How Do You Make Your Own Shirt?

If you have ever wondered “How do you make your own shirt?” there are a few other questions that likely apply, that perhaps you have not considered.  There are several steps involved with this process so answering these questions separately might shed a little more light on the whole of the project.  Also, solving problems in stages is often much easier than trying to do it all at once.

First, you will need to ask yourself “how do you make your own shirt design?” Obviously, you will need to start with a picture of some sort.  You can hand sketch your own drawing and then scan it into a computer, for a clean, simple look or you could scan a photograph or special portrait of your family for a more personalized approach.  From there you can use photo editing software if you need to fix, change, or touch up any areas and then you can print the image onto special paper (for an iron-on patch) or transparency (silkscreen stencil).

Accordingly, this leads to our next question:  “how do you make your own shirt design with a silkscreen?”  Well, once you have the transparency, you place it on a nylon mesh (the “silkscreen) and add emulsion to fix the image as you want it.  Place the fabric of your shirt against the image and clamp it together tightly.  Expose this to light for an extended amount of time until the image screens onto the shirt and you are finished.  You can use sunlight, fluorescent light, or specialized light boxes to help move this process along.  It really depends on the quality you are going for as how long you would prefer to wait.

Perhaps you might now be asking “how do you make your own shirt design with an iron-on patch?”  This process is very similar to the previous one in that you draw the design and scan it into a computer.  However, when it comes to print, you will use special iron-on paper that you can find at any craft or fabric store (and likewise online).  Once you have the iron-on stencil fresh from the printer, the rest is extremely simple: apply the stencil to the desired location on the shirt you wish to use and press with heat.  After a minute or so, the print will transfer to your shirt.

Finally, you will ask “how do you make your own shirt without all these equipment?”   Although most of these tools are readily available at craft stores, or are pretty easy to make with materials around the house, you could forego the actual construction and hire someone to do the back end work.  After you’ve decided what type of design you want, you can take it to a library or copy shop to scan it.  Once your design is uploaded, send the data over the internet to an online shirt company who can finish the job for you.  Then it’s just a waiting game, and before you know it, you’ll get a package in the mail, with your new customized apparel!