There are a lot of places that can put an image of your choice on a t-shirt for pretty cheap – granted you already have the t-shirt for the artist to use. However, it may be difficult to get a custom shirt that displays something controversial, or embarrassing made by anyone. This method will allow you to easily make a t-shirt with any image on it for under $10 using the solvent transfer method, which is better (in my opinion) than the transfer paper method, which uses expensive paper and an expensive iron/t-shirt press – cheaper is better (in this case).

What you will need:

1. A plain white t-shirt, cheapest is best (can be found for as low as $2.50)

2. A bottle of wintergreen oil (can be found for as low as $3.75)

3. A metal spoon (you probably already have this.. it won’t ruin the spoon)
4. The image you want on the shirt, printed on paper from a laser printer, 11×14($1.00 at Kinkos) – works with color or black and white

Here we go…

Step 1: Print out the image in reverse, because the image will be face down on the shirt
Step 2: Lay the t-shirt down on a flat surface and stretch it lightly so that the image can go on smoothly
Step 3: Lay the image flat on the shirt, printed side down, in the exact position you want it to be.
Step 4: Lightly pour wintergreen oil on the back of the paper, just enough to cover small areas at a time.. use sparingly
Step 5: Rub the back side of a spoon, with some pressure, around in circles over the oil. This will work the oil through the paper, and transfer the pigment directly into the shirt.
Step 6: Continue with step 5 for about five minutes until the image has transferred into the shirt.

This process seems easy. Maybe too easy.. I guarantee it works if you follow directions and are not a complete idiot.
Here are some tips that may help:

Tape the image down to the shirt with masking tape to hold it in place
If you follow instructions and are unsure the method is working, press harder on the spoon and continue for a longer period of time.

Now.. the shirt will smell like bengay, and will be quite potent. Let it air out overnight, and it will be fine. You can wash the shirt after it airs out, but the colors might fade after a some washing. I recommend that if you want the shirt to last a long time, spray some fabric dye fixative on the shirt. This will help to lock in the image. Or you can use another process… or you can pay someone else to make you a shirt. But as I mentioned before, what if the shirt is embarrassing or controversial and you don’t want someone else to make it? Then don’t be a complete asshole and don’t wear a shirt that is probably stupid anyway.

Other: This method works on sheets, pillowcases, etc.. basically any white fabric. It does not work as well on colored fabric. Don’t waste your time. If you want a shirt for cheap that is dark, then buy some transfer paper that is usable with an inkjet printer, and use a really hot iron.. just realize that the image probably won’t be as detailed because of the nature of this paper.

If I sound like a moron and my instructions make no sense to anyone buy myself, I’m sorry. Read someone else’s instructions – someone who has pictures of the steps and isn’t as lazy as I am