Silkscreened Applique T-shirt

Sally shows how she got the idea to applique onto a silk-screened T-shirt while she was experimenting with color and fabric combinations.

Materials:

design
computer
photo transparency
sensitizer
silk screen
250-watt light bulb
fan
high-powered water hose with sprayer
silk screen palette (board with hinges)
ink
newsprint
fabric
squeegee
iron
T-shirt
needle
thread

1. Draw your design and scan into computer. Alter in photo editing or art software if needed to be larger or bolder, etc. Print design on regular paper to get an idea of the scale as compared with shirt. Then print design on transparency (figure A).

2. Mix emulsion and sensitizer. Coat screen with emulsion (figure B). Elevate screen corners and dry horizontally for 1 hour in a completely dark and cool place.

3. Place transparency with design on screen. Have foam under screen and glass on top or transparency with design (to hold it in place). Face a low fan towards screen.

4. Burn image into screen with 250-watt light bulb for 10-20 minutes (depending on size of screen) (figure C).

5. Rinse out design with water hose with spray gun. Let screen dry 15 minutes.

6. Attach screen to silkscreen palette (a board with hinges) and flood screen with ink onto newsprint.

7. Place fabric under screen and squeegee ink onto fabric (figure D). Let fabric dry 1 hour (you can speed up the process with hairdryer). Heat set with an iron.

8. Cut out the design for appliqué and pin onto T-shirt (figure E). Sew appliqué on the shirt and add extra stitching.

Website: www.sallybee.com