How To Make Shirts at Home Using 5 Different Methods

The Indigenous hip-hop duo Snotty Nose Rez Kids started printing custom shirts as a way to tell their story. They drew inspiration for their designs from their rural upbringing and their journey into music. They started small, but the passion and unique perspective behind their brand helped this team connect to a global audience.

The message is clear: If you have something to say, put it on a t-shirt. Making t-shirts can be an artistic pursuit, an entrepreneurial endeavor, or a little bit of both. You can combine the power of authentic storytelling and unique product design to build brand loyalty and drive sales. To start a t-shirt business, you may choose to partner with a print-on-demand company or make t-shirts at home. If you want to do the latter, there are many options to choose from.

With the right t-shirt printing method, you can transform your creative ideas into wearable art and build your brand identity.

5 methods for making shirts at home

• Heat-transfer vinyl
• Sublimation printing
• Screen printing
• Embroidery
• Block printing

Making your own t-shirts at home can be as simple as applying an iron-on patch or as complicated as setting up a screen printing studio. To find the ideal method, it’s important to define your desired design style and pinpoint how much time and money you want to invest. Here are some popular DIY t-shirt design methods to consider:

Heat-transfer vinyl (HTV)

Heat-transfer vinyl printing is an easy way to start printing shirts at home. The materials are inexpensive and the process is easy to learn. With the right tools, anyone can create beautiful designs, even without strong drawing skills. That said, the heat-transfer vinyl can feel like a sticker on a finished shirt, affecting the feel and texture of the fabric. For this reason, it may not be suitable for large designs where too much of the fabric would be texturally altered.

How it works

Heat-transfer vinyl printing involves making a design and applying HTV material to a shirt. There are several ways to create a design. You can cut a sheet into your desired shape—either by hand or with an automatic vinyl cutting machine like a Cricut printer—or print an image directly onto the vinyl.

For cut-out designs, you’ll need to remove the excess vinyl from the stencil before transferring—this process is known as weeding. Once the stencil is ready, place it on a blank shirt, cover it with parchment paper, and use a heat press or household iron to transfer the design. Let the finished shirt cool for 24 hours before laundering.

What you’ll need

• Heat-transfer vinyl. Vendors typically sell HTV, sometimes called iron-on transfer paper, in sheets or rolls. It’s available in a range of colors and finishes, including glow-in-the-dark and glitter.

• A heat press machine or iron. This is how you’ll transfer your design; applying heat activates HTV’s adhesive properties.

• Blank shirts. For best results, apply your HTV designs to clean, dry, blank shirts. Heat-transfer vinyl printing works well on both light- and dark-colored shirts.

• Cutting and weeding tools. For cut-out designs, you’ll need either a fine-point blade and cutting mat or an automated cutting machine. A weeding tool or tweezer will help remove small pieces of excess vinyl.

• Protective paper. Place a piece of parchment paper or a Teflon sheet over heat-transfer vinyl before applying heat to protect your design.

• Printer. A standard inkjet printer can print images on compatible HTV sheets.

Sublimation printing

Sublimation printing creates detailed, multicolored designs on light fabrics using transfer paper. This heat press printing technique uses a few specialized tools and requires a moderate upfront investment. Once you have the equipment, the t-shirt printing process is quick and easy to learn.

This may sound similar to heat-transfer vinyl pressing, but there are a couple of differences worth noting. Sublimation printing infuses ink directly into fabric, creating a seamless design that’s vibrant, detailed, and crack-proof. Heat-transfer vinyl, on the other hand, applies a separate layer of material on top, resulting in a raised design that can peel over time. Sublimation excels with complex, full-color prints on light-colored polyester, while HTV is better for simpler, single-color designs on various fabrics.

How it works

Create a custom t-shirt design with your preferred software. For the best results, save your image file with a transparent background. Use a dye sublimation printer to print your design onto sublimation transfer paper. Position your blank t-shirt over your heat press machine, line up your design, and apply heat to transfer the design.

What you’ll need

• Dye sublimation printer. Use a sublimation printer (which start at around $300) to create stencils from digital image files.

• Sublimation ink. Sublimation ink is formulated to turn from solid to gas under specific heat and pressure conditions.

• Transfer paper. These heat-sensitive transfer sheets are designed to absorb and release sublimation ink.

• Heat press machine. Use a heat press machine to transfer the stencil to a t-shirt.

• Compatible shirts. Sublimation printing works on polyester and poly-cotton blend shirts. Sublimation prints may appear brighter on light-colored shirts.

Screen printing

Screen printing is well-suited to printing custom t-shirt designs with few colors and limited detail. Screen printing requires a fair amount of artistic skill and significant time investment.

