How many times have you seen some random stranger walking by with a t-shirt that embodies exactly what you are thinking at that moment in time? Perhaps you are brave enough to walk up and ask them where they bought it, but more often than not, we can only wish we had one just like it. 

While you can’t copy a trademarked or registered graphic, you can come quite close without infringing on anyone’s rights of ownership. That’s the fun of creating DIY t-shirts, but be forewarned, once you get started the creative muse in you, when finally freed, may not willingly retreat! Are you ready to have some fun? Well then, let’s get started!

Creating Your Design

This is where the fun really begins. All you need is a decent graphics program for your computer and you are good to go. While it is very basic, if you have a Windows OS, your computer already comes loaded with Paint or Paint 3D. These can be used in the very beginning to start playing with Font Art and photos you’d like to use.

You might also want to play with Inkscape, an opensource graphics program that is available in the UK, as well as in many other countries around the globe. It’s a way of creating and editing vector graphics and it’s free to use. For a free graphics program, it’s fairly involved, but once you learn where to find everything, you’ll be creating like a pro.

Ordering the Blanks

This can also present a bit of a challenge unless you are familiar with companies like Screen Textiles where you can order in various size lots, or by single units if you are just playing around. If you have the right equipment, which we’ll discuss below, you can do everything from creating the initial design to getting that design on the t-shirt right from the comfort of your own home. Be that as it may, if you come up with a killer design that you’d like to produce in bulk, there are companies that can do that for you as well! 

Basic Equipment You’ll Need

Let’s start by saying that you could get by with some printable transfer paper for light or dark garments, an ink pigment printer, and a good quality iron. This would be okay for your initial efforts. However, if you want to make more than a few or perhaps would like to start your own Etsy store selling your personal designs, you might want to invest in better equipment. A heat transfer press would be a key consideration, as would a large-format printer. Then again, you might just want to have them printed where you bought your blanks until you make a decent enough profit to reinvest in your little home-based business.

Going All the Way

You can spend thousands of pounds getting state-of-the-art equipment, but is that really necessary if you are just out to have a bit of fun? Perhaps it is. Remember, we warned you! Once you’ve let that muse out you might not tuck her back in as easily, so get prepared to have even greater levels of fun as ‘she’ sees fit! There’s no arguing with a muse, now, is there?

Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.