I'd give the shirt off my back for this shirt

October 24, 2008 7:19 PM

Help me make a special t-shirt

I'm looking to make a custom (long sleeved) t-shirt for an upcoming anniversary. The overall design would be handprints and armprints on specific areas of the shirt like; handprints on the shoulder to signify dancing, arms around the midsection to signify a hug, arm on a sleeve to signify walking arm in arm. Some quirky prints may also be included (set of catpaws on the chest, pinch on the right nipple) so it's still a design in progress.

I'd like to find someone in or around the Fresno, Ca area who can help me with this, both conceptualizing and making. If all else fails, someone who specializes in this type of work that can collaborate and do business online.

Much thanks for all the help I can get.

posted by Advocate, I to clothing, beauty, & fashion (6 comments total)

This sounds like something you could try to commission on Etsy's Alchemy.
posted by RikiTikiTavi at 8:52 PM on October 24, 2008

screen printing? lots of guides on instructables
posted by puckish at 8:58 AM on October 25, 2008

How many shirts do you need?

If you only need a few, try make it yourself iron on transfers.
posted by NoraCharles at 10:05 AM on October 25, 2008

Iron-on transfers don't sound like the right tool for this job. They are really only good for simple geometric shapes, because the ironed-on area will have an obvious edge. Plus they fade and peel with washing.

If you're only making a few, you might consider using fabric paint (I don't have a specific brand recommendation, but it should be something thin like this, not "puffy" or "dimensional") and your own hands and arms as stamps. Cover your hands and arms with a coat of fabric paint, enlist a friend or dress form to wear the shirt, and dance/hug/pinch away.

This may have a slightly more literal and handmade look than you want, though. And obviously wouldn't work for 100 shirts.
posted by doift at 11:09 AM on October 25, 2008

I'm only planning on one shirt, although a couple more might be good for variety. I'd like to steer away from iron on transfers, mostly because I'm not too sure how good they would wrap around the shirt (i.e. Hugging). I don't mind the homemade look, I like the unique/custom aspect of it. Thanks for the suggestions so far. Keep them coming!
posted by Advocate, I at 12:45 PM on October 25, 2008

Your answer is freezer-paper stencils. Basically you buy freezer paper from the grocery store. It has one plasticky side and one paper side. You cut it to a size that will fit into your printer. Then you make the stencil on your computer, printing it onto the **paper** side of your freezer paper.

Then you carefully cut out your stencil, remembering that whatever you cut out will be the stencil that appears on your shirt, and what remains on the stencil will be the negative space on the stencil.

Then you put the plastic side of the freezer paper down onto your shirt, and literally iron it on. You can use a cloth napkin or tea towel to make sure it doesn't burn or stick to your iron. It will be fused to your tshirt - you want it nice and stuck on, but not melted on. Think it should take around 1 minute, maybe a bit more or less, but not a long time.

Then you use fabric paint to fill in the stencil. Use an up-down dab-dab-dab motion, not a side-to-side sweeping motion, because you want to prevent paint from getting pushed under the edges of your stencil.

Wait until it dries, peel off the stencil (freezer paper), and voila!! Kick ass stencil on your tshirt. Repeat as needed.

Examples here.
Tutorials here: One, two.

Works like a charm. Practice on an easy one. Make easy stencils. If the stencil breaks while you're cutting it out, it's not a huge deal - you can manipulate it back into place before you iron it on.
posted by barnone at 11:31 PM on October 25, 2008 [3 favorites has favorites]