How To Make a Graphic Tee - 'Bien' Shirt Tutorial
Well, I'm learning my lesson about prepping you for the next day's post. (Uh, don't do it.) Due to bounteous technical difficulties yesterday, I do not have a video tutorial for you today. Boo. But I do have this fabulous and fresh tutorial that I promised you a while back on the old IG. This tee makeover is perfect for spring, and you probably already have the supplies needed at home. I'm gearing up for tee shirt weather and you know I love a cool graphic tee. This tee was inspired by a tee by Madewell. I loved that they used the simple word 'bien' (which means good in Spanish), but I changed the font and made one for myself for a fraction of the cost.
To make this graphic tee, you will need: a black tee, white soft fabric paint, a printer/paper, scissors, and freezer paper.
The tee I used is from Everlane, and it originally didn't fit me quite right. Adding a graphic to a somewhat ill-fitting tee is a great way to repurpose it and distract from the fit. I love this tee now that I have made it up with some paint!
To get started, print out the word you want to use in the proper size. I used the font 'Eight Fifteen' in size 220. Next, trace the word onto your freezer paper with the shiny side down.
Cut out the word from the freezer paper with scissors or a small blade. Then position it on the shirt and use a hot iron to press the paper down on the shirt with the shiny side down. The wax will soften and stick to the tee, holding it in place for a perfect stencil.
Once it cools, the freezer paper should be totally stuck to the shirt like a giant sticker. Next, start painting over your stencil. With white paint on a black shirt, it takes about three coats of paint to build up enough coverage.
Once the paint dries, carefully pull back the freezer paper. You should have a pretty perfect stencil of the word across your shirt. Mine did not turn out perfectly - it bled a little - but it isn't very noticeable unless you get close. Throw your shirt in the dryer for 20 minutes to set the paint and let it dry for 24 hours before you wash it.
And that's it! You will have a unique and fab graphic tee to add to your spring wardrobe.
