An American Tradition

Summer is about sunshine, water, and fun with friends, but for Americans, summer is also about FREEDOM. Summer starts with Memorial Day, a remembrance of the men and women we have lost in combat, and ends with Labor Day, a celebration of the rights of laborers. In between those holidays, in the very heart of summer, is the Fourth of July, a celebration of our independence. Americans choose to celebrate these holidays in many ways, but most people choose to celebrate with an American tradition. The American tradition that my family most often chooses is baseball. After all, baseball is America's favorite past time. For me, it was obvious that my next project needed to be baseball themed, but I really wanted to make my project about America too because there is meaning behind these holidays beyond a day off to watch a baseball game with family and friends. I used Google to find inspiration for my design and then compiled various elements I had liked into my own design for a patriotic, baseball-themed t-shirt. 

Once the design was finished, I printed the design out onto regular computer paper, and then began creating my stencil using freezer paper. Freezer paper is an excellent stencil for making t-shirts or other fabric projects. I traced my design onto the freezer paper and then used an Exacto knife to cut out the pieces of the design that I would need to paint first. I then ironed the design onto the t-shirt, as well as the pieces that were free floating in the background. I will freely admit that I didn't make sure my design was straight on the t-shirt before deciding to iron it on, which means that after I finished painting my t-shirt that the design was crooked. This is a rookie mistake, but it happens and I figure it gives my t-shirt a uniqueness. That said, if I were to make this t-shirt design again I would definitely make sure the design was straight. 

Besides the crookedness of the design I think the t-shirt came out really well. I was able to make this project for under $5 because I had all of the necessary supplies except for the t-shirt. I used Microsoft Word to create the design and standard fabric paint to paint it on the t-shirt. I really do enjoy t-shirt design, this is the 3rd t-shirt I have finished, and I will definitely be making more designs in the future. In fact, I already have a few t-shirt designs in mind for the next few months. 

The other t-shirt designs are pictured below:

Stephen Vogt T-shirt Design; this t-shirt was given to him in the 2014 season. 

Sonny Gray T-shirt Design; He even signed it at Fan Fest in 2014.