10 Must-Have Supplies For Sublimation T-Shirts -

If you’re thinking of getting started with t-shirt sublimation crafts, you’re no doubt thinking about which supplies to get. If that’s on your mind, well, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll uncover all the must-have supplies you need to get started. Here they are.

grey tshirt on hanger with text Must-Have Supplies For Sublimation T-Shirts

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What supplies do you need to make sublimation t-shirts?

Sublimation ready printer

You’ll need a sublimation-ready printer to get started. If you can’t buy a sublimation printer, don’t let that stop you. You can turn any odd printer into a sublimation printer just by switching the cartridge for one with a sublimation cartridge. Since there are a lot to choose from, check out my list of the 10 best sublimation printers available now.

Ink

Your cartridges need to be filled with sublimation ink. Not all types of ink will do because some won’t stick or will just smudge.

Sublimation shirts

The next thing you need is the shirt to print on. You will want to go for a lighter-colored t-shirt (preferably white), so the ink can show more clearly.

Using 100% polyester shirts will make your ink bond better to the shirt. If you can’t find 100% polyester shirts, you can still use blended fabrics, but they should be at least 50% polyester.

Sublimation Paper

To transfer the print onto the t-shirt, you will need to print it out on sublimation-ready paper. You can’t use any ordinary paper since it won’t be able to transfer ink onto the t-shirt.

Heat Press

To transfer the print from the paper, you will need to buy a heat press. The heat press can heat up to temperatures suitable for transferring the ink print.

Can I use an iron instead? Well, you can’t use an iron and get a good print. That’s because the iron won’t give out enough heat to allow the paper to pass ink to the shirt. Secondly, it’s almost impossible to hold an iron still until the printing is done.

Designs

You are going to need some cool and fabulous designs to put on the t-shirts. Most sublimation printers will need the file to be in png format. There are also lots of freebies on the internet to get you started.

Remember to check if the file format is compatible with your printer before you buy any designs.

Computer

If you have a knack for design, you can use your computer to create your own amazeballs designs. If you don’t know the first thing about design, you can still buy or download freebies from your computer.

Cutter

A cutter will help you cut your designs faster and with more precision. However, you don’t have to buy a cutting machine right off the bat; you can still use scissors.

10 Must-Have Supplies For Sublimation T-Shirts

Crafting Tips: Find out how to choose the right cutting machine for you.

Heat tape

You will also need heat tape to hold your designs in place. Get one that can stand the high temperatures in the press. Ordinary scotch tape just won’t do.

Heat gloves

The press can get really hot, so you need some heat-proof gloves to protect your hands from burns.

List of Sublimation Supplies

Let’s recap what supplies you’ll need to make sublimation t-shirts as a beginner.

And that’s it, the essential tools for your sublimation projects. Once you get all the equipment, you’re ready to start making some awesome t-shirts!

Now that you know what you need to make sublimation t-shirts, here are 5 more craft blanks that you can sublimate on.

Make sure to pin this list to your craft ideas board on Pinterest to refer back to it when you need.