T-shirts have a colourful history. From pure comfort to promoting businesses or social movements to complementing protest signs, t-shirts (and their wearers) have had plenty to say over the decades. Printed t-shirts, in particular, have been a way to express allegiances, beliefs, celebrations, or to simply express our individuality. Even if you’re not handy with a needle, you can modify your simple tee with the following tips.

Chop and change

Grab your scissors and have at it! There are no limits to what you can do with an old t-shirt, a pair of scissors and a steady hand. You don’t have to stop with a simple crop; snip some clever cut-outs around the neck and shoulders (mind the seams) and you’ve easily got a stunning, Gucci-inspired tee. Get smart with a stylish cut-out on the back by tracing a pattern or template and simply cutting along the lines. These shapes and designs can range from something as simple as a heart or moon to the complex like a tree of life design or Celtic knotted cross. You can upgrade this idea by adding some lace behind the cut-out shape with the application of a little fabric glue.

Woven wear

These alterations are a bit similar to the last section, so keep those scissors handy. Lay your shirt out flat and mark out where you want to make the cuts in the fabric. The marks can be about 2cm apart. Then mark how wide you want to make each cut; the final product should have the slashes in the fabric form a simple geometric shape like a triangle, square or diamond. Once you have cut out your strips, take the second strip and place it on top of the first strip. Then pull the second strip under the first. Place the third strip on top of the loop formed by the second and continue as with the first. When you reach the end of your cut-out strips, sew the final loop to the inside of the shirt. The best places on the shirt to add this woven design is either by the neckline, along the sleeves, or along the sides of the shirt (after cutting off the sleeves).

Playing Picasso

Sometimes, a splash of colour can be all you need to make a statement with a plain tee. Get your hands on some fabric paints or fabric markers and let your imagination run wild! You can use cardboard shapes as stencils; paint a solid colour over these inverted stencils or create a more faded look by using a sponge instead of a paintbrush the shirt. For a stylish white-washed take on your tee, pour some bleach into a spray bottle and use it to add a new texture to your design. Decorate your off-colour shirt with a pattern or design entirely of your own making or colour out the lines completely with some far-out tie-dye ideas.

Printed t-shirts

Should your artistic streak extend beyond the aforementioned creative alterations to your typical tee, you can design your own logo or slogan and submit it to a company that can print it onto a t-shirt for you. This is where you can really cut loose. You can print an iconic motif, like the ever-popular smiley face, or design your own spin on it. Wear your heart on your sleeve (so to speak) and personalise your shirt with some words that say what you’re all about, whether you’re making “Love Not War” or telling folks to “Ask Me About My Feminist Agenda”. Print personalised t-shirts for special occasions like bachelor/bachelorette parties or family reunions. This is also an excellent option for the budding entrepreneur, looking to get their logo on out there to the public.

BlankTeeShirts.com.au offers quality printing services including screen printing, digital transfer, and even embroidery. In three easy steps, you are on your way to rocking your dream tee… or long-sleeve or hoodie or jacket. Blankteeshirts.co.au has something for everyone! Standing out from the crowd has never been easier or more stylish.

So, how are you expressing yourself? Try out some of these ideas on your t-shirts and show us your unique style by tagging us on Instagram or Facebook.