Five Tips on How to Use Fabric Paints on the MimsTees Ready to Colour T-Shirts

Mim’s Tees has a collection of ready to colour t-shirts so it makes sense to add some tips on how to go about actually colouring these shirts here.

Tip 1.

It is not absolutely necessary but I would suggest that you pre-wash your T-Shirt before you start to paint. That’s a plain wash without adding any fabric softener. When the shirt is completely dry, iron it to remove any wrinkles.

Tip 2.

Place a barrier between the front and back of the shirt. You can use a large clipboard, smooth cardboard covered with waxed paper, or foam core board in between the two sides to prevent the paint from bleeding through to the other side. I usually fold the shirt around this barrier leaving just the image to be painted visible. You can secure the rest of the t-shirt at the back with pins or tape.

Tip 3.

Choosing your paints can be a daunting task as there are so many to choose from. There are specialized fabric paints and markers on the market specifically for this task. However if you already have acrylic paints you can use these but you will need to add a fabric medium to them. I would suggest sticking to three or four complementary colours.

3D Fabric Paints Fabric Paints Fabric Markers

Tip 4.

Paint brushes . MimsTees Ready to Colour T-shirts already has the design drawn out for you. I would suggest that you use regular fabric paints with a brush to colour your design and then outline the design with 3D type paints.* This all depends on how comfortable you are with your painting. Alternatively you can just outline the image with 3D paints.
Fabric Paint Brushes

Tip 5.

Once you've finished painting the design, let the paint dry for 24 hours before removing it from the backing, and do not wash your for 72 hours after painting. Tip 6. Now it’s time to set the paint. The easiest way to set fabric paints after it’s dried and you’ve removed it from the backing is to iron it for a few minutes (check the manufacturer's instructions). I usually place a clean cloth over the top of the shirt and iron over that. Make sure you iron over the design thoroughly.

*If you’re enhancing your design with 3D paints do this AFTER you have set the other paint. If using 3D paints alone there should be no need to “set” these paints but check the manufacturer's instructions.

Mims Tees ready to Colour T-Shirts are a fun way to add your unique touch and make your own one of a kind look.