Tee Shirt Decorating

[KeyWorker]

My (soon to be) 7 year old want to have a small party at home to celebrate her 7th birthday. I’d usually try to avoid parry’s at home but I don’t have a car big enough to take them anywhere. She picked 3 friends (they are a rather sensible bunch) so I was thinking tee shirt decorating, followed by a quick round of musical statues flowed by food and cake (individual to avoid covid when blowing out the candles!) Has anyone done something similar? Did you do fabric paints or just pens? Embellishments and fabric glue? I’ve been trying to find a kit but can’t seem to find one. Critique my plan and give me all your hints, tips and cheats!

I'm doing this for DD who will be 6. I have decided just pens, as paint is too stressful for me! It can take a while to dry, just to be aware. Although you have slightly older ones. Stencils are a good bet to make something look half decent. I have also considered buying t-shirts from H&M that have an outline of a unicorn on for them to colour but undecided. I bought some stick on fabric patches and letters and they weren't great and fell off quickly, so using glue would probably be a good bet. Hobbycraft and Baker Ross were where I was looking. I think Baker Ross was cheaper but Hobbycraft had some more special bits.

I've done this with my niece's when I was looking after them, I just got a cheap white t-shirt and some fabric pens let them get on with it. Another time they decorated plates.

They enjoyed both and it was something they could take home.

MIL does loads of tie-dye with DS who's 5 and he loves it. He's got some great t-shirts for the summer with some gorgeous patterns from it too. She did do me a pair of jeans which are hidden at the bottom of the jean drawer however.

Anyways, maybe you could do that? Might have a more wearable outcome for the kids and scribbled on t-shirts?

I did think tie-dye to begin with but then they’ll take all day to dry. I think I’ll stick with pens and a few stick on hems and glue. I might also look out for the unicorn tee shirt in H&M. Stencils also sound good, just the same you’d use for drawing? I can avoid all the usual part bag tat by sending them home with their teeshirt and a cake.

@SliceOfCakeCupOfTea

MIL does loads of tie-dye with DS who's 5 and he loves it. He's got some great t-shirts for the summer with some gorgeous patterns from it too. She did do me a pair of jeans which are hidden at the bottom of the jean drawer however.

Anyways, maybe you could do that? Might have a more wearable outcome for the kids and scribbled on t-shirts?

I once spent a hideous afternoon tie dye-ing with DD.

It was great for a while, but a real faff keeping the different colours separate, getting matching pattens on both socks in a pair, washing machine on constantly because you needed to wash the items to 'set' the dye but had to be done in separate colour batches, constantly catching drips of dye so nothing else in the kitchen got contaminated etc.

DD adores all of the items she dyed. I shudder every time I recall the experience.

Ooooo when I was little you used to be able to get fabric blow pens and stencils, wonder if they still do them?