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Handprinted Clothes: How to do it at Home

Retro-style cartoon face of a man with a beard and red heart eyes.

CHOOSE

Choose your linocut design and item. I prefer to print on blank T-shirts found at local secondhand stores or old sheets I make into bandannas.




Retrp-style cartoon or lint roller in red and black.

ROLL

Run a lint roller over the fabric to ensure a debris-free surface.




Retro-style cartoon of a black and red spray bottle.

MIST

Use a spray bottle to mist the fabric. This will help the ink sink into the fibers for a crisp and long-lasting print.




Simple retro-inspired cartoon of printmaking brayer in black.

INK

Brayer multiple layers of ink onto the linocut design. It is best to use a fabric block printing ink.*



Simple retro-style cartoon of a hand with its pointer finger touching a red star.

PLACE

Carefully place your inked linocut on the desired location.



Simple black retro cartoon of a wooden spoon.

PRESS

Evenly apply pressure. I tend to use an old, clean brayer, but you can also use a wooden spoon, or whatever helps you apply pressure to the whole design without it slipping around.



Retro-style cartoon of a linocut print peeling back and leaving an impression of its mirrored design. Floral, retro vibes.

PEEL

Gently peel the linocut off the fabric.






Retro-style cartoon of a box of wax paper and a sheet partway out of the box.

PROTECT

Speed dry with a hairdryer or leave in a safe location to dry. It should be dry to the touch within a few hours, depending on the type of ink used, but it will not be safe to wash for a week. You can cover with wax paper to protect the design and other surfaces from ink smudging, but do not leave the paper on longer than needed since it will slow the drying process.


Large red heart shape on a plain white background.

CARE

Read my blog about aftercare to ensure a long-lasting design.

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