after teaching a fabric printing workshop and writing numerous times ( here, here, and here) about making our own t-shirts, i thought i'd post my own tutorial for freezer paper stencils. especially fun on a t-shirt or the ever-present reusable canvas bag!
my sister's friend just had twins, so i made her a bag with the breastfeeding symbol. (Mothering magazine offers this symbol for everyone to use! how great is that?)
here is the lovely Maxine modeling:
materials:
- your chosen design and something on which to print (washed first if it's new)
- freezer paper- found at the grocery store with the plastic wrap, etc. It is paper with one side lightly plasticized.
- scissors or exacto knife
- iron
- screenprinting ink- I use Speedball Screenprinting Ink for Fabric
- a stiff paintbrush
1. trace or draw your design onto the dull side of the freezer paper
2. cut out your design. remember: the paper will be ironed on to the fabric. the paper is a stencil- the negative space of your design. where there is paper, there will be no paint (and vice versa)
3. Iron the freezer paper on to your fabric, with a medium hot iron, no steam. check that all the edges are adhered well.
4. Paint it!
5. After your design dries, carefully peel off the freezer paper. Heat set the ink- my preferred method is 1 hour in a hot dryer.
Enjoy!
