DIY Kids' Shirt Printing at Home
Customizing apparel for a little one's special occasion is easier these days! With Valentine's day around the corner, this could be your next shirt idea for crafting!
There are different methods available for printing on fabric. For this tutorial, we will be printing a design on a heat transfer sheet to press on a blank shirt. We will also be using Silhouette Studio software to design. If you'd like to use this software, you can download it here.
Materials in this tutorial:
- printable image
- transfer paper for your shirt and printer
- Silhouette software
- heat press
- press pillow
- scissors
Setup Your Design Page
Once you've opened up the Silhouette program, go to Panels > Page Setup. Setup the design area according to the transfer paper.
Upload Your Image and Add Text
Next, we will open our image by clicking on File > Open. Once your image is displayed, you can add text if you'd like. To do this, click on the "A" icon located on the left sidebar. Type your text and highlight it.
Edit the Text
Fill your text with color. You can also change the font and size.
Scale the Image
To resize the image and text according to the shirt size, we will be using the group and scale tools. You can also drag the corners after grouping to resize the design. You can use this chart to help you choose the size of your design.
Right-click the image to find the group option.
Mirror the Image
Depending on the transfer paper brand, you may need to flip the image horizontally to show correctly on the shirt when pressing. Please refer to the instructions included with the transfer sheet.
You can right-click the image and select Flip Horizontally or follow the steps shown.
Set Printing Preferences
The following instructions may vary depending on your printer. Generally, you would select File > Print and set your preferences. Choose your paper type and size (8.5" x 11"). It is important to set the print to best quality. Apply your changes and print.
Transfer the Image onto the Shirt
Now that your design is printed, following the transfer paper instructions can guide you when pressing. You can also check out this post where we press a design onto a shirt to get a better idea.
If you enjoyed this tutorial, spread the word so others can learn too!