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If you have tried screen printing a onesie, you may have found that it's hard to get an even amount of ink across your design. When the screen doesn't sit flush with your fabric, it can be hard to get an even squeegee of the ink. This is the same case with hoodies, pillows with a zipper, etc.
Here's a trick that works great for me….. cut a piece of scrap wood and slide it into your onesie. I had a scrap piece of shelving that I found in my garage. You can use any type of wood as long as the surface is smooth. I cut mine to 5″x8″ (it's about 0.5″ thick). This sizing works great for a newborn onesie. You will want to cut larger pieces for bigger sizes.
The wood lifts the fabric just enough to get your screen flush with the fabric and avoid the bumps caused by the seams. To keep your onesie in place, you can use a little spray adhesive on the wood to give it a tacky surface. Take a look at my video below to see it in action.
Process Video – Screen Printing a Onesie
I'd love to see the onesies you create using these screen printing methods. Tag me on Instagram using @pigskinsandpigtails.
I am having trouble figuring out how much pressure to use while losing the squeegee. You make it look so easy! What is the density of your mesh? Can you describe how much pressure you use! I have wasted a few too many shirts… I want to perfect the technique before I make onesies for my niece.
Thank you!
It’s hard to describe in words, but the amount of pressure is key to getting good prints! As you squeegee, think about pushing hard enough, as if you are wiping the ink off the surface as you go. When you finish your stroke, it shouldn’t leave a thick coat of ink over your screen. It should be thin enough that you can see the outline of your design. Let me know if that helps!
Hello! Your video is great! When screen printing, how do you clean the paint off the screen afterwards?