Creative Ways To Upcycle Old T-Shirts

T-shirts are a wardrobe staple, and there are many ways to make your own custom t-shirts at home. You can design and print your own t-shirts using various methods, such as screen printing, direct-to-garment printing, embroidery, and heat transfer vinyl printing. These methods require different tools and equipment, such as printers, cutting machines, and heat presses. You can also make your own t-shirts from scratch by sewing them, which involves creating a pattern, cutting the fabric, and assembling the pieces. Whether you're looking to start an online t-shirt business or simply want to create unique designs for yourself, there are many ways to make your own t-shirts at home.

Sewing a T-shirt from scratch

Choose a T-shirt to Copy:

Start by selecting a T-shirt that fits you well. This will be your template for creating the pattern. You can also choose a T-shirt with design elements you like, such as a particular neckline or sleeve style.

Create the Pattern:

• Fold the T-shirt in half vertically, keeping the front side out.
• Place the folded T-shirt on a large piece of paper. You can use cardboard or a Pattern Cutting Board for a stiffer surface.
• Pin along the perimeter of the shirt, paying close attention to the back neckline and sleeve seams.
• Trace the outline of the shirt with a pencil, including the shoulder, sides, and bottom.
• Repeat this process for the front of the shirt, paying attention to the front neckline.
• Unfold the shirt and flatten one sleeve. Pin and trace the sleeve outline.
• Add seam allowances to each piece. You can choose the amount of seam allowance you feel comfortable with, typically around 1/2 inch (1.25 cm).
• Label each piece (back body, front body, sleeve) and mark the fold lines.

Choose Your Fabric:

• Most T-shirts are made with knit fabric, which is soft and stretchy. You can choose a knit fabric with a low stretch for easier sewing.
• Pre-wash and dry your fabric to pre-shrink it and set the dye. This will ensure that your T-shirt doesn't shrink after you've sewn it.

Cut the Fabric:

• Fold your fabric in half, right sides facing each other, and keep it as smooth as possible.
• Arrange your pattern pieces on the fabric according to your cutting instructions.
• Pin your pattern pieces to the fabric before cutting. Start by pinning the corners, then pin along the edges.
• Cut the fabric with scissors, holding it down with one hand and cutting with the other. Use long strokes and keep the scissors at a 90-degree angle to your cutting surface.

Sew the Shoulders:

• Line up the front and back pieces of your shirt, with right sides facing each other.
• Pin the pieces together at the shoulders.
• Sew the shoulders together using a straight stitch on your sewing machine.
• Iron out the seams when finished.

Create and Attach the Neckband:

• Sew the short ends of the neckband fabric together to form a loop.
• Fold the neckband in half lengthwise, wrong sides together, and pin the edges.
• Sew the edges together using a narrow zig-zag stitch.
• Pin the neckband to the neckline of the shirt, starting at the shoulders, then the centre and back.
• Stretch the neckband slightly as you pin to ensure a comfortable fit.
• Sew the neckband to the shirt, using a straight stretch stitch or a zig-zag stitch that will stretch with the fabric.

Attach the Sleeves:

• Lay the shirt flat and pin the middle of the sleeve curve to the middle of the armhole, with right sides together.
• Pin the sleeve along each side of the armhole and sew it to the shirt using a straight stitch.
• Repeat this process for the other sleeve and iron the seams.

Sew the Side Seams:

• Pin along the sides of the shirt, starting from the sleeve and working your way down.
• Sew the sides together using a straight stitch, starting at the end of the sleeve.

Hem the Sleeves and Bottom:

• Fold and iron the bottom edge of the shirt and the sleeve openings according to your seam allowance.
• Sew a hem around the openings, using a straight or zigzag stitch.

And there you have it! Your very own handmade T-shirt. You can now customise it further with prints, embroidery, or other decorative elements.

Using a T-shirt printing service

Step 1: Choose a Printing Service

Research and compare different T-shirt printing services to find one that suits your needs. Consider factors such as price, printing techniques offered, turnaround time, and customer reviews. Some popular T-shirt printing services include Custom Ink, VistaPrint, Printful, and Printify.

Step 2: Design Your T-shirt

Decide on the design you want on your T-shirt. This could be a logo, illustration, text, or a combination of elements. If you don't have a design, you can use the design services offered by some printing companies or create your own using online tools. Ensure your design is high-quality and fits the T-shirt colour you choose.

Step 3: Select Your T-shirt

Choose the type of T-shirt you want to print on. Consider the fabric, colour, size, and style. Common fabric options include 100% cotton or a cotton-polyester blend. Decide on the quantity and sizes you need. Most printing services offer a range of T-shirt brands and styles to choose from.

