My First Product

I’ve completed my first attempt to silk screen an image today. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with the way it turned out, but I still think I need to tweak a few things to get it just right.

For one, I used a lightweight batiste fabric as my “screen.” (Batiste is essentially a very thin cotton fabric that can be picked up at any fabric store and in a variety of colors). Most websites and silk screening demonstrations recommend a sheer fabric, tulle, or even nylons ie.) pantyhose. I think next time I will try a different fabric medium to see how my results may vary.

Here is a breakdown of the steps:

1.) 1.) Choose a high contrast image. I chose a picture of my bicycle and used Photoshop to “black out” the image into the areas that I wanted to transfer. It is important to have a stark contrast between the white and black space on the image for the image transfer process.

2.) 2.) Position the fabric in the embroidery hoop. Keep the fabric as taut as possible to make sure that the fabric will not shift.

1.) 3.) Place the embroidery hoop with fabric over your image. You are going to trace the image onto your “screen” ie.) your embroidery hoop. Place the screen over the image so that the fabric is touching image.

2.) 4.) Trace your image using a pencil, pen, or marker.

1.) 5.)Use the ModPodge to paint the screen. You want to apply the ModPodge to the negative space on the screen ie.) the area that you do not wish to transfer. Apply two to three generous coats.

2.) 6.) Let the screen dry.

1.) 7.) Transfer your image. Place your screen, with the fabric closest to the transfer surface, onto your surface. If using a T-shirt, place a piece of cardboard between the layers.

1.) 8.)Pick a screen printing ink color and paint your screen carefully so that your screen does not shift.

1.) 9.) Remove screen from the transfer surface and let the ink dry. This step can take a while depending on how much ink you used to paint your screen.

1.) 10.) Once the ink is dry, iron both sides on medium for 3-5 minutes and you're ready to wear your design out!

Ready, Set, Go

I have finally purchased all of my supplies to start silk screening. I'm so excited to get started. I've designed a simple, geometric pattern using Adobe Photoshop. I figured it would be best to start simple. Below is the image I plan to transfer.

The next step is to print out the image and transfer it to a sheer fabric that will be stabilized in an embroidery hoop. The method of transfer is simply to place the printed image underneath the sheer fabric and trace with a pen or pencil.

After the image has been traced to the fabric, you take Mod Podge and paint brushes to block out the blank areas of the print ie.) the areas of the print that you do not wish to have transfered. This will be the white space surrounding my pattern.

After the Mod Podge has dried, the embroidery hoop is placed over the fabric that you wish to silk screen the image onto. If you are silk screening a t-shirt, for example, it is recommended to place a piece of cardboard between t-shirt layers so that the ink doesn't seep through to the other side of your shirt.

Now it is time to add the screen printing ink to the canvas. I will post images of the actual steps as they are completed and hopefully will have a great example of a finished product to show you all!

When I found out about the By Hand Project for our class, I was so excited. I have been a big fan of the Craftzine.com blog for some time and I am always interested in learning new and creative ways to make art and craft. In fact, I was so inspired that I couldn't decide on only one project. I spent so much time going back and forth between project ideas before I made a final decision...

I am going to learn how to silk screen!

Silk screening, or screen printing depending on who you ask, has been something I have always wanted to know how to do. I just never thought that I would have the time or the money. I had major hesitations about picking silk screening as my project because the costs can get ridiculous. Luckily, I found some savvy crafters out there with some great and amazingly resourceful ideas and techniques.

Besides the paints that are specific to the silk screening process, I plan to reuse as many of the materials that are needed as possible. What I do not already own, I plan to purchase from Goodwill or other second-hand stores. I have taken a CAD(Computer Aided Design) course here at IU as a requirement for the fashion design certificate program, and I plan on using my Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator knowledge to create the graphics and images that I want to transfer via silk screening.

I have a lengthy list of supplies, but I am going to try and be as creative as possible in my search. I can't wait to try this out!

Pictures to come very soon!