MetaChat - Do it yourself t-shirts?

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24 September 2007

Do it yourself t-shirts? Has anyone had success? I'm looking to do just a tee or two for myself from time to time. These have proved incredibly sucky. Suggestions? Or is there anything Cafe Press-ish online that is okay for small (or single) runs? →[More:]

The Avery dark t-shirt transfers are an utter bust for me. I doubled the ironing time on my first attempt and got good results until the second wash, after which the design nearly disintegrated. For my second and third attempts I followed the instructions religiously and got even worse results, with the designs actually peeling off entirely after the first wash. At least the tees were salvaged.

Thanks.

post by: shane at: 13:56 | 7 comments

As long as you don't wash, dry, or actually wear the t-shirts, that stuff is fabulous ;)

A while ago I asked a question about t-shirt printing and loquacious gave me some terrific pointers. I'll see if I can find it.

posted by iconomy 24 September | 14:04

As long as you don't wash, dry, or actually wear the t-shirts, that stuff is fabulous ;)

Exactly!

posted by shane 24 September | 14:06

They do crack after washings (inside out even) and the larger the transfer, the worse the outcome. Maybe iconomy has better result on the way…

If not:
I’ve also used the dark tshirt transfers. Mixed results too. The best application of the transfers involved using a high quality cotton shirt, washing and not using a softener when drying, pressing down hard on a hard surface (laminate countertop with towel protection).

Sorry, not much help.

posted by mightshould 24 September | 14:07

Oh, my question was more about silkscreening or stencilling. Still, you may want to read it. Is it photographs you want to transfer, or your drawings, maybe?

posted by iconomy 24 September | 14:07

Thanks! To you too, mightshould.

Is it photographs you want to transfer, or your drawings, maybe?

Drawings eventually. Maybe photographs simplified to designs in a digital program as well. I've started off by stealing simple, fun, quirky illustrations and designs from my absolute favorite artists, though, till I get the process right. And those are great fun, too.

posted by shane 24 September | 14:11

They're expensive, but I've gotten some reasonable quality results from spreadshirt.

posted by dersins 24 September | 14:49

zazzle.com claims to be like Cafepress but better. I dunno about single runs.

posted by scarabic 24 September | 16:13

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