How to Paint on T-Shirts

To paint on your t-shirts you will have to buy a textile medium. You can purchase these anywhere that they sell acrylic paints.

Buy any white t-shirt, I bought shirts that would fit each of my grandkids. You will have to wash them before you start to paint on them. Don't use any fabric softener when you put them in the dryer.

You can use any drawing that you want. The easiest that I have found is if you get your pictures either from coloring books, regular books or the internet. Don't get too complicated drawings, the easier the better.

Use a black permanent felt marker to trace your pattern onto the T-shirt. Slip the pattern between the t-shirt. 

I have a glass table so I've put a lamp under the table and it easily shows up the drawing. 

You must mix the paint with the textile medium before applying the paint onto the shirts. Squeeze just a blob onto the paint and mix. When you are painting the shirts it is a good idea to slip a piece of white paper into the inside of the t-shirt, then the paint won't bleed onto the back of the shirt.

For some of my t-shirts I've used glamour dust mixed with the paint. It gives the paint a sparkle which is nice for the little girls t-shirts. When you are finished painting you can touch up the outline again with the permanent black marker.

After you have finished painting you will have to heat set them. Turn the shirts inside out and heat set for 20 seconds (make sure you slip a piece of white paper into the inside of the t-shirt because if you don't it might bleed paint onto the other side of the fabric). Wait 5 days before washing the shirts, then wash as normal.

Have fun!