Make your own tee shirt?

[shaveice]

i've been thinking about making some tees for my daughter but living in a condo, i don't have a ton of space for all the stuff needed to make it so i wonder if there's a place in town that has all the materials needed and you just pay to make your own shirts? similar to those places that have all the materials needed to make your own pottery.

i think it's unlikely but if such a place exits, i'm definitely interested. thanks.

[tikiyaki]

i've been thinking about making some tees for my daughter but living in a condo, i don't have a ton of space for all the stuff needed to make it so i wonder if there's a place in town that has all the materials needed and you just pay to make your own shirts? similar to those places that have all the materials needed to make your own pottery.

i think it's unlikely but if such a place exits, i'm definitely interested. thanks.

Why not just buy the iron on paper in the office supply store, print your own design and iron it on the t shirt yourself? Woorks pretty good. The paper is about $15 for a box of 10 or so.

[scrivener]

If you're not in a hurry, one way to accomplish this to some degree is to take a course at one of the community schools for adults. The instructor at Farrington (can't remember her name, much to my embarrassment) is an award-winning teacher and really cool. You'll get a few shirts out of that (over the course of several weeks), but if you already know what you're doing, the tuition might be more than you're willing to pay for however many shirts you get.

You could talk to her ahead of time and see if she'll let you use the course as a studio course rather than an instructional course. I bet she'd be willing to do that.

[Da Rolling Eye]

One Shot rents screen printing equipment by the hour, but it's not cheap if it's only for a few shirts. Also, it helps if you already know how to run the squeegee as some of that time will be eaten up in the learning process. I believe they do not provide much by way of instruction. My son's girlfriend can vouch for that and ended up having us do the printing for her.

You'll also have to pay for artwork, film, screen and ink which One Shot also can provide the services for. I'm not involved with One Shot, but it's what you asked for.;)

Another route is to find a printer who can do all that for you. Still not a cheap proposition, but way easier. Not spamming you, but this is where I'm involved. :o

Your best bet is to take your artwork down to a printer who has the capability to print heat transferable designs, like someone else mentioned.:)

If this is something you think you're going to get into, there are small, table top printers available. These will only hold up to two screens at a time and you'd probably have to use a water base ink for air drying as dryers can be way too big for a condo apartment. You can print multi color designs, but it's really time consuming, more like humbug.

[adrian]

If you want the embroidered stuff (the ones you see on hats and tote bags) then my Mom can do it. PM me for more info.

[Hellbent]

I heard printout iron-on transfers can be made more permanent by washing it in a vinegar solution after ironing on, but maybe someone said that so i'd smell like vinegar =p
You can also try cafepress if youre really lazy and/or want to sell some of the shirts.

[D'Alani]

Go to the American T Shirt Factory on King St. just Diamond Head of the Kapalama Post Office. You just show them your design or logo and they will print it for you, or you can visit them online.

[shaveice]

wow! thanks for the many good suggestions! you guys are full of good ideas! :)

[shaveice]

Go to the American T Shirt Factory on King St. just Diamond Head of the Kapalama Post Office. You just show them your design or logo and they will print it for you, or you can visit them online.

i did a search but can't find their website. do you know what it is?

[scrivener]

http://www.americant-shirt.com/

[shaveice]

If you want the embroidered stuff (the ones you see on hats and tote bags) then my Mom can do it. PM me for more info.

thanks very much doc for that info. i'm just thinking of creating some designs and using inks/paints/something to attach it to my daughter's shirts. not sure how well (or badly) they'll turn out but i think it'll be fun and--if nothing else--unique ;)

[shaveice]

http://www.americant-shirt.com/

man, you're fast! thanks!

[shaveice]

Why not just buy the iron on paper in the office supply store, print your own design and iron it on the t shirt yourself? Woorks pretty good. The paper is about $15 for a box of 10 or so.

thanks for the suggestion. i hadn't thought of that option but will definitely look into it.

[Hellbent]

you can do some craft stuff - embroider a patch, glue/sew on the patch to a tshirt, do some glitter glue crap along the edges =p

[D'Alani]

When I went to Wal Mart I saw this place on the mauka side of Rycroft St. one block ewa of Wal Mart. Sorry but can't recall the name of the place.

