How to Screen Print at Home
- iprintedthat
- 12 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Screen printing is one of my favourite printmaking techniques to teach in workshops - a satisfying mix of art and a bit of science. There are lots of ways to screen print, from professional setups with photo emulsion and screens to simple DIY versions you can make at home with just a few household bits.
At its heart, screen printing is a resist printing process. That means the design is created by blocking (or resisting) the ink in certain areas so the paint only passes through the mesh where you want your image to appear. It’s a wonderfully direct way to make bold, repeatable prints - perfect for fabric.
Screen printing has been around for centuries. It’s thought to have originated in China during the Song Dynasty, later travelling to Japan where silk mesh was used (hence the term “silk-screen”). It became popular in the West in the early 20th century, and by the 1960s artists like Andy Warhol were using it to create iconic pop art.
This homemade version keeps things simple. No specialist kit, just an embroidery hoop, a pair of tights and a stencil. It’s a brilliant way to try screen printing for the first time, and just like in my workshops, you’ll get that magic moment when you lift the screen to reveal your first print.
GET MORE LIKE THIS SENT TO YOUR INBOX
This activity was November's featured PRINT CLUB tutorial. Get print and craft tutorials sent to your inbox each month by joining the mailing list HERE.
You’ll automatically become a member of PRINT CLUB which means you also get two complimentary online workshops each year, 30% off selected workshops, exclusive invitations to exhibition previews and studio events, plus a monthly What’s On...newsletter.
DIY Screen Printing Tutorial
You will need:
Embroidery hoop
A pair of light coloured tights 15 denier - 40 denier will work
Plain newsprint (the type of paper your fish & chips gets wrapped up in) or paper from a glossy magazine. Don't use printer paper as it will disintegrate.
Scissors or a craft knife
A simple design that can be easily made into a stencil
Old credit card or store card (to use as a squeegee)
Fabric – natural fabrics like cotton or linen work best
Fabric paint
HOW TO
1. Prepare your screen
Trim off the waistband and top section of the tights (the “pants” part) and the feet, leaving the leg pieces to work with.
Cut down one side of a leg so you can open it out flat.
Lay the fabric flat on your work surface. Place the inner ring of the embroidery hoop on top of the tights.
Bring two opposite edges of the tights together and hold them in place, then bring the remaining sides in.
Use your free hand to position the outer ring on your work surface and, still holding the four sides in place, nestle the inner ring into the outer ring and tighten the screw.
Gently pull the tights until the surface feels tight like a drum — just be careful not to ladder them.
Don’t trim the excess fabric around the hoop; leaving it in place helps keep the tension even and makes it much easier to remove, wash, and reuse your screen later. Trimming too close can also cause the tights to spring back or roll in on themselves. If you find it gets in the way then you can pin in back with dressmakers' pins.
2. Create your stencil
Draw your design onto the newsprint or glossy magazine paper.
Think in terms of positive and negative space: the parts you cut out are where the paint will go through the mesh and print onto your fabric; the parts you leave behind will block the paint. You don’t need to worry about reversing your image; just draw and write everything exactly as you want it to appear in your final print. What you see is what you’ll get.
Carefully cut it out with scissors or a craft knife.
3. Set up for printing
Lay your fabric flat on a protected surface (you might want to put cardboard or a plastic sheet underneath).
Place your stencil directly on the fabric where you want your design to print.
Position your embroidery hoop (mesh side down) on top of the stencil so it sits flat against the fabric.
4. Pull the print
Apply a line of fabric paint along the top edge of your stencil, just above the design.
Using the long edge of your credit card, pull the paint firmly and smoothly downwards, pressing the paint through the mesh. Take care not to press too hard as you might stretch the Lycra in the tights, which can affect the quality and sharpness of the print.
I usually do this twice.
This is called pulling the print.
5. Reveal your print
Carefully lift the hoop and stencil together to reveal your design underneath.
Leave your print to dry completely, then heat set it according to your fabric paint
manufacturer’s instructions (usually by ironing on the reverse for a few minutes).
TIPS
The stencil can be used again and again before the paper starts to break down.
Wash and dry your screen before reusing it for another colour.
Try layering different stencil shapes once each layer has dried.
Test your print on scrap fabric first to get a feel for how much paint to use.
ENJOYED THIS?
Then you might like to join my mailing list HERE. You’ll automatically become a member of PRINT CLUB which means you get tutorials like this sent to your inbox each month, two complimentary online workshops each year, 30% off selected workshops, exclusive invitations to exhibition previews and studio events, plus a monthly What’s On...newsletter.
Comments