At-home Screenprinting

Using fabric paint, freezer paper, and some ninja xacto skills, you can make your own handmade screenprinted clothes!

Step 1: The Supplies

For this project you’ll need something to screen print on, like a shirt or sweater, some fabric paint, an iron, freezer paper, a paintbrush, a design, and a really sharp xacto blade. Don't forget the sharp part...

Step 2: The Image

Take your image (which should be stark black and white) and place it print side down on the shiny side of your freezer paper. Tape it in place. When you flip it over, it should be visible through the freezer paper on the other side.

Step 3: The Cutting...

This part takes the longest. Begin carefully cutting out your design from your freezer paper. Keep an eye on "floating" pieces, like this one, and put them aside somewhere safe.  Number really tiny pieces if you're worried you won't be able to put them back where they were without help.

Step 4: The Finished Stencil

This is how it should look all cut out. Trust me, this takes a little while...

Step 5: Extra Detailing

If you want to add extra detailing, like in my case, sailor stripes, you can use simple things like tape or store bought stencils to add fun effects. I used tape and spray fabric paint to achieve this...

Step 6: Ironing

Now it's time to secure the stencil.

Carefully place the freezer paper stencil on top of your hoodie or shirt, wax side down. Once you’re happy with your placement, take a hot iron and press it directly on top of your design. Don’t move it back and forth, like you would if you were really ironing something, just “stamp” it over all areas of your design, pressing a few seconds at a time, until it’s all pressed flat.

With the wonders of freezer paper, the wax side will bond securely to your shirt, but when removed, will leave no residue.

Step 7: Painting

Spray a generous coating of your fabric paint over your design, covering all the open spaces. I used a piece of extra paper I had around to help mask the spray from the edges. If you don't have spray on paint, don't worry. All you want to do here is dab on the paint. DONT BRUSH! You might lift up delicate edges. Just dab the paint till the whole thing is covered...

Step 8: Pulling Off the Stencil

Verrry carefully remove your stencil, taking care not to let any excess paint mess up your crisp image. Use your knife to remove really tiny, delicate pieces. Let the paint dry, and follow your paint's instructions for setting it...

Step 9: Finished!

Your hoodie, shirt, whatever, is done! No one would guess you made it yourself with at-home materials. Want a more detailed tutorial, as well as image ideas? Check out the full tute here. Enjoy your new screen printing skills!