Seuss sadness

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I was really excited about making these Thing one and THing two shirts for my two nieces Ava and Grace, and I worked really hard on them. But it took so many coats of white to be opaque that they're really stiff - too stiff, I think, to be comfortable to wear! I used screen printing paint...is there anything that can be done to make them more flexible? Will washing help?



Alternatively, what kind of WHITE paint could I use that wouldn't end up needing so many coats and being stiff? I've used fabric paints etc., but not in white - and I worry that I'd have the same problem.

OR...the printable transfers for dark fabric - does white turn out white on those?

My sewing machine is broken, or I'd make the circles on white fabric and sew them on...

any help for a broken-hearted aunty?