How to Make Your Own T Shirt Design

If you’ve ever wondered how to make your own t shirt design then you have probably looked into learning the technical skills involved as well as the equipment you may need.  The traditional methods are still alive and well, especially when it comes to independent manufacturers or small, privately owned companies.  With minimal materials and just a little elbow grease, it’s cost-efficient, which means almost anyone can make their own shirts over the course of a weekend! 

When learning how to make your own t shirt design the first skill you will have to master is the simple art of sketching.  You will need to hand draw your idea for two reasons:  1) Visualizing your concept in a physical manifestation will help you determine how accurate your concept translates into a real design.  2) Once it’s finalized you can scan it into a computer from whence you will create the stencil for your silkscreen (if that’s the way you wish to go about it). 

Now, you could use a graphic design program to draw this design for you, but that often takes specific training and time to learn.  Most people can draw (or knows someone who can draw) which makes this notion more accessible than the more technical route.  It’s also probably much cheaper than hiring someone who does know how to use graphic design software.

This is a simple way to create a silkscreen stencil that you can then press onto a shirt.  If you want to finish the project, you can pick up the rest of the needed equipment from a craft store or you can make the silkscreen yourself with some emulsified nylon mesh, and a wooden frame.  Next you need way to expose the fabric to light which is much simpler than it sounds.  You can set the screen in direct sunlight, expose it to a light box (a box with strong lamps inside), or leave it in a closed off area of a room with standard fluorescent light.  The more stable the environment, and the more concentrated the light, the better (and more efficient) the process.  Now you know how to make your own t shirt design!

Perhaps you have a photograph or portrait that you wish to use as the basis for your design.  In this case you could scan the picture into your computer and use it to stencil the outline for the silkscreen.  However, you might want to create an iron-on screen with your design, so you can appreciate the full extent of this family portrait.  In this case, what you know about how to make your own t shirt design might seem irrelevant, but it’s not.  It’s actually quite similar except that you print the scanned design onto special iron-on paper that you then heat press onto your fabric. 

You can discover information about this process through various sites on the internet.  Many sites that offer custom made shirts will probably have some information you can look into.  Perhaps now you should learn how to make your own t shirt design a profitable one!