Printing your own fabric (WOYW Wednesday 22 June 11)

I was a little bit testy. There was an unspoken question hovering in the air. If it had materialised, it would have hung there accusingly: "You'd think you'd remember buying a large bottle of special liquid for printing onto fabric, wouldn't you? Even if it was several years ago?" Himself did not even have to say "Doh!". Sometimes it's less embarrassing to get in there first.

So I have no idea if it will make the ink permanent and the fabric washable. But I will by Friday. Now that it has stopped lurking at the back of the cupboard and had made it to my workdesk, it is going to have a chance to strutt its stuff. I''ll bring you the results. But in the meantime, here's how I printed my fabric from last week. Please do try this at home. Or at work, if their printers are better :).

• This is 100% cotton fabric, washed and dried first to remove any surface glazes. Cut a piece of it to slightly larger than the size you wish to print: mine was A4. You could make your sizes exact at this point, but I found it was easier to get neat edges by trimmimg later.  I used my X-cut guillotine because I still can't cut straight edges with scissors.
• Cut a piece of freezer paper, readily available from crafting stores and online, to the same size. Place the shiny side of it under your fabric and iron your fabric on top. This  makes the freezer paper temporarily stick to your fabric and stiffen it enough, but keep it flexible, to go through the printer.
• Trim again to the correct size, making sure the leading edge - the one which will feed into the printer first - is nicely adhered (iron again on top if necessary).
• Place your fabric sheet in your printer. I removed any other paper from beneath so it was the only item in the printer tray. With your document up on your computer screen containing your fabric pattern, instruct it to print. I choose best quality for mine.
• Watch it print, camera at the ready. Peel off the freezer paper, and you're done: time to find someone who will admire it too!

If you have any queries, do ermail me, and I'll do my best to help. Hoping you have a lot of fun with it! Right, off to decipher the small print on the Bubble Jet 2000 label ... See you Friday? And do pop over to Julia's glorious list at The Stamping Ground for more peeks at workdesks all around the world!

Comments

[Sue H]

Can’t say I’ve ever heard of Freezer paper before but it sounds like something I need to source and try I.

Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving your lovely message. Today is going to be hard but a very rewarding one.

Happy Crafting!
Sue
x

[Neil Walker (Neelzexpressionz)]

Never heard of freezer paper before but looks like a great thing to try! Have a lovely day.

[Jude Armstrong]

Ive never heard of freezer paper but if it works well good on you.Hope it all turns out the way you want it too!Have creative wednesday
hugs judex10

[Helen Lindfield]

I am also ignorant about freezer paper, though I have seen people mention it on blogs. Have fun!

[Sian]

I would love to give this a try - although our printer wouldn't even let me put a bit of card through it yesterday, so I might need to take a deep breath before I begin! It's definitely a summer holiday plan though, thank you.

[Jacky S]

I'd love to try this....but as my printer is one that feeds from the bottom [I'd never buy this type again]......I'm sort of thinking it won't let me!!

[Hels Sheridan]

ooh very clever...never tried printing onto fabric... errrrm... I might just give it a go... but I am a bit of a ninkompoop when it comes to all things computery lol I have a little giveaway on my desk this week ;o))

[helen salthouse]

Well that's fab, I love the look. I'm sure I've got some plain white cotton fabric somewhere, and if not the kids won't miss the odd piece of A4 out of their bedclothes....looking forward to seeing the results of using the magic liquid.
Helen S

[Wipso]

I've never tried freezer paper but tend to use bond a web ironed on the back of the fabric...works pretty well :-)
A x

[Mel]

And it looks amazing :) I've often forgotten I bought stuff - this post has reminded me I have several packs of 'printable materials' lurking somewhere, including cotton fabric, magnet, suede-effect stuff.... Must hunt it out and try actually using it!! And when it's all gone, I'll still be able to print onto fabric because of this fabby post, thank you :)

[Relyn]

This is SO COOL! Thank you for sharing it here. And, thank you for visiting my blog. It is so very nice to meet you. I have to tell you, your comment on my getting my gumption back post was my very favorite. I loved it and so did my family. Thank you!

