From the comfort of your craft room, discover the art of screen printing with our fuss-free guide. With a few essential tools, you’ll soon realise how simple and accessible this traditional craft is. The perfect hobby for the all-round crafter, screen printing is incredibly versatile – create statement poster art for the home, add interest to a plain tote bag or why not jazz up your garments? Whatever you have in mind, we’ve rounded up our screen printing must-haves to get you started. 

1 Take note!

hardiegrant.com

Learn the basics of screen printing from crafty gurus Jessie Wright and Lara Davis in their utterly gorgeous book Print Play. Celebrate pattern and colour with over 30 projects perfect for both beginners and experienced crafters. What’s more, this crafty duo offer plenty of inspiring ways to beautify your home or create unique gifts.

2 Go-to gadget

createandcraft.com

Say goodbye to the bulky screens and squeegees of old, traditional screen printing methods and say hello to professional results from home! Designed by Stephanie Weightman, the Screen Sensation can be used for various applications from papercraft and fabric art, to home décor and jewellery making. You’ll be amazed at what you can dream up!

3 Build your stash

speedballart.com

Speedball has created a range of screen printing kits complete with all of the essentials you need to get started. The collection includes the Beginner Paper Stencil Kit, the Advanced All-in-One and the Essential Tools Kit, so whether you’re new to screen printing or are already a pro at the craft, there’s bound to be one for you.

4 Expert tips

Jessie Wright, Print Play author, reveals her three ultimate screen printing secrets:
– Start simple! if you don’t feel confident with complex designs you can use geometric shapes which will always look great!
– Don’t buy lots of expensive equipment. All you need is a small screen, a squeegee, stencil paper and ink to create all the designs you can imagine!
– Screen printing is so much fun, so don’t take it too seriously! Sometimes things go wrong but don’t panic, that’s how you learn!

5 Colour happy

speedballart.com

Add a splash of vibrancy to your designs with Speedball’s water-soluble inks. Featuring ten bold colours, they give a smooth, matte finish to your projects once dry and can be easily cleaned away with a little soap and water.

6 Fancy fabrics

abebooks.co.uk

Add this comprehensive guide to your bookshelf for ideas on how to create beautiful, hand-printed fabrics all in the comfort from your own abode. Screen Printing At Home (David & Charles) by Karen Lewis demonstrates two screen printing techniques, stencilling and screen filler, along with simple step-by-steps, stunning photography and expert tips.