Step 4: Upload Your Design

Upload your design to the printing service's website. Follow their guidelines for file format, size, and colour requirements. Some services may also offer design tools to help you create your T-shirt design directly on their platform.

Step 5: Place Your Order

Once you're happy with your design and T-shirt selection, place your order. Specify the number of T-shirts, sizes, and any other customisation options. Some services may offer discounts for bulk orders.

Step 6: Review and Approve

Before printing, the printing service should send you a proof or sample of your T-shirt. Carefully review the design, colours, text, and placement to ensure it meets your expectations. This is your chance to make any necessary changes.

Step 7: Receive Your T-shirts

Once you've approved the proof, the printing service will print and ship your T-shirts. Check their estimated delivery times to know when to expect your order.

Making a T-shirt pattern

Gather Your Supplies:

You will need some special supplies for making a T-shirt pattern. These include a cardboard pattern-cutting board (or a large piece of cardboard with grid lines) , acrylic rulers or quilting rulers, tracing paper, straight pins, a pencil, and, of course, your favourite T-shirt that you want to use as a pattern.

Prepare Your Work Area:

Give yourself plenty of room to work. Lay out your cardboard and cut a piece of tracing paper slightly bigger than the T-shirt you'll be measuring. Fold your T-shirt in half vertically, with the front half on the outside, and lay it flat on the tracing paper.

Pin and Trace Your T-shirt:

Use the straight pins to pin the seam lines of the T-shirt to the paper. Make sure to keep the pins upright and push them into the cardboard. Remove the pins after you've pinned all the way around, and lift the T-shirt off the paper. You should now see the holes created by the pins. Mark these holes with a pencil so they're easier to see.

Create the Pattern Pieces:

Use your ruler to connect the dots and outline the entire half of the T-shirt. Remember to round out the corners on the neckline and the armhole. Label the pattern piece, including the original garment type, size, and which piece it is (front or back). Repeat this process for the back of the T-shirt and the sleeves.

Add Seam Allowances:

Go back to your pattern pieces and add a seam allowance of about 1/2 inch all around. Don't forget to add a little extra to the bottom hem, typically about 3/4 inch.

Cut Out Your Pattern:

Cut out each pattern piece, including the sleeves, front body piece, back body piece, and neckband piece. Make sure to label each piece clearly. Now you're ready to start sewing your T-shirt using your custom pattern!

Sewing Your T-Shirt:

Pin and sew the front and back body pieces together at the shoulder seams. Finish the edges of the sleeves and the bottom hem if desired. You can use an overcast stitch, pinking shears, or an overlock machine to finish the edges. Attach the sleeves to the body pieces, and then sew the side seams. Finally, hem the T-shirt using a single turn and a double needle for a professional-looking finish.

Screen printing

• Print your design stencil on transparent acetate film.
• Place your blank shirt on the surface under the mesh screen.
• Put the stencil with your design on top of the mesh screen and press it onto the shirt.
• Push the ink evenly with a squeegee (rubber blade) to cover the entire printing area.
• Let your finished shirt dry, and use an iron to heat-press the final design, ensuring it lasts.

Direct-to-garment printing

The DTG process involves printing directly onto the fabric using ink that's specially formulated for the material. The steps involved in the process are as follows:

Step 1: Artwork Preparation

Firstly, the artwork is submitted and checked for any issues that may negatively impact the printed result. This includes checking for compression artefacts, colour profiling, and colour correction to ensure it pairs well with the selected garment colour.

Step 2: Fabric Pre-Treatment

Before DTG printing, the fabric is pre-treated with a solution to help the ink bond to the material. This is typically done using a machine that sprays liquid onto the fabric.

Step 3: Printing

The design is then printed onto the fabric using an inkjet printer specifically designed for DTG printing. Specialised inks created for fabrics are used to produce high-quality prints in a wide range of colours.

Step 4: Curing

After printing, the fabric must be cured to set the ink and make it permanent. This is usually done using a heat press, which applies heat and pressure to fix the ink in place.

Advantages of Direct-to-Garment Printing:

• Quick turnaround: DTG printing requires less setup time and fewer operators than some traditional methods, such as screen printing.
• Short print runs: There is no initial setup cost or preparation time, so shorter runs of less than 50 items are possible at cost-effective prices.
• Accurate, high-quality results: As the artwork is printed directly from a digital image, it is easy to accurately recreate the initial design. Necessary adjustments can also be made quickly via an image processing program.
• Complex colour schemes: Unlike other garment print methods, DTG printing allows for a full palette of colours, making it perfect for printing photographs onto fabric.
• Print on various colours: DTG printing can be used on virtually any colour of fabric, giving you more freedom in your design choices. However, for the highest-quality results, a relatively dark print on a light-coloured garment is recommended.

Frequently asked questions