[Pua'i Mana'o]

Remember puffy paints, circa early 1990s? Don't nobody use those anymore?

[Da Rolling Eye]

Remember puffy paints, circa early 1990s? Don't nobody use those anymore?
Still get. One job I did, they mixed a luminescent base into the color so it would glow in the dark. :)

[cynsaligia]

i've been thinking about making some tees for my daughter but living in a condo, i don't have a ton of space for all the stuff needed to make it so i wonder if there's a place in town that has all the materials needed and you just pay to make your own shirts? similar to those places that have all the materials needed to make your own pottery.

i think it's unlikely but if such a place exits, i'm definitely interested. thanks.


a twice-monthly hobby i've taken up is reconstructing or deconstructing t-shirts. i've personalized four t-shirts in this manner already. i cut one so that it had a wide boat neck and used an x-acto knife to make pukas along the new neckline at about 1 1/2" intervals and thread a grosgrain ribbon through those pukas and tied a bow at the end so that the ribbon falls off the shoulder. i cut another shirt's sleeves and collar off and did the same sort of puka-making and ribbon-threading to make a halter-ish t-shirt where the ribbon is the only thing holding the t-shirt on. the effect it made is so that the t-shirt fabric "gathers" at the neckline. on a third, i cut straight up the back of the t-shirt, then made horizontal cuts every inch or so going in to the fabric horizontally about 2" at each side and tied the resulting "tabs" together. i did the same thing on fourth t-shirt, but on the sides. i got compliments on all the t-shirts i "made."

i got these ideas from two books i picked up at borders:

Generation t--108 ways to transform a t-shirt (http://www.amazon.com/Generation-T-Ways-Transform-T-Shirt/dp/0761137858/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-8366425-3019264?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1178594052&sr=1-1)

and

99 Ways to Cut, Sew, Trim, and Tie Your T-Shirt into Something Special (http://www.amazon.com/Ways-Trim-T-Shirt-Something-Special/dp/0307345564/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/002-8366425-3019264?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1178594052&sr=1-2)

some of the designs are really easy to do; some seem harder than i'm capable of doing (i don't sew, as you might have guessed by the fact that i did no sewing in the shirts i've already deconstructed). a couple weeks ago, i bought puffy paint and stencil stuff to personalize the plain gray cheapy ts i recently bought at walmart.

[blueyecicle]

I save all my boys old t-shirts that have meaning....trip logo t-shirts, cub scout shirts, etc.....And I make them a blanket out of them every 5 yrs or so.

My husband even had some wshirts from when he was a boy so i added them to the blankets.

The boys love it. And it will be cool for their kids....
Sorry I know it's not how to make a tee.

I did make matching T-shirts for my gf and I for our trip to Hawaii...Mine said

OH MY GAWD LOOK AT HER PURPLE HAIR!
Her said

OH MY GAWD LOOK AT HER PINK HAIR!

We wore them on our flights, it was quite funny and instead of people pointing and staring at our hair they giggled and talked to us about our shirts! Quite fun.

[cynsaligia]

I did make matching T-shirts for my gf and I for our trip to Hawaii...Mine said

OH MY GAWD LOOK AT HER PURPLE HAIR!
Her said

OH MY GAWD LOOK AT HER PINK HAIR!

We wore them on our flights, it was quite funny and instead of people pointing and staring at our hair they giggled and talked to us about our shirts! Quite fun.

again, off-topic, but you live in Portland, OR, land of the folk with multitudinous tatoos, crayola-hued hair, and piercings galore...so why anyone there would even give you a second look or be rude to you for it (as you've documented elsewhere here on HT), i didn't understand. i mean, Portland's where the suicide girls originate. but now that you're moving...:confused:

one thing i forgot to mention about the t-shirt deconstructo books is that there are also instructions to make skirts, bags, accessories and even a wedding dress out of t-shirts. mondo cool, even if i won't try those projects myself.

