subject: Find Originality With A Self-designed T-shirt [print this page] If you like t shirts with original images or sayings, why spend twenty dollars on a shirt from the store when you could make your own truly unique shirt for next to nothing? Personalizing your own t shirt is not only easy, it's also fun--a great activity for kids and adults alike. Here are a couple of ideas to get you started.
You can make a shirt with a picture of something you love or like to do (and so can your kids!). All you need is a plain cotton t shirt in any color, printed fabric with the pictures you want, fabric scissors, an iron, dual-sided fusible interfacing, a wide piece of cardboard, and some fabric paint. You can find all of these at a craft or fabric store and/ or around your house. First, wash and dry the t shirt, but don't use fabric softener, as that will prevent the interface and paint from bonding. Cut out the pictures, shapes, logos, etc.
From the fabric you chose and plan your design. Then cut out the interfacing to match your pictures. Iron the interfacing onto the fabric pictures; next, iron the pieces onto your shirt. If you want some additional durability, make small stitches around the pictures. Place the cardboard under the shirt to keep it flat while you paint the edges of the images--another trick to keep them in place. After the paint dries, paint the edges again. Let the shirt sit for 24 hours before wearing. Now you have a completely unique shirt!
If pictures aren't your thing, you can write sayings, questions, or facts on your shirt. For kids, you can help them find interesting entries in encyclopedias and form questions about what they've learned. Then, using fabric markers, let them write the questions on the blank t shirt. They'll be sure to draw some attention when they wear a shirt that asks something like, "What is the only state in the U.S. that has never had an earthquake?" Adults may enjoy asking their own questions, writing their favorite random facts or statistics, or expressing their political opinions with a self-designed liberal or conservative t shirt.
Of course, you can create whatever kind of design you'd like. Use your imagination! For example, you could place some leaves or flowers (maybe that you gathered on a walk) on a blank shirt and spray over them with fabric paint mist, leaving the white shape of the plants behind. Obviously, you could do the same thing with any object that has sentimental value or simply looks cool. Be truly original by making a truly original t shirt.
