Hi Blake, actually it is not hard at all and using a T-shirt works just fine! I have done MANY cross stitch projects on all types of shirts. All you do is buy yourself some waste canvas and put some backing on the inside of the wrong side of the shirt you are going to be stitching on. The waste canvas is what you use instead of aida if you will. Then when you are completely done with all the stitching you wet it..then use tweezers to pull out all the waste canvas strands. THIS is the part I hate. Very time consumming and takes patience. But so rewarding when you are finished. I just made my mom an angel loaded with beads and my mother n law a wild cat, both shirts this past Christmas. They loved them. Oh yeah, you only want to hand wash these shirts after wearing them. Sometimes its nice to include a small not card typed up to include in your box if it is gift. Like a curteousy care for card. Good luck, let us know if you decide to make a shirt! Cherie'