Make a Sweet Stenciled T-Shirt

This is how to take an image, turn it into a stencil, and then put it on a t-shirt.

Here are some photos of the t-shirts I've made: http://flickr.com/photos/brianballantine/sets/72157594475277703/

Step 1: Gather the Materials

• t-shirt
• textile paint
• tape
• foam rollers
• a rag
• some cardboard to use as a palette
• translucent mylar, not too thin, not too thick
• a cutting board
• an Exacto knife
• an iron

Comments

[alpal]

Here`s a couple I tried. Noticed a bit of fade after washing! But did use spray paint for football shirt. Wendy was fabric paint but still loses detail after washing.

[khenre]

how do you get the fine parts of the stencil to stick to the shirt?

[grrroundhawk]

:) A+ for subject matter. I love Blonde Redhead. <3

[Invincible steel]

hey dude ... i have one idea will that be ok just tell me.. i will print the photo of which stencil i wish to want then i will make its xerox on transparent paper and then after will go for cutting the black part of the xerox..

[Zzzwaap_guitar]

my t shirt,only 1 layer of acrylic paint....i need to give it one more layer but it turned out nice after drying.

[birdforbeans]

love this!

[Kaitlinthegreat]

Sweet shirt! :)

[bballantine]

Nice... that DID turn out awesome!

[the.mk95]

try using threshold, its much easier.
But great instructable! :D

to take it to the next step see: silk screening
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Silk-Screen/

[robbs]

Since you made some duplicates, will you be selling them? Also, where do you get your pictures from? Thanks!!

[Potaterchip]

What is mylar? (is that a stupid question?)

[arty26bact]

Thank you! I thought I need to get frames and some other items to do screen printing. You made it simpler.

[PartyInMyShower]

I shed no tears for broken me...

[irishfreak213]

where can you get the mylar?

[bballantine]

Hey there... you can get mylar at an art store. They sometimes sell it in books of 8 1/2 x 11 inch pieces, or in big sheets.

[krowii]

I LOVE BRH!

[jimihendrix4753]

I bes makings an awesome kidrobott-shirt. Just putting that out there. I wills probablys puts on picture soon.

[sstargel]

does the original image have to be in black and white or do you make in black and white?

[bballantine]

Nope. But high contrast helps and, in my experience, darker, b&w photos are easier to amp up the contrast.

[hannahelastic]

1. You can also use the thresholds tool in photoshop or gimp to make the stencil. 2. If you cut freezer paper to 8.5x11 and print the stencil onto it you can then iron it onto the tshirt after you cut it out. That way you dont have to worry about the stencil moving or lifting up. It just peels off, no harm done to the shirt.

[bballantine]

Thanx for the tips!

[Slitwrist1]

if i do everything you said can i wash it and dry it and the paint will not come off?

[bballantine]

That is correct: use textile paint; let it dry; iron it good and hot; wash inside out the first time.

[psychoswan17]

wow thaks a lot

[x_joinmeindeath]

how long will it stay on there? will it fade?

[bballantine]

In my experience, they do fade very very slowly over time and many washings. I like to layer the colors, so when the top layer starts to fade and the bottom layer slowly comes through, it looks cool. But the fading is nothing to worry about and you probably won't even notice it.

To make sure your design lasts years and years, definitely iron it good a day after the paint is dry, before the first washing.

Oh, and I specifically use these textile paints (Jacquard the brand my local arts supply uses, and the opaques seem to work and look best): http://www.artsuppliesonline.com/catalog.cfm?cata_id=11018

[x_joinmeindeath]

thanks.

[shutdown_exploded]

is lifting the stencil up without disturbing the wet ink something I should worry about?

[bballantine]

Good question. Ideally you wait a minute or so, but I typically work on a couple of t-shirts at once and so I lift the stencil off as soon as I roll the paint on. I think the key is to not have too much paint on the roller.

[XxAmberxX]

THANK YOU!!! This was REALLY REALLY helpful.. I was stressed for a while because I couldn't figure it out and I needed it to do band merch and stuff..

[Zzzwaap_guitar]

I just finished up a native american eagle stencil and printed my shirt with it...it turned out awesome

[elies]

Cool! i made three shirts today, when i Iron them and everything is done i will be sure to post a link here! Thanks!!!

[Aestheticxtattoos]

I like this. I made shirts a similar way with a screen printing kit. this seems more money saving.

[bballantine]

Thanks... Stencils are by far less exact. I've made shirts by screen printing, but I like the randomness of the stencil. I also completely enjoy the process of cutting out the stencil with the exacto knife.

[onemisterchristian]

Great band, and great instructable...very clear.

[bballantine]

Thanks for the feedback!

[kurren]

Do It Yourself Sonic Youth Cloth Dye And More - A visual how to:

http://flickr.com/photos/kurren/sets/72157594430138906/

[bballantine]

Cool... thanks!