[shaveice]

cool. sounds like a lot of you are pretty creative :)

scrivener, i'd love to take a class in making tee shirts but it's unlikely i'll be able to get away from my fatherly duties.

no doubt, buying a tee shirt is simple, not very expensive and fast. making a tee shirt is not so simple, may be more expensive, and definitely more time consuming. i hope i won't regret this idea!:o

[blueyecicle]

again, off-topic, but you live in Portland, OR, land of the folk with multitudinous tatoos, crayola-hued hair, and piercings galore...so why anyone there would even give you a second look or be rude to you for it (as you've documented elsewhere here on HT), i didn't understand. i mean, Portland's where the suicide girls originate. but now that you're moving...:confused:



I live in Springfield, Oregon about 2 hours away right next to Eugene.
And I don't know why, you would be very surprised.
I have friends who now refuse to go anywhere in public with me due to the amount of comments and stares.
Seriously...Oh well you only live once!! Pink is fun! :D

[Da Rolling Eye]

no doubt, buying a tee shirt is simple, not very expensive and fast. making a tee shirt is not so simple, may be more expensive, and definitely more time consuming. i hope i won't regret this idea!:o
No regrets. Anything you create for your child by hand is totally rewarding and she's not old enough to roll her eyes telling you, "Aw, do I have to wear it?" :D Another thought, check out Walmart or Ben Franklin Crafts for tie dye kits and fabric pens and paints and templates. No need pay big bucks for artwork, screens and related equipment and blank toddler clothes is fairly inexpensive at Walmart. Best of all, for a condo, everything can be stored in a small box. :)

[blueyecicle]

No regrets. Anything you create for your child by hand is totally rewarding and she's not old enough to roll her eyes telling you, "Aw, do I have to wear it?" :D Another thought, check out Walmart or Ben Franklin Crafts for tie dye kits and fabric pens and paints and templates. No need pay big bucks for artwork, screens and related equipment and blank toddler clothes is fairly inexpensive at Walmart. Best of all, for a condo, everything can be stored in a small box. :)


I totally agree. My boys treasure any clothes I make for them.
I try to keep it to Pj's for the older one but he even asks for shirts and other things and he is 11. They will NEVER forget it! They will always remmeber they were special enough for mom/dad to make them something homeade.

MUCH fun!

[Hellbent]

Is that how it is? Cuz I remember the days when we had homemade burger and all the other kids had mcdonalds (actually that was a eddie murphy riff but you get the idea)
At a certain age are they going to want to sport Fubu or Sean John?

[Da Rolling Eye]

Is that how it is? Cuz I remember the days when we had homemade burger and all the other kids had mcdonalds (actually that was a eddie murphy riff but you get the idea)
At a certain age are they going to want to sport Fubu or Sean John?
Yeah....but might as well cherish the good stuff while still can. Our Mel is 7 and she's already starting to get into Sketchers, Roxy, Old Navy and other "name brands". :rolleyes: Damn prima donna classmates azwai hawd :mad: , and middle school going be worse an I already stressing about high school. Oh tr'wait. She going be in private school. UNIFORMS! No "rank". :p

[blueyecicle]

Is that how it is? Cuz I remember the days when we had homemade burger and all the other kids had mcdonalds (actually that was a eddie murphy riff but you get the idea)
At a certain age are they going to want to sport Fubu or Sean John?

it is in my house but probably because my kids are homeschooled and a little more sheltered too. poor poor bubble boys....:p

[Pua'i Mana'o]

I live in Springfield, Oregon about 2 hours away right next to Eugene.
And I don't know why, you would be very surprised.
I have friends who now refuse to go anywhere in public with me due to the amount of comments and stares.
Seriously...Oh well you only live once!! Pink is fun! :D

*pulls up my What Not To Wear panties*

The pink you are sporting is quite a cool shade. Maybe you are a warm tone, and would do better with a fun pumpkin shade? Still keep to the true expression that is you, but do so with tones that flatter you instead of clash with your skin tones. I am being serious, btw.

[blueyecicle]

*pulls up my What Not To Wear panties*

The pink you are sporting is quite a cool shade. Maybe you are a warm tone, and would do better with a fun pumpkin shade? Still keep to the true expression that is you, but do so with tones that flatter you instead of clash with your skin tones. I am being serious, btw.

No i am a very cool tone with blue eyes. So pink suits me well. :D
Orange makes me look orange. Its not the color they are critiquing.

Many times I hear...You know you would not think pink would look good but you pull it off nicely. So it is ying or yang I suppose.

[Pua'i Mana'o]

ok; I cannot see your eye color in your avatar, hence my thoughts on the matter.