« Nerd Shirt - Paint an Embroidery Pattern »
Monday, August 6, 2012 
I love to embroider and I have tons and tons of embroidery patterns. There has been one sitting in my collective for a couple of weeks now that I just adored. A nerd's pocket filled with taped glasses, a calculator set at pi, pencil, pen - a full nerd's needs for a geeky day.
I knew how I wanted to use this from the get go. It's just getting around to it that was difficult... Rather than embroidering it, I wanted to paint it. Embroidery would be way cute, but I wanted the calculator to be filled in and I wasn't looking forward to weeks worth of satin stitches. This is a shirt that I wasn't 100% would be worn because it is pink. I mean a nerd's pocket on a pink shirt is awesome and I'd be wearing the heck out of it. But sometimes, some consider me kind of a weirdo. I mean, I have a tee that says "I Messed with Texas" and is riddled with bullet holes (thanks Momma!)
So - wanna make your own nerd pocket shirt? You can get the pattern at Urban Threads for a cool buck. They have some totally unexpected and awesome patterns on the cheap. It's pretty crazy. You may not be into this pattern, but there's bound to be a couple that you will want to paint!
So - wanna make the perfect gift for your cool but nerdy friend or family member? The whole process minus dry time takes only about 30 minutes!
You will need: tee shirt, pattern, iron on transfer pen or pencil, iron, piece of cardboard, Sharpie fabric markers or fabric paints, white fabric paint, paint brush.
STEP 1: Print your pattern and turn into an iron on transfer by tracing with your transfer pen or pencil. I like to print the pattern exactly as I want it to appear and flip it over and make my pattern by tracing the lines on the backside. Turn your pattern so that the transfer pencil is facing the fabric and your print is on the top. Use the image to place exactly as you'd like it and pin on.
Use a hot iron to set the pattern. Place the iron on and count to twenty. Do NOT move the iron like you do when actually ironing - you'll blur the image! Move the iron around and sneak a peek underneath to make sure that the transfer is working out to be dark enough.
When finished, you can use a washable fabric pen to retrace some lines that are a bit too light to be easily noticed.
STEP 2: Place cardboard or something else underneath the pattern to prevent the ink/paint from bleeding to the backside of the shirt. You can also tape a piece of heavy grit sandpaper to the cardboard to prevent your shirt from moving around while you are working on it (that's a tip straight from my shirt painting Momma).
Color or paint the design as desired. If using sharpies, be careful when filling in next to a still wet color. They might bleed toghether... If you're going for a more cartoony look, trace the components image with a thick black line. Use white fabric paint for anything that needs to be white, as Sharpie doesn't make a white fabric pen.
STEP 3: Allow the shirt to dry and hit it with a hot iron to set the ink or paint per the manufacturer's directions. Hand wash to remove the transfer lines and allow to air dry. Either prepare as a gift or get to wearing your awesome new shirt that proudly proclaims your geeky nature.
Hope the beginning of your week is gang-busters... Adios!
*** This is not a paid or endorsed post. I genuinely love Urban Threads :)
Allison Murray
Yippee! This post was featured at Stitch Punk!
Neat! This post was featured at craftzine!
Reader Comments (3)
Great tutorial - and now I know just what to do with all the embroidery patterns I have! ^_^
That's awesome, Lisa! Thanks for checking out the post!
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