How it works

The most popular way to make a screen printing stencil is with light-sensitive emulsion and a mesh screen. To do this, create a paper cut-out of your design, paint a mesh screen with light-sensitive emulsion, place your design cut-out over the screen, and apply a light source. On the finished shirt, the area previously covered by the paper will resist ink and appear white. The areas exposed to light are now permeable—fabric ink will be applied to these portions. After you’ve created the stencil, position it over a blank cotton t-shirt, pour ink into the frame, and pull the ink across the stencil with a squeegee. This will force ink through the screen in the permeable areas.

This process can print only one color at a time. To make a multi-color design, for example, a green stem with a red rose, you’d need to create two separate mesh screen stencils—one for the rose, one for the stem. To print, you’d place the stem stencil on a t-shirt, apply green ink, and remove the screen. Once this portion was dry, you’d line up the stencil with the rose and apply red ink with the squeegee.

What you’ll need

• Printer (optional). You can print your stencils with a regular inkjet printer or draw them by hand.

• Screen frame. The frame stretches your design and holds ink during the printing process. A sturdy frame ensures even ink distribution and sharp print results.

• Mesh. The permeable mesh forms the base of screen printing stencils. The mesh count determines the level of detail your print can achieve.

• Emulsion. Burning your design into the light-sensitive photo emulsion creates a stencil. The hardened emulsion blocks ink, allowing it to pass only through the design area.

• Light source. Use LED lights or a lightbox to cure the emulsion and make your stencil. Proper exposure time is crucial for creating a clean and durable stencil.

• Squeegees. Printmakers use squeegees to drag ink across mesh screens. The angle and pressure of the squeegee affect the thickness and clarity of the print. Water-based inks are eco-friendly and produce soft, breathable prints.

• Inks. Screen printing ink is typically water-based with fine particles. Water-based inks are eco-friendly and produce soft, breathable prints.

• Cleaning setup. A power washer or strong hose will make cleaning ink-covered screens easier. Consider using a filter for indoor sinks—large amounts of ink can clog drains. A clean screen is essential for producing high-quality prints.

• Blank shirts. Screen printing works best with cotton t-shirts. Printing on dark shirts is possible but may require more advanced skills and multiple ink transfers.

Embroidery

Embroidery is the art of sewing decorative designs onto t-shirts or other textiles. You can perform this technique by hand or with a machine. Embroidered patterns are durable and will show up well on dark- or light-colored shirts. This is an intermediate to advanced design method that requires a significant investment of time and money.

How it works

For hand-stitched embroidery, start by applying a design sheet or tracing your design onto your fabric. Then, fill in the pattern with stitches and thread colors of your choosing. Secure threads and iron the design to finish. The exact process for machine embroidery varies depending on the machine’s technology.

What you’ll need

• Embroidery needle. Embroidery needles are larger and less sharp than traditional sewing needles. The larger eye of the needle easily accommodates thicker embroidery thread.

• Embroidery thread. Embroidery thread is finer and more lustrous than sewing thread. Its unique sheen adds a professional touch to embroidered designs.

• Embroidery machine (optional). Embroidery machine pricing varies, but basic models start at around $400. An embroidery machine saves significant time and effort compared to hand embroidery—especially for complex designs.

• Embroidery hoop. Two-part wooden hoops hold the fabric taut while you work on your design. Keeping the fabric stretched prevents puckering and ensures clean, precise stitches.

• Blank shirts. Embroidery can be applied to t-shirts or sweatshirts in any color or material. The chosen blank shirt provides the canvas for your unique embroidered artwork.

Block printing

Block printing is a traditional printing method used to apply designs to textiles or paper goods similarly to a large stamp. Block printing materials are inexpensive and easy to find. Creating an initial design is time-consuming and requires some skill, however. Once setup is complete, printing multiple products is fast and simple.

How it works

Trace or sketch your design onto a carvable linoleum block. Use linocut tools to chisel away everything that is not part of the design. If you’re printing a custom t-shirt with an octopus design, for example, this process would include carving away all of the space between the tentacles and the surrounding areas so that only the octopus remains.

Once your stencil is complete, use a roller to apply a layer of fabric ink. Place a blank shirt on a flat surface, position and place your stencil, and apply pressure evenly. Remove the stencil and cure the ink according to the manufacturer's instructions. Apply another layer of ink and repeat the transfer process to print multiple t-shirts.

What you’ll need

• Carveable linoleum blocks. Craft stores and online retailers sell soft linoleum blocks. Blocks are available in a variety of sizes. The soft surface of these blocks allows for precise carving and detailed designs.

• Carving tools. Carving tools come in several different point shapes to create a variety of textures. Experiment with different tools to achieve unique line weights and effects in your prints.

• Ink. Block prints are compatible with any fabric printing ink. Choose a high-quality ink that is specifically formulated for fabric to ensure vibrant and durable prints.

• Roller. Use a small rubber roller to apply a thin, even layer of ink to your block. A consistent ink layer prevents smudging and ensures a clean, crisp print.

• Blank shirts. For best results, use block printing on light-colored cotton shirts. The light background allows the ink to show up vividly, and cotton provides a receptive surface for the ink to adhere to.