T-Shirt Crafts

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Photo: Francesco Lagnese

Here, 15 craft projects that let you dye, sew, print, and more to create your own custom T-shirts for yourself or your kids.

01 of 15

Apple T-Shirts

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Francesco Lagnese

Games at a family reunion wouldn't be complete without a starting lineup of shirts for everyone to wear during the water-balloon toss, three-legged race, and doughnut-eating contest. Begin with matching apple-motif tees and then stencil numbers on the back with fabric paint.

02 of 15

Printed T-Shirt with Sea Stars and Sea Horses

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Our motifs (including starfish, more correctly known as sea stars) are charming on kids' beachwear, and the process is easy enough for small helpers.

03 of 15

Craft Punch T-Shirt

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Yunhee Kim

Create your own iron-on shapes using your favorite craft punch and iron-transfer paper. The end result? Creativity gone wild on your or your kids' clothes.

Materials

  • Photo-editing program

Photo-editing program

  • Iron-on tranfer paper

Iron-on tranfer paper

  • Paper punches or decorative scissors

Paper punches or decorative scissors

  • Iron

Iron

  • T-shirts or tote bags

T-shirts or tote bags

Steps

  • In a photo-editing program, import patterns.

  • Print onto iron-on transfer paper, following the manufacturer's instructions. (For crisp printouts, use paper meant for dark fabric.)

  • Cut out shapes using paper punches or decorative-edge scissors.

  • Iron onto fabric, following the manufacturer's instructions.

In a photo-editing program, import patterns.

Print onto iron-on transfer paper, following the manufacturer's instructions. (For crisp printouts, use paper meant for dark fabric.)

Cut out shapes using paper punches or decorative-edge scissors.

Iron onto fabric, following the manufacturer's instructions.

04 of 15

Dip-Dyed T-Shirt

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Dana Gallagher

More chic than a tie-dye but just as fun to make, this stylish shirt may become the one you reach for every Saturday morning.

05 of 15

Tie-Dyed Shirts

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Tosca Radigonda

Wet, wild, and, yes, a little messy, tie-dyeing is the perfect way to keep kids entertained on a summer day while creating unique T-shirts and other accessories.

06 of 15

Feather-Printed T-Shirt

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Bring some natural inspiration to your wardrobe with this unique feather-printed T-shirt.

07 of 15

Fish-Print T-Shirt

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Use this simple fish-print technique to make a one-of-a-kind T-shirt that's perfect for adults and kids alike.

08 of 15

Eyeball T-Shirt

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These charming T-shirts are perfect for kids.

09 of 15

Glittered Stencil T-Shirt

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Add some stylish flair to children's cotton T-shirts using glitter and a simple stencil.

10 of 15

Rib Cage T-Shirt

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A few strategic cuts transform a simple white T-shirt into a skeleton-inspired Halloween costume.

11 of 15

Resist-Dyed T-Shirt

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Create one-of-a-kind T-shirts with this simple dyeing technique.

12 of 15

Batik T-Shirts

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Add colorful images to children's T-shirts using the ancient art of batik, a wax-resist-dyeing technique.

13 of 15

Block-Printed T-Shirts

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With this special technique and some creativity, you can transform a plain tee into something special.

14 of 15

Freehand Embroidered T-Shirts

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With our templates, embroidering a T-shirt has never been so easy. Choose from a dragonfly, elephant, fire truck, giraffe, or tractor, and start making one-of-a-kind pieces of clothing for your kids.

15 of 15

Snappy Tees

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These adorable snappy tees are fun to make and fun to wear!

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