How to Make Custom Shirts at Home — 3 Easy DIY Methods Anyone Can Try

Usually, custom shirts are a fun way to show off one’s style or messages to the world. And the best part when you are wondering how to make custom shirts? – You can make it at home without expensive equipment! 

So, if you are looking for how to make custom shirts, you’ve found it. There are 3 worth-trying methods using beginner-friendly materials you can use right at home and we’ve rounded them up here for you. Keep reading to find out what works for you.

Can you make custom shirts at home? 

The answer is absolutely yes — you can definitely make custom shirts at home. When you know the methods, it will be simpler than you’ve ever imagined. 

Moreover, if you are wondering how to make custom shirts, it also comes with great benefits:

• The creative control is yours: You can pick your own colors, fonts, and create your own designs for your custom shirt, making it one-of-a-kind.
• You have something great for gifts: Personalized shirts are unique gifts that show how thoughtful you are to make them for someone’s birthdays, or for holidays and events.
• It is a budget-friendly option: Making custom shirts at home, you can start with cheap blank shirts and a few other supplies instead of buying high-price store-bought shirts. 
• There is no need for compiled tools: “How to make custom shirts at home”  just requires some items you might already have or those that you can easily buy locally.
• Potential chance for a small business: If you enjoy DIY-ing custom shirts, it’s a great way to start a small business and sell them online with custom orders.

With the benefits they bring, learning how to make custom shirts at home is somewhat rewarding.

3 popular methods for making custom shirts at home 

Actually, there are plenty of ways to make custom clothing, but when it comes to how to make custom shirts and how to do it at home, there are 3 methods we want to recommend to you that are practical and beginner-friendly. 

1. Fabric painting

Fabric painting, as it is called, involves hand-painting directly onto your shirts using fabric paints. This method is similar to an artist painting on canvas.

Reasons that many people love fabric painting:

• You can let your creativity run wild with brush strokes, colors, artwork or just calligraphy.
• The supplies (such as fabric paint, brushes, etc…) are super budget-friendly.
• Your custom shirts are one-of-a-kind shirts every time

How ever, when choosing hand-painting for how to make custom shirts, you should keep in mind that:

• This method takes time, especially if you want to paint more detailed designs
• The results may not last as long as other ways of customizing — especially after frequent washing

Hand-painting is the best option if you want to create personal quotes, abstract designs, or kids’ projects that don’t require sharp lines.

If you’re exploring how to make custom shirts for fun or one-off occasions, this is a great place to start.

2. Embroidery

Embroidery in contrast, if for detail-oriented artwork. This method involves using thread to sew patterns, text, or logos onto fabric by hand or with a basic embroidery hoop.

Embroidery is commonly used for customizing shirts because:

• This DIY method gives your design a handcrafted texture, making your shirts unique.
• Embroidered designs are incredibly durable — they won’t peel or fade even after several wash and dry.
• It is ideal for small and detail-oriented designs like initials, symbols or logo.

However, you should also expect that it will take you a lot of time:

• First, to learn basic stitches if you’re an embroidery beginner.
• Second, for creating large embroidery designs.

If you are learning how to make custom shirts for slow fashion and lasting details, this method is for you. DIY shirts using embroidery methods are best for names, logos. It is recommended when you want to add just a personal touch to pockets and sleeves. For larger designs, it will be more productive if you use an embroidery machine.

3. Iron-on DTF transfers

Using iron-on DTF transfers (heat transfers) is one of the most popular ways of “how to make custom shirts”. This method helps you create a professional-look printed shirt right at home. 

DTF transfers are designs printed directly on special film sheets. You can order these pieces from professional printhouses like us, customizing as you wish, from designs to shapes and sizes. These designs later can be transferred onto fabric surfaces with heat and pressure, usually from a household iron or heat press.

You may want to read: “How to Apply DTF Transfers with Iron” or “How to Press DTF Transfers“.

Using DTF transfers is a go-to method because:

• Professionally printed, they deliver a sharp, high-quality result 
• No need for special tools because you can order the prints that are ready for applying to shirts.
• DTF transfers work well on various materials, such as cotton, poly blends, and more.

However, you’d better be aware that:

• You’ll need to plan ahead for your custom designs and the time for ordering DTF transfers from a print house.
• It requires some experience and proper setups to transfer the prints onto shirts perfectly.

Using DTF transfers can help you create small logos, detailed artworks, full-color illustrations, or anything that needs a polished look on your custom shirts. If you’re learning how to make custom shirts for gifts, events, or small-scale selling, this method give you both ease of process and professional results.

How to choose the right method for you

The 3 methods we’ve discussed above are the best methods on how to make custom shirts at home, and which one to choose is based on your time, skills, and style. It means you must know what you’re making, and the look you’re going for, how much time you have and what you are able to create.

In this section, together we will break it down to help you know what you need exactly.

1. Consider your design style

The first step is to know your design style. Do you want clean lines or expressive textures?

• Hand-painting can create freestyle and artsy designs.
• Embroidery is something neat and classic touch for small details.
• DTF transfers can turn photo-quality images, digital designs into a sharp print.

2. Think about durability

Next, consider the durability, the longevity you want your custom shirts to have.

• Embroidery gives you the most durable customized shirt.
• DTF offers solid longevity if applied and cared for properly.
• Fabric paint can fade faster than the other options, especially with frequent washing or improper care.

3. Factor in your tools and budget

What you already have and how much you can invest also matter.

• Painting directly on the fabric is a budget-friendly option.
• Hand embroidery only needs a hoop, needle, and thread, the things you may already have at home
• Besides your household iron, using DTF transfers cost you more for the shop-prints.

4. Know your time and skill level

Consider you skill and time to choose the best method for “how to make custom shirts”:

• DTF transfers are beginner-friendly and quick, which don’t require much skill.
• Painting takes more time, creativity and painting skills.
• Embroidery is slow but meditative. However, it will be hard and irritating if you are not a DIY-lover. 

5. Match method to project size

Are you making one or two shirts? Handling it with fabric-painting or embroidery may not be a problem. However, for matching group shirts or small batches, DTF gives consistency and saves time.

Thus, knowing how to make custom shirts is not enough. Considering those factors will help you choose the option that fits your needs, making the process more efficient and enjoyable.

Final tips for making custom shirts at home

Now that you’ve learned how to make custom shirts, and know how to determine the best method to do it, we’re still here to provide you with a few practical tips to avoid common mistakes and get better results.

1. Test before the real thing

Before starting to paint, embroidery or transfer the designs on your actual shirt, you should do a test on a scrap piece of similar fabric. This helps you adjust colors, spacing, and setups without making mistakes or wasting materials.

2. Follow setting instructions carefully

For fabric-painting, don’t forget to read the instructions on the paints and follow. For DTF transfers, you should pay attention to the heat-pressing steps to avoid insufficient heat and pressure or overheating that can make the shirt burnt.

You may want to read: How to apply DTF transfers using iron for detailed instructions.

3. Take your time

One of the most underrated tips in learning how to make custom shirts is simply patience. Mistakes will happen, especially at first. But as with any DIY skill, your results will get better with practice.

With proper care and a bit of practice, you will master the process of “how to make custom shirts” with these 3 DIY methods. 

Conclusion

Our guide has provided you with the basics of “how to make custom shirts”, instructed you to choose the suitable method and given you some useful tips, we hope that now you know how to make custom shirts to help your shirts turn out perfect like you want. 

For an easy, clean, and fast way to create your own designs on your custom shirt, you can go to CustomAny‘s product page of DTF transfers on our website and order high-quality prints right away to use for your projects.