[Okienurse]

Awesome! Thanks for telling us how to do it. I would imagine you could print just about anything on the clothe and cut to fit your project. I'm thinking baby pics etc. Thanks for sharing. Vickie #107

[PaulaSG]

Oh my gosh! Aren't you adventurous! It looks amazing!

[sandie]

Thanks for this, Alexa. Great instructions. For those in UK you can buy Freezer Paper in Hobbycraft. It's not cheap, about £10 a roll, but I guess it lasts if you use it carefully. It's like greaseproof paper but with the ability to stick once ironed.
I have tried printing onto fabric, just as you described, Alexa. It worked well but it washed out when I experimented. I'd be interested to know what you plan to use to 'fix' it.
I haven't done this in a while, so thank you for the reminder. I may just play tomorrow! Great post by the way!!

[sandie]

For those in UK, you can buy Freezer Paper in Hobbycraft. It's about £10 a roll so not cheap, but if you don't use it for mass production it will last. It is like greaseproof paper but with the ability to stick when ironed.

Great post Alexa! I have done this before and it worked really well. It did wash out though when I experimented so I am interested to know what you will use to 'fix' the ink. Your instructions were very clear, and thanks for the reminder. I've not printed onto fabric for a while so I might just have a go tomorrow. Look forward to Friday's follow up.

[sandie]

For those in UK, you can buy Freezer Paper in Hobbycraft. It's about £10 a roll so not cheap, but if you don't use it for mass production it will last. It is like greaseproof paper but with the ability to stick when ironed.

Great post Alexa! I have done this before and it worked really well. It did wash out though when I experimented so I am interested to know what you will use to 'fix' the ink. Your instructions were very clear, and thanks for the reminder. I've not printed onto fabric for a while so I might just have a go tomorrow. Look forward to Friday's follow up.

[Joyce]

Wow, that's amazing! I've never heard of printing on fabric(with a desk top printer anyway). Very cool! Thanks for sharing! :-)

[Susanne]

Wow, that looks easy enough for even me to try. Thanks!

[Shaz in Oz.x]

Hi there Alexa.. think this might be a bit too adventurous for me but interesting to see! well done you!! also thanks for popping over and commenting on my blog you make my day! and thanks for sharing, happy WOYWW! Shaz in oz.x

[doone]

Ooh this I must try, thanks for visiting my desk yesterday,

Dx

[doone]

hmm, did that comment work?

[doone]

Aha - reverse chronological it's at the top not the bottom!

- Hun when I previewed the comment there is word verification on, and the box is inaccessible so the comment gets lost, there is no word verification if you just click post...

Dx

[Alexa]

Hello and delighted to see you! :) I'll see if I can sort out the commenting bit - thank-you for alerting me to a possible problem.

[Alexa]

That's cool tip, thank-you!

[Alexa]

Hi Jacky - my printer tray is at the bottom and feeds upwards, and it took the fabric/paper just fine, so you might find it is not a problem. it's thinner than Bazzill!

[Kathleen]

Thank you for showing this technique I'll have to give it a try. Do you fix the colours after printing? I buy my freezer paper from patchwork quilting shops, bought a whole pack of it 10 years ago and still loads left, maybe that says I don't use it enough lol.
Kathleen x

[Brenda B]

I do like the "doh" note to self!! Interesting idea, printing on fabric, thanks for the tutorial.

Hugs
Brenda 81

[Marcie]

This is so intriguing to me. I've never seen or heard of this before..but am inspired to give it a try!

[Angelfish]

Thanks for the step by step Alexa:) I was inspired after seeing your bespoke fabrics last week. As Sian says a great summer holiday project!

[Amanda]

Can't wait til Friday to see if the magic potion worked :)

[Mary Anne]

Still loving this - I would buy it to make a bag with. Such pretty cool colours. I really must find that canvas I have someplace and print it. Good thing I still have an enourmous roll of freezer paper. Now if I can just find WAXED paper in the UK that doesn't cost the earth, I'm golden :)

MA

[jo sowerby]

cool tutorial, i've pinned it for future reference,
jo xxx

[Michele]

Fab technique and great tutorial, Alexa. Will definitely give this a try :)

[Morti]

Oooh, this has been fun to follow - interesting stuff!!!

[printing service uk]

This is very interesting. thanks for that. we need more sites like this.