How to Stencil a T-Shirt

1: Find or draw an image that you would like to stencil onto a t-shirt. The simpler the image the better your stencil will be, so for your first go think about something easy like a heart or a star. As you get better you can use more complex forms.

2: Place your OHT plastic over the image you would like to stencil and secure. Then trace the image you would like to stencil onto your OHT plastic with permanent marker.

3: When your permanent marker is dry, take your craft knife and carefully cut out the image. Remember that any areas which are cut out will let paint through and those that are not cut will not.

4: Next, take your t-shirt and decide on the placement of the stencil. When you decide on your placement place your cardboard inside your tee shirt and peg it so that it’s stable.

5: Next take your cut stencil and decide which side is going to face up and which side is going to face down.
On the side that is going to face down ( i.e. the side that will touch the t-shirt material ) apply some glue stick around the edges of the cut stencil. This will make sure  your stencil is stuck as firmly to your t-shirt as possible and will mean that your stencilled t shirt will come out with nice crisp edges.

6: Now it’s time to paint. If you’re using spray paint your stencil will not last as long, but it will be very easy to do. Apply spray paint as you normally would do to wood or other surfaces and allow to dry to tacky before removing the stencil. If you’re using fabric paint or acrylic mixed paint choose the method you would like to apply with. A firm paint brush is a good choice as is a textile paint roller (a good thing to invest in if you are going to do this more in the future). Apply using a minimum amount of paint and build up if necessary. Unless your paint is very thin remove your stencil a few moments after applying paint.

7: When your paint is dry give your t-shirt a gentle cold wash to remove the left over glue and voila – a printed shirt.

Anya Merryfield