T-shirts

They have sheets at Michael's that you can print on then iron it onto a shirt. They aren't too expensive either!

If you're trying to get the shirts screen printed, make sure you are ordering in bulk quantity. That will cut your costs per shirt. Usually they like to sell in sets of 12 or 24. Also the brand "Gildan" is cheaper than American Apparel or Hanes. Another way to cut the costs is to have a friend with graphic design experience, design the shirt for you and submit to the printer. You won't be charged then for the printer's design service which can be costly even for simple type set designs. Make sure you're printing with one color and on one side if possible. The more colors and both sides increase costs per shirt. Hope that helps!

I'm not sure what you mean when you say it's expensive, what you are hoping to pay. We are getting school shirts printed locally and one color on a solid t shirt is costing less than $10 for each (including the cost of the shirt). This makes sense if you are hoping to get a bunch. And find a printer who does more than just silkscreen/screen printing. That gets pretty pricey, but there is new technology that burns straight from the computer without creating the screen and that saves money. Also check online at cafepress.com, they don't make screens.

If you are only making a handful, I would also suggest doing it at home with Iron On Transfer paper -- you can print it on your own printer and adhere them with an iron. DON'T buy store brand, Office Depot paper sucks and will wash off after one wash. Get a paper or printer brand, like Epson or Avery. Make sure you get the right paper for light or dark fabric then follow the directions -- one has to be reversed and one doesn't, so read carefully.

Check with the local printers in your area. Many companies that do business cards, etc, also do shirts - or can refer you to another local company for shirts.

Also, what about an airbrush place? Again, local and able to do just a few shirts at a time.

Good Luck

Vistaprint.com
they usually run specials too.

look up iron on printing sheets coastal business has all types of paper for that sort of job. just follow the directions and maybe do testing prints first. also be sure to reverse you lettering before you print. lol that is my biggest forget to do.

K.

If you do tee shirts at home you MUST wash them first with NO fabric softener or dryer sheets, that makes the glue not stick. That's why most ways of putting print on shirts washes off after a while, the fabric is treated with sizer when it is made into garments. They must be washed first if you want the design to stay for a long time.

I think even if you are taking them somewhere then they need to be washed and dried first too. In as hot of water and dryer as you think they will ever be washed. White tees get hot water and high dryer all the time, black and other dark colors will get warm water and medium to high heat in the dryer.

I have a really good friend in Oregon who has a business making custom shirts. The website is http://www.onyxwear.com. Their prices are great and very competitive even though you'll have shipping cost. She's a mom of a child with autism, so I'm sure she'd love to help out anybody who helps kids with autism.

Hi Penny,
Call Desiree at SayVende.com
http://www.sayvende.com/contact.html
Phone: ###-###-####
I work for a small non-profit and we needed 20 shirts done for a reasonable price. I found SayVende through our local parent's group and they were wonderful! They treated us like a 'big' customer and gave us a very reasonable price, and they completed our order in a timely manner! Desiree can do anything from printed shirts to embroidery (which was what we ended up doing and they are BEAUTIFUL!) to rhinestone work...I can't recommend them highly enough! Tell her that Suzanne from Empty Cradle sent you :) Good luck!

contact my friend James at ____@____.com - he can make anything!