Celebrate Neurodiversity with a Neurodiversity Symbol Sweatshirt made with Ikonart!
Like I said, my amazing neurodivergent daughter inspired this amazing project. She's both on the autism spectrum and has ADHD. This incredible human is a genius at school, loves her dogs, and has a passion for video games. I am so lucky to have her in my life, and wouldn't change a thing about her.
The symbol for autism has typically been puzzle piece, but the one for neurodiversity is instead a rainbow-colored infinity symbol. This is meant to represent the spectrum of differences in a positive way and changes the idea that those who are neurodiverse are missing something or are "incomplete".
To make your own stenciled Neurodiversity Symbol Sweatshirt, you will need these supplies:
- Ikonart Custom Stencil Kit, with Ikonart Textile Bundle
- Neurodiversity Symbol Design (personal use only)
- Hoodie or Sweatshirt
- Textile Mat
- Scissors
- Fabric Paint or Speedball Fabric Ink
- Squeegee
- Iron or EasyPress
*Save 15% on Ikonart supplies when you shop with code AFM15
To make a stencil, you need to start with a printed design. Download the Neurodiversity Symbol Design and size to fit the hoodie. Print the designs as dark as possible on either inkjet or laser Ikonart Printer Film.
The next step in the process is to expose the stencil film. For this project, you need to use the purple Ikonart Textile Film instead of the blue Ikonart Stencil Film. The purple film works just like the blue film, but it's stickier and a little more stiff, which makes it perfect for using on fabric and other textured or difficult surfaces.
Set up the exposure stand with UV LED Light by following the directions included in the kit. The Textile Film is light sensitive, so be careful to keep it out of sunlight and bright lights before exposure. Cut a piece of the film the same size as the design print.
Lay the piece of film down on the base of the stand with the textured side facing UP. Place the printed design on top of the stencil film, making sure it's right-side up. This means that if there are words in your design, you should be able to read them.
Lastly, place the clear exposure sheet (found in the stencil film pack) on top and press it down well to seal the design tight against the stencil film. Turn the exposure light on and expose the film for 30-35 seconds.
The final step in the stencil-making process is to washout, or rinse, the stencil. Clip the exposed stencil film to the Ikonart clipboard with the shiny side (carrier sheet) touching the clipboard. Use the kitchen sink sprayer to rinse the stencil film with warm water until the design shows through and becomes completely clear. The washout process shouldn't take more than 3 minutes.
Gently blot excess water off the the stencil, and hang or lay flat to dry for about 45 minutes. When the stencil is dry, you shouldn't see any water spots or discoloration. Once the stencil is completely dried, place the it back on the exposure stand and expose it again for at least 2 minutes without the clear cover sheet. This extra exposure will increase the durability of the stencil so you can get as much use out of it as possible.
Once dry, use scissors to carefully cut the stencils apart. Be sure to leave a good amount of space around the stencil designs!! Next, use a permanent marker and write "back" on the carrier sheet (shiny side) on the back of the stencil. This helps to put the carrier sheet and the stencil back together the right way after you are done using it.
Using an adhesive textile mat helps make screen printing so much easier. The mat holds the fabric in place, and helps to block the paint or ink from bleeding through to the back. For adult hoodies, shirts, and larger fabric projects, the full-size mat or a half-sized mat works perfectly.
Remove the carrier sheet from the front of the mat, and slide it into the hoodie with the adhesive-side up. Make sure the hoodie isn't stretched out and that it doesn't have any wrinkles. Press it down well against the mat, and use a lint roller to remove any debris from the front.
Center the stencil on the front of the hoodie. Press the stencil down well against the fabric, making sure that it's completely flat. Because the hoodie is black, colored fabric paint usually isn't as vivid as I would like it to be. To help with this problem, I prefer to add a base layer of white paint first.
Apply a thin line of white fabric paint along the top edge of the stencil, and then use the squeegee to lightly pull the paint downward. Keep dragging the paint over the stencil until it has been completely covered. Scrape away the excess paint and put it back into the bottle.
Carefully lift the stencil at one corner and pull it up about halfway. If you see any areas that need more coverage, lay the stencil back down and go over it again with a little more fabric paint and squeegee. Lift the stencil again and remove it completely once you are satisfied with the coverage. Allow the paint to dry before moving on to the next step.
Quick tip: To help the paint dry faster on your fabric projects, get out your hair dryer and go over it for a few minutes with low heat. It works great and saves you so much time!!
Once the stencil is removed, wash it off immediately. First, get the clipboard wet so your stencil doesn't stick to it. Place the stencil on the clipboard with the textured side up, and lightly rub the stencil under cold running water to remove all the paint. Do not rub or scrub the adhesive side of the stencil, and NEVER use anything other than water to wash the stencils. To prevent the stencil from breaking down, don't ever leave the stencils to soak.
Remove the stencil from the clipboard and lay it down with the adhesive side up. While the stencil is still wet, place the carrier sheet onto the stencil so that the word “BACK” is readable. Hang or lay the stencil flat to dry completely.
Place the stencil back on the hoodie, making sure it's aligned perfectly with the white paint base layer. I chose five colors of fabric paint for the rainbow effect on the symbol. Start on one end, and add a small line of paint along the top of the stencil. Use the squeegee to lightly pull the paint downward until it has been completely covered. Scrape away the excess paint and put it back into the bottle.
Peel the stencil up for that area to make sure it's covered. If it needs any more coverage, put it back down and add more paint. If it looks fine, lay the stencil back down. Wash the paint off of the squeegee, and move on to the next color. Slightly overlap the colors to help blend the edges together.
Repeat the process of peeling the stencil up to check for coverage for each color. This will also help to prevent the first layers of paint from drying in the mesh of the stencil and pulling it up.
Once completed, remove the stencil and wash it immediately. Allow the paint to dry before moving on to the next step - get out that hair dryer to save time!!
Next, center the smaller infinity stencil with the opening in the design. Press the stencil down well, and cover the stencil with white fabric paint the same way as the first step.
Again, make sure to peel the stencil up halfway to check for full coverage. Add more paint, if necessary. Once covered, remove the stencil and wash it out immediately using the directions above.
Let the fabric paint dry for at least 24 hours, and then heat-set the paint using an iron or EasyPress. The hoodie is completely washable, and the design won't peel or wrinkle like HTV.
I am beyond thrilled with how this design turned out. Ikonart makes it so easy for me to make my creative ideas come to life, and this one is extra special to me. Most importantly, my daughter loves her new hoodie, and wears it proudly. This is such a great piece to make and wear to celebrate neurodiversity and to support you loved ones.
I'd love to hear what you think about this project, or if you want to know more about reusable stencils. If you've made your own stenciled projects, I would love to see your creations! Share them on Instagram, Facebook, or leave a comment/photo on the project pin on Pinterest! #AFMCrafts
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