Dye a Shirt Using the Silk Screen Technique
Silk screening, also known as screen printing, is a particular method of transferring images to a new material, such as fabric, glass, or wood. This method involves the use of a wire mesh screen stretched over a frame, through which paint or ink can be pressed. Originally, silk screening involved actual silk and was used mainly to put designs on fabric. You can make your own silk screened clothes, such as a shirt, using the modern version of this ancient technique.
Instructions
1. Draw the design you would like to put on your shirt onto a sheet of plain paper, or print out an existing design that you like. Choose a framed wire mesh screen that is large enough to fit your drawn design.
2. Place the paper onto a flat surface. Place the mesh screen on top of the paper, flat side down. Trace the design onto the mesh, using a pencil. Discard the paper.
3. Elevate the screen so that the mesh is not touching any part of the flat surface. You can use a few wooden blocks or even books to do this, so long as the screen is balanced well. Place a few newspapers under the screen to protect your work surface.
4. Dip your paintbrush into the drawing fluid. Apply drawing fluid to the screen, filling in the design areas you would like to print onto the shirt. Let the drawing fluid dry.
5. Pour screen filler directly onto the bottom edge of the mesh. Take the squeegee and, in a single pass, spread the screen filler over the rest of the mesh. Make sure that all areas are filled. Let the screen filler dry.
6. Put the screen into the sink and run cold water over both sides. Turn the water off once the drawing fluid has completely dissolved. If any drawing fluid remains, scrub it off with a toothbrush. Let the screen dry.
7. Cover your work surface with new newspapers and lay your shirt flat over the newspapers. Slide a large piece of cardboard inside the shirt, so that the paint will not bleed through to the back of the shirt.
8. Prop your screen up on the blocks again. Pour your screen printing paint across the bottom edge of the mesh, then use the squeegee to spread the paint over the screen. This is called the "flood stroke," which pushes paint into the mesh.
9. Place the screen on top of your shirt, exactly where you would like your design to be. Do not rearrange the screen once it has touched the shirt.
10. Make another stroke over the paint with the squeegee, pushing the paint onto the fabric. Lift the screen from the shirt and rinse the paint out of it. Let the shirt dry completely.
