In Loving Memory: Memorial T-Shirts

Regardless of where you live, I feel quite certain that you have likely known or heard of someone who has passed away and the resulting "In loving memory of" items for that person. These items are for personal remembrance and sometimes for distribution to raise money for the family or expenses. Either way, these items can have a lasting impact on friends and family and can be easily created with love. This is an especially important topic for me in July because July represents the death of four very important people to me. Almost every week of July is the anniversary of the passing of a loved one and each person is remembered in different ways. This year, I have created memorial t-shirts for two of my loved ones. The decision to make t-shirts for only these two was based on the circumstances of the anniversary of their passing this year. The first being it is the first year since his passing and the second being that we are remembering her by going to iFly, an indoor skydiving experience. Both t-shirts were fairly easy to make, but were time consuming (paint takes time to dry) so if you are planning to make a memorial t-shirt then I suggest allowing yourself plenty of time. 

For this project you will need a t-shirt, fabric paints, a paintbrush, freezer paper, a computer, pencil, and Xacto knife. You will also need an iron and a piece of cardboard to put in between the layers of t-shirt. Depending on the number of colors you use to paint your shirt, the project will take anywhere from a day to a few days to make. 

1. Use a computer and Microsoft Word to create a design that you want to use on the t-shirt. I usually have the paper set to landscape orientation because it gives me more room to design the t-shirt. A single sheet of paper is approximately the size of a small/medium t-shirt so if you are making a large/x-large t-shirt design consider using multiple sheets of paper for your design. I don't recommend using pictures of the person since it would be difficult to make a stencil from their printed image. The words and graphics that you use do not need to be flipped like they do when you are using transfer paper. I like to print the page(s) in the colors I plan on using for the t-shirt as it helps me to visualize the finished project better. Print out your pages and save the finished document if you plan on making additional t-shirts. 
2. Freezer paper typically comes in a long role, as it is traditionally used in butcher shops for wrapping meat, so you will need to cut the paper down to size. I typically keep the freezer paper the same size as the 8.5" x 11" printer paper. Save any scrap pieces of freezer paper as they can be used for smaller designs at a later time. Small scrap pieces make excellent stencils for when you want to add designs to the sleeves or pockets of a t-shirt.
3. Lay the freezer paper, shiny side down, on the top of your design paper and using a pencil trace the design. I found that using paper clips at the tops of the page help to keep the pages still so the design turns out straight. Once the design is traced on the freezer paper you can either cut it out or trace the pencil lines with a marker. Retracing your pencil lines with a marker makes your design easier to see, but it also allows you to store the design without your pencil lines rubbing away. When you are ready to cut, carefully use an Xacto knife to cut out the design. Remember to save any pieces that are going to be a different color, like the middle portion of an "O". These pieces will be ironed on to the t-shirt with the stenciled design. I found it helpful to use a marker to mark these pieces so I knew quickly which pieces to save.
4. When you have made your stencil, carefully put the stencil on the t-shirt, again with shiny side down, and iron onto your t-shirt. You want to make sure the stencil is adhered to the t-shirt because if it begins to lift up while you are painting the paint will spread. The pieces you saved also need to be ironed on at this time. These pieces require individual ironing to make sure they are properly adhered. 
5. Choose the fabric paint you are going to use first and carefully begin to paint within the lines of your stencil. If you are right handed, it is easier to paint from left to right to reduce the chances of unnecessarily smudging or spreading paint. I recommend only using a paintbrush and not squirting the paint from a bottle as it creates a more even design. You will likely need to add a few layers of paint to your stencil. When the design is the color you want then lay the t-shirt somewhere that it can dry. Drying can take anywhere from 4 hours to a day depending on the fabric paint you use.  
6. When your paint is completely dry and no longer sticky, you can remove your stencil. Removing your stencil will take time so be patient. You may need to use an Xacto knife to lift up pieces of the stencil. Depending on how much paint you got on your stencil this might be a time consuming process. When your stencil is off of your t-shirt you can fill in any mistakes or begin to paint your next color. Most fabric paint recommends you wait 72 hours before you wash your t-shirt and when you do wash it to turn the t-shirt inside out so the design is protected. 

If you make a memorial t-shirt or have any ideas for projects I should make please leave a comment below.