Good day all,
I am really interested in learning how to make some T-shirts. However I cannot find any local classes so I was thinking about getting some kind of kit. Can anyone point me in the right direction of how to get started?
-Brian Lundgren
Find a local screen printing shop, and ask. It’s how I learned.
I found this at makezine.com.
I found some tutorials online for basic 1-colour printing onto Tee’s. I’ve only tried it once though, I really need to try again.
Modifications I made to this tutorial:
I made a poster-sized frame, and stapled the screen tight across it
I used painters tape and a craft knife rather than ModgePodge, Personally I’m not too good with a paintbrush, so the use of the knife made sense
For finding the Ink, around here the only place that had it was a big stationary sop, it was labled “Textile Ink” - none of the local craft shops had it 
I’d say my results for this were so-so, but I think it’d be better if I used more ink (I used it very sparingly :p)
If you use the Painter’s Tape method, make sure that it doesn’t ripple on the edges- even a little! I got a couple of spots on mine which were like that.
I tried washing the screen afterwards, too, and it seems to still be fine for another use - so even with the tape it appears to be reusable for multiple tee’s 
Edit: Added the results of my first attempt. It really needed more ink!
Simple one color designs are easy with do-it-yourself kits.
Basically, Ink wont go thru the screen where you block it out. You can block it with newspaper, tape, paint… But to transfer a computergenerated design is trickier.
Stretch open weave nylon fabric accross a frame. (I bet the ladies at the fabric store can help you pick the right stuff). You’ll need a more open weave when sqeegy-ing white ink on dark fabric. White ink must contain more pigment in order to be opaque. When printing on a light colored shirt with darker ink, opacity in less important. But when printing light colors on dark shirts, buy better ink. In fact, to print bright yellow on a black shirt you should first print the design in white, let it dry, then put down a coat of yellow. (Don’t design yourself a problem. Just print dark letters on light shirts for your early attempts)
The kit should come with some photo-sensitive goop. You’ll brush the goop on the outside of the screen and let it dry (in a dark place). Print your design in positive form (in your art program this means black letters/art on white background) on clear plastic sheet. tape the sheet wrongreading to the outside of the screen. Instructions for the goop might say shine a bright light at the design/screen. What happens is, the shadow cast by your design protects the goop. Where the light hits, the goop hardens. After the proper amount of time, you’ll remove the design and spray water through the screen. This will get all of the goop out of your design, but leave it everwhere else. When you sqeegy the ink across the inside of your screen, the ink will go thru only where the design is. Inks are usually heat cured. Shops have heat tunnels with conveyor belts.
Or hire a professional. (See why they charge for this?) They will charge a screen fee ($40 - $50). Then its something like $5 per shirt plus some $2 per color.
Sample Comparative Cost Analysis
A one color design on a shirt would cost:
Screen $40
10 shirts $50
10 screenings $20
TOTAL $110 ($11 ea)
A two color design
Screens $80
10 shirts $50
20 screenings $40
TOTAL $170 ($17 ea)
If you only want one or two shirts, you can do it yourself.
Kit: $35
2 Shirts $14
labor $00
TOTAL $49 ($24.50 ea)
or
Find wood for frame $00
fabric $ 3
tape/newspaper $00
ink/sqeegie $10
2 shirts $14
labor $00
TOTAL $27 ($13.50 ea)