In Episode 283 of Shirt Show, Dylan sits down with Jennifer Sanderson of Pigskins & Pigtails, the creative force behind one of the most influential DIY screen printing platforms online. What started as a mom making shirts for Friday night football turned into a full-blown movement that is introducing thousands of people to screen printing for the first time. Through her tutorials, kits, and collaborations, Jennifer is proving that screen printing can be simple, fun, and completely accessible from home.
From Craft Table to Screen Printing Community
Jennifer’s story began like many screen printers, with a single shirt and a single spark. Her husband was a high school football coach, and she wanted to make custom outfits for her kids to wear to the games. That simple creative outlet led her to experiment with vinyl-cut stencils and a squeegee, and when her first print worked, she shared the process online. The video went viral overnight.
What followed was more than a business. Jennifer became a bridge between the crafting world and the screen printing industry, showing people that they did not need a darkroom, thousands in equipment, or a big shop to start. Her accessible tutorials and positive teaching style opened the door for an entirely new group of creators to join the print community.
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Partnerships, Products, and Purpose
Jennifer’s practical, educational approach caught the attention of some of the biggest names in printmaking. She has developed two beginner screen printing kits with Speedball, helping hobbyists learn the basics with confidence, and her most recent partnership with Ryonet marks a new milestone in connecting home-based creators to professional-grade tools.
Together, we built the Pigskins & Pigtails Starter Press, a compact, suction-based tabletop press that brings authentic screen printing to kitchens, classrooms, and community events. It is lightweight, portable, and built with the same attention to detail as every Riley Hopkins press, making it perfect for beginners, educators, and live event printers alike.
- Pigskins & Pigtails Screen Printing Bundle – A complete starter kit designed to make your first print successful.
- Pigskins & Pigtails Starter Press – The original collaboration press between Pigskins & Pigtails and Ryonet.
- Mini Edition Press Kit – A fun, portable version perfect for workshops and on-the-go printing.
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Teaching Through Simplicity
One of Jennifer’s biggest strengths is her ability to make complex processes approachable. From color registration to vinyl stencils, she takes the intimidation out of screen printing and turns it into something anyone can do. Her community includes small business owners, educators, and parents discovering screen printing as both a hobby and a career path.
Jennifer also reminds us that simplicity does not mean limitation. Her press has been used for live events, school fundraisers, and creative business pop-ups. The goal is not just to make a print, but to inspire people to keep printing.
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From Hobby to Impact
Jennifer’s journey proves that passion and persistence can reshape an entire industry. What started with a viral YouTube video has become a thriving educational brand, a set of retail products, and a growing global community of printers who first learned from her kitchen table. Her partnership with Ryonet continues that mission, to make screen printing more accessible, more creative, and more connected than ever.
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Why Printers Should Listen
This episode is a reminder that the future of screen printing depends on education and accessibility. Whether you are running an auto shop or a one-screen setup, Jennifer’s story shows the power of sharing your craft, teaching your process, and building tools that welcome the next generation of makers and keeps screen printing strong.