Sunday, June 13, 2010

Printing on Fabric Tutorial!!

I had posted on my Facebook page that I had printed on fabric using freezer paper and had so many responses and questions, I figured I'd post a tutorial on how I did it.  I would like to say I did NOT treat my fabric with anything, and I'm sure over time the ink will fade.  There are other alternatives,  first you could but the fabric that is already made for printing on, which is what I use for my luggage tags, or you can buy Bubble Jet Set Liquid to treat your fabric with and then print on it...(I will be looking into this option soon!)

This is what you will need for this project
Freezer paper, scissors, a hot iron, fabric, and a piece of printer paper.  (o and well a printer, :)
First, I cut the fabric I was going to use down to the size of the printer paper so that it will fit into the printer.

Next, iron the fabric to the SHINEY side of the freezer paper and peel it off.  (I don't know if this is necessary or not, but it seems to help hold the ink in.)
Then you'll iron another piece to the other side of you fabric, but this time you will leave it on the fabric.
After this, you will cut the freezer paper down to the size of the paper so that it will all fit through your printer. 
Now you're ready to print!!!  YAY!!!
On my printer, I have to put the side I want printed on face down, so it's fabric side down for me!!
Find something pretty...and print away!!!
Wait wait wait wait.....aaannnnddd.....
After you print it out...go back to your hot iron and 
go over it to set the ink!
Then peel away from the freezer paper!!
After I peel it of, I rinse it off....and then it's all done!!!
So, that's how I did it!!  If you have any suggestions, or questions let me know!!
hugs,
heather

6 comments:

The Hillbilly Wife said...

I have made a bunch of photo quilts. It is my Etsy mainstay. I would HIGHLY recommend the Bubble Jet set. I have used it and love it! There are some name brand photo papers out there that make the photo have an almost hard feel. I actually use a photo paper by a different company (to save time or I'd do it myself) and the bubble jet and they are so soft and durable!

Heather said...

I will definitely be trying the bubble jet set. I have several memory quilts I'm making and I know exactly what you mean about the printer fabric feeling "stiff"!

Michelle said...

Love this - I have used this method and also have found that I can also print on my laser printer which is wonderful! :)

MCatherine said...

Love this tutorial!!! Thank you so much! I'm going to have to try this with one of my granddaughter's pictures...scanning, then printing it!

Heather said...

Catherine, I would definitely use the Bubble jet set as suggested. That way you don't loose any color from the pics!! It is a very cool way, and even with buying the stuff to set the pic it's still cheaper than buying the "fancy" premade stuff!

Jenn said...

Great tutorial. Thanks.