I’ve been doing lots of projects with Sublimation lately and sharing each of them with you. But I realized that I had not done a step-by-step tutorial on how to do Sublimation on T-shirts. So this week’s Inspiration Friday, we’re going to be sublimating on some T-shirts.
Just think Father’s Day is right around the corner, and then comes the Fourth of July. So today, I’m going to share with you some designs that I purchased from Etsy. We will be making some Father’s Day T-shirts and some cute tank tops for my upcoming camping trip over the Fourth of July. I’ll make sure I include links to each Etsy shop that I got these great designs from this week! So let’s do some Sublimating on Shirts.
If you are new to Sublimation, you might want to check out my blog post on “Sublimation, Why You Should Try It.” I also have a series of Sublimation tutorials showing you the variety of substrates you can Sublimate. Today we are going to be making some custom T-Shirts!
When you are working with Sublimation and T-Shirts, there are two things to keep in mind:
#1 Polyester
When I say Polyester, I mean the type of T-Shirt you want to use. The more Polyester in the shirt, the better. I have had success with a Cotton/Poly Blend, but you want most of the blend to be Poly! The shirts I am using in this tutorial I picked up at Wal-Mart. They are all 100% Polyester.
#2 Light Colors
The lighter the T-Shirt, the better your custom T-Shirt will come out. White is always the best choice, but I have had luck with light grey and light pink shirts as well. You might need to experiment a little. But basically, the Sublimation process works the best with light colors. I will be putting together a tutorial soon to show you how you can Sublimation on a colored shirt with a bleaching effect!
Supplies
So, let’s get started with our supply list:
- 100% Polyester T-Shirt – Tank, T-Shirt
- Sublimation Ink
- A-Sub Paper
- Design – American Flag Golf, Bad Ass Mechanic, Red White and Booze, Gone Fishing
- Printer
- Lint Roller
- Heat Press
- Butcher Paper
- Heat Resistant Tape
*Disclaimer: Links above are affiliate links. By clicking a link, I may earn a small commission at no cost to you. Some products may have been provided to me by vendors. However, all opinions and reviews are strictly my own.
Check out the video tutorial below or follow the step-by-step instructions below! You choose how you want to learn to do this project!
Step 1) Design
Create a design. For this tutorial, I purchased a design from an Etsy Shop. But, you can also create your design or even use a picture you took! The possibilities are endless.
Step 2) Print
Mirror your design and print it on your sublimation printer. If you are looking for a Sublimation printer I posted a blog post a couple of months ago on a review of numerous printers that will work for Sublimation. You can check it out HERE!
Step 3) Heat Press Set-up
Place your T-Shirt on your heat-press. I place paper inside my shirt to prevent the ink from bleeding through to the back of the shirt. The bleed is referred to as “Blow Out!”. If you are looking for a Heat Press I posted a blog post a couple of months ago on a review of Heat Presses and what to look for when purchasing one. You can check it out HERE!
Step 4) Lint Brush
Next, I take a lint brush and run it over my T-Shirt. Don’t miss this step. It is amazing how lint can ruin a design.
Step 5) Line-up Design
We are no ready to line up your design. I use the three-finger rule when I line up my designs on T-Shirts. There are many tools on the market to help you get your designs lined up just right.
Step 6) Pressing
Press your design onto your T-Shirt using your heat press. The transfer paper you use should have a recommended pressing times and temperatures. I press with medium pressure at 385 degrees for 60 seconds.
Step 7) Completion!
Remove the transfer paper and your design, and there you have it! A custom T-Shirt!
If this project inspired you, then check out some of my other projects for more Inspiration!
Don’t forget to check out my Fun Stuff Crafts Amazon Storefront!
Social Media Links
CLICK HERE If you would like to join the Facebook Group, Crafts, and Inspiration hosted by Fun Stuff Crafts! In the group, I share and encourage members to share tips and projects.
1 comment
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