Looking for custom tapestry maker who uses t-shirt(-like) fabric.
March 12, 2025 1:47 AM Subscribe
I’ve got excellent tapestries at low prices on Etsy, which are fabulous as display tapestries, but the fabric is too stiff for my purposes, which are to cut out selected sections and sew them onto T-shirts.
Response by poster: I want the tapestry size so I can get a few dozen t-shirt squares out of it, to sew my own custom designed t-shirts.
posted by cake vandal at 4:09 AM on March 12
posted by cake vandal at 4:09 AM on March 12
I don't know what "low price" means to you but it sounds like you maybe want a custom printer who does jersey knit or stretch? Here's a random search result, I have no personal experience with them. Several retailers came up on google though so I think that's a fruitful line of search.
posted by phunniemee at 4:25 AM on March 12 [2 favorites]
posted by phunniemee at 4:25 AM on March 12 [2 favorites]
"tapestry" for me brings to mind the fabric weight as well as the size/purpose, so the search terms may be working against you. Depending on the type of fabric you're after I might be considering looking instead for blankets, painted muslin, throws, etc...or potentially custom knit fabric bolts as mentioned.
Can you clarify, are you sewing the tshirts *out* of this material (in which case you want a knit) or applique-ing a square onto the front of an existing shirt (in which case a woven fabric would be more workable)?
posted by itsatextfile at 6:52 AM on March 12 [2 favorites]
Can you clarify, are you sewing the tshirts *out* of this material (in which case you want a knit) or applique-ing a square onto the front of an existing shirt (in which case a woven fabric would be more workable)?
posted by itsatextfile at 6:52 AM on March 12 [2 favorites]
If the latter, then the size of the square would also matter. T-shirts stretch, that's their whole thing. Woven fabric generally doesn't.
Do you have any pictures of what you're trying to do?
Are you just looking for fabric with cool prints you can cut out, or fabric with your own custom designs?
posted by trig at 7:27 AM on March 12
Do you have any pictures of what you're trying to do?
Are you just looking for fabric with cool prints you can cut out, or fabric with your own custom designs?
posted by trig at 7:27 AM on March 12
I agree that tapestry is the wrong word here. How about searching quilt, and then pairing that with jersey or t-shirt.
posted by BlahLaLa at 9:06 AM on March 12
posted by BlahLaLa at 9:06 AM on March 12
Response by poster: It is to have my own design printed on T-shirt fabric, so that I can cut out the square, and sew it onto T-shirts. I do this a lot with reused, ‘up cycled’ if you will, T-shirts that I find (band logos mostly, for long sleeve tees or battle jacket centerpieces), but would like to put my own band logo on the fabric so I can do the same thing with it. It’s to lower the overall price of getting my designs printed— also I love to sew and want to add the personal touch to the merch.
posted by cake vandal at 9:57 AM on March 12
posted by cake vandal at 9:57 AM on March 12
Oh! You want silk screen! That's the traditional punk rock answer to getting designs on fabric. You can search for that, or make your own screens and print it in many colors on any thrift store fabric you find.
posted by DebetEsse at 10:12 AM on March 12 [2 favorites]
posted by DebetEsse at 10:12 AM on March 12 [2 favorites]
It’s to lower the overall price of getting my designs printed
Besides silkscreening, the other option is fabric printing services like the one phunniemee mentioned or Spoonflower. If you do that, choose a fabric similar to the one the base t-shirts will be made of (you can generally order sample swatches so you can decide).
You'll have to check whether that will actually come out cheaper than just getting your design printed on shirts (in bulk?)
If you go the silkscreening route you can still incorporate sewing with some embroidery or applique on top...
posted by trig at 10:19 AM on March 12
Besides silkscreening, the other option is fabric printing services like the one phunniemee mentioned or Spoonflower. If you do that, choose a fabric similar to the one the base t-shirts will be made of (you can generally order sample swatches so you can decide).
You'll have to check whether that will actually come out cheaper than just getting your design printed on shirts (in bulk?)
If you go the silkscreening route you can still incorporate sewing with some embroidery or applique on top...
posted by trig at 10:19 AM on March 12
Okay so if I understand you, this is your process:
1. Thrift some tees, generally with some sort of design or logo that you like
2. Cut out those designs or logos and sew them on top of an already-existing tee
3. ????
4. Profit
So it sounds like you specifically want to be able to have printed a large quantity of your actual band's logo so you can cut it out of a bolt of fabric to sew on top of already-existing tees. Is that right?
If so, I do think that you learning to silk screen is the best way to go. It's a generally modest outlay in the beginning and a learning curve but it will be so much more cost-effective for you in the long run than paying someone else to mass-print your logo. Then you can experiment with all kinds of fabrics onto which you silkscreen your logo and then do with it what you want. Like I'm envisioning you getting a huge-ass piece of, say, remnant jersey or raw silk, silks screening every available inch and then having like dozens of "patches" of your logo that you sew onto tees.
posted by cooker girl at 10:49 AM on March 12
1. Thrift some tees, generally with some sort of design or logo that you like
2. Cut out those designs or logos and sew them on top of an already-existing tee
3. ????
4. Profit
So it sounds like you specifically want to be able to have printed a large quantity of your actual band's logo so you can cut it out of a bolt of fabric to sew on top of already-existing tees. Is that right?
If so, I do think that you learning to silk screen is the best way to go. It's a generally modest outlay in the beginning and a learning curve but it will be so much more cost-effective for you in the long run than paying someone else to mass-print your logo. Then you can experiment with all kinds of fabrics onto which you silkscreen your logo and then do with it what you want. Like I'm envisioning you getting a huge-ass piece of, say, remnant jersey or raw silk, silks screening every available inch and then having like dozens of "patches" of your logo that you sew onto tees.
posted by cooker girl at 10:49 AM on March 12
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
posted by HearHere at 3:48 AM on March 12