Planning family reunion t-shirts can be a fun part of the reunion preparations. Recently, my niece, Sydnee, inspired me with a fantastic and personal family reunion t-shirt idea. At the “Stewart Summer Party,” she wore a t-shirt from her Brown family reunion that was truly unique and memorable. It was, without a doubt, one of the best family reunion T-shirts I’ve seen, and I knew immediately I had to share it!
The standout feature of the Brown family reunion shirt was its design: stick figures. But it wasn’t just a generic stick figure design. Upon arrival at the reunion, family members were given fabric markers and encouraged to personalize the stick figures printed on their shirts. The reunion planners had screen printed a basic stick figure template onto each shirt, providing a canvas for individual creativity. This approach could easily be adapted to have your own unique design professionally printed as well.
While stick figures might seem simple, I quickly learned that creating a good stick figure design takes a bit more effort than you might expect. After several attempts, I finally developed a stick figure design I was happy with for our 2011 family reunion T-shirts. Feel free to use my design as a starting point or get creative and design your own stick figure masterpiece. Don’t forget to include your family name and the reunion date on your shirts to make them extra special!
If you’re thinking about creating your own family reunion t-shirts, here are some helpful hints to consider:
Helpful Hints for DIY Family Reunion T-Shirts
#1. Pre-wash your T-shirts: If you’re screen-printing the shirts yourself, it’s crucial to pre-wash them. This removes any sizing agents added during manufacturing that can prevent fabric paint from properly adhering to the shirt.
#2. Use Cardboard Inserts: Before anyone starts painting, slip a piece of light cardboard inside each shirt. This simple step prevents the fabric markers or paint from bleeding through to the back of the shirt, keeping your design crisp and clean.
#3. Choose Fabric Markers for Ease: While fabric paints work, fabric markers are generally easier to manage and less messy, especially when you have a large group participating. I’ve used various brands of fabric markers and have found them all to be reliable for this type of project.
Fabric markers for DIY family reunion t-shirt designs.
#4. Set the Paint with Heat: The easiest way to ensure your fabric paint or marker designs last is to heat set them. Typically, ironing the fabric for a few minutes will do the trick (always check the manufacturer’s instructions for the specific paint or markers you use). Ironing on the reverse side of the fabric is a safe method that effectively sets the paint without risking damage to your iron or causing colors to bleed.
Ironing a custom family reunion t-shirt to set fabric paint.
A big thank you to Sydnee and the BROWN family for sharing such a fantastic family reunion T-shirt idea! This personalized stick figure approach is a wonderful way to add a creative and interactive element to your next family gathering.
Aunt MO
“There is no such thing as ‘fun for the whole family.’” -Jerry Seinfeld
