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Draw or trace your design onto Mylar paper or vinyl. Secure the Mylar or vinyl to a stiff, transparent plastic (like acetate). Weed your design using an sharp knife. Attach your design to a silk screen.
Once you've decided on a design, transfer the image onto your desired stencil material. Use a fine-tipped marker so your design is easy to see. Hold the paper or vinyl down with painter's tape to trace more precisely. To trace straight lines, use a metal ruler. If you make a mistake on the Mylar or vinyl, use rubbing alcohol and a soft cloth to wipe it off. This will prep your design for cutting. Again, use painter's tape to hold the design down. Position the paper or vinyl so the plastic borders it at least 1 inch (2.5cm) around the design. Much like using a vinyl cutter, creating a vinyl by hand requires careful weeding. Use a sharp utility knife to remove any parts of the Mylar or vinyl you do not want to be a part of the design. Take care when weeding intricate designs to avoid removing the wrong part. The sections you cut out will be where ink touches the fabric once you screen print your design. Keep this in mind while cutting. Rotate your stencil as you go for easy cutting. Apply an even layer of transfer tape to the back of your stencil. When you are ready to apply it to the screen, remove the backing and apply it to the silk screen as smoothly as you can. Place the design on the back end of your screen to keep your design protected from breaking while going through the machine.