Sketch an image that doesn't feature fine detail.
Decide whether you want to print a simple one-color line drawing on your silk screen T-shirt or if you want to print a design that features several colors.
Limit multicolor designs to four colors. When planning your screen-printed T-shirt, choose flat colors that don't feature any subtle shading. The silk screen method of printmaking doesn't work as well for shaded images.
Determine how large to make the T-shirt design. You can choose to create a small design to print onto a breast pocket or a bold design that covers most of the shirt's front.
Draw the final draft of your full-size T-shirt design. If you're designing a multicolor image, color the design accordingly. Use colored pencils or pigment markers to color your drawing. Use a black pigment pen to go over all line drawings.