Simmzy's Beach Eats Long Sleeve In White Recipe

Inspect and pre-wash

Inspect the long sleeve tee for defects, loose threads, or sizing irregularities. Pre-wash once in cold water with mild detergent and non-chlorine oxygen brightener (if used) to remove sizing and reduce future shrinkage. Dry flat or tumble low. Ensure the garment is completely dry before printing.

Use a lint roller on the tee, paying special attention to chest and sleeve areas where the print will go. Remove any loose fibers or debris.

Using the fine-point fabric marker, lightly mark the center chest point and sleeve alignment marks. Position the shirt on the tension platen or tee pallet and center it carefully. Use masking tape to hold the sleeve or hems in place if needed.

Choose the appropriate mesh count (110–160) for the artwork detail. Coat the screen evenly with eco-friendly screen printing emulsifier in a dim environment, and let it dry horizontally with the coated side up for 30–60 minutes.

Expose the screen using your artwork film positive per the emulsifier manufacturer's exposure chart. After exposure, wash out the screen to reveal the stencil. Let the screen dry fully.

Tack any rough edges and touch up the stencil if needed. Tape all screen borders with masking tape to prevent ink bleed under the frame.

Measure and mix the chosen water-based ink colors, plastisol, or discharge paste per artwork requirements. Add heat-set additive according to the ink maker's instructions (typically 1 tsp per 4 oz ink) to improve washfastness. For a vintage soft-hand effect on white fabric, consider using discharge paste blended into the water-based ink (test first).

Stir thoroughly to ensure uniform color. Pour a small amount of ink onto the edge of the screen for test pulls.

Perform test prints on a scrap white cotton fabric or a hidden area of the garment. Evaluate opacity, hand, and registration. Adjust ink consistency (thinner with reducer, thicker with thickener) and squeegee angle/pressure as needed.

Place the prepped long sleeve tee on the platen, aligning the center chest mark under the screen. Tuck sleeves and seams so the printing area lays flat. If printing on the sleeve, position and secure the sleeve on a sleeve platen or use tape to hold it flat.

Lower the prepared screen onto the shirt. Use a 1.5"–2" soft squeegee and, with even pressure, flood the screen once (smooth, low angle), then make a firm print stroke with consistent speed. Lift screen carefully to avoid smudging.

If the design has multiple colors, let each color flash-cure (with flash dryer or heat gun) for 5–10 seconds to tack the ink before registering and printing the next color. Use registration marks established during pre-press for precise alignment.

If printing a heavy plastisol layer, apply it last and flash-cure between passes as needed. For discharge prints, ensure the garment is heated according to the discharge product instructions to activate the effect.

Check each print for pinholes, misregistration, or ink build-up. Use clean rags to remove excess ink from the screen edge and squeegee between runs to maintain consistency.

Once printing is complete and test pulls look correct, cure the ink per manufacturer guidelines. For water-based prints, heat cure using a heat press at recommended temperature (typically 320–330°F / 160–165°C) for 10–15 seconds or use a conveyor dryer with appropriate belt speed to reach the ink's target temperature. For plastisol, cure to 320°F (160°C) throughout the ink film. For discharge, follow the specific activation temperature and dwell time.

After curing, allow the garment to cool. Inspect the print for full cure (rub test, wash test on a sample) and for any defects. Remove any stray ink from the garment edges with a clean rag.

Attach garment tags and label with size/sku. Fold the long sleeve tee neatly and place it into a poly bag if desired for packaging.

Perform final quality control: check seams, hems, cuff integrity, print placement, and cure. Record any rejects and corrective actions.

Include care instructions with the garment: machine wash cold inside out, gentle cycle, tumble dry low or hang dry, do not bleach, iron inside out on low if needed.