paint to get under the stencil. You can use a foam roller, a pouncer, or a flat brush for this step.

After you have finished painting, carefully peel the stencil away and let the paint dry. To prevent the paint from sticking to the cardboard, run your finger inside the shirt, between the fabric and the cardboard, while it dries.

Finally, remove the cardboard and set the paint if needed. Some fabric paints are ready to go once dry, while others may need to be covered with an ironing cloth and ironed. Always refer to the label on your fabric paint for specific instructions.

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Preparing your design in Silhouette Studio

Open a new document in Silhouette Studio and adjust your document settings in the Page Setup Panel. Make sure to adjust your settings according to the machine and material size you are using. For example, if you are using the Cameo 4, you may need to resize your design.

Next, open the Library tab and locate your file. Double-click on it, and the cut file will open in your document. You may need to rotate the design to fit onto your cutting area. Hold down Shift while rotating to snap the rotation to 90 degrees and keep your project straight and aligned.

If you are creating your own design in Silhouette Studio, you can draw a box around it, ensuring the box is about an inch away from the design on all sides. This box will be the edge of your stencil and will protect your surface from paint.

Once you are happy with your design, cut it into vinyl using the Silhouette cutter. For best results, set the media to vinyl, the ratchet blade to 1, and edit the thickness settings from the default of 10 down to 5. This will ensure a 'kiss cut', meaning the top layer of vinyl is cut while the backing paper remains intact.

Before starting any project, it is recommended to perform a test cut to ensure your blade is sharp enough and the default settings are correct.

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Painting your design

Now that you have your stencil ready, it's time to start painting! Here are some detailed instructions on how to paint your design onto the T-shirt using a stencil:

Firstly, prepare your shirt for painting. Press it with an iron to remove any wrinkles and place some scrap paper or cardboard inside the shirt underneath where you'll be painting. This will prevent the paint from bleeding through to the other side.

Next, fix the stencil into position on your T-shirt. You can use repositional spray mount on the back of the stencil to make it stick well, or you can simply use painter's tape to secure it. Make sure the stencil is flat and firmly attached to the fabric.

Now it's time to load your paintbrush. Squeeze a small amount of fabric paint onto a palette, plate, or tray. Dip your brush into the paint, making sure to wipe off any excess. You don't want to overload the brush, as this can cause the paint to bleed under the stencil and create blotchy edges.

When you're ready, start painting through the stencil's cut-out areas. Use an up-and-down stippling motion and work from the centre outwards. Be careful not to drag the paint from side to side, as this can cause bleeding. Continue reloading your brush and painting until all parts of the stencil have been covered.

Once you've finished painting, carefully peel back the stencil to reveal your design. Hold the T-shirt down with one hand while slowly peeling off the stencil with the other. Leave your T-shirt to dry.

Finally, follow the manufacturer's instructions to fix the paint. Some fabric paints require heat-setting with an iron to prevent them from bleeding when washed.

Frequently asked questions

You will need a base material for the stencil, a freshly-laundered T-shirt, fabric paint, and paintbrushes.

First, print or sketch a simple design with solid, dark lines. Then, trace your design onto a sheet of clear contact paper. Cut out your design using a craft blade.

Place a sheet of cardboard inside the T-shirt to prevent the paint from soaking through. Then, peel the backing off your stencil and stick it to the T-shirt, smoothing out any ripples or wrinkles.

Squeeze out some fabric paint onto a palette and dip your brush into it. Gently tap the brush against the stencil, being careful not to use too much paint. Wait for the paint to dry, then peel off the stencil.

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