EDIT: An updated tutorial with different printing and washing techniques can be found here: http://www.polishthestars.com/2011/09/techniques-for-printing-on-fabric.html
I first saw the tutorial for printing on fabric here. It is so easy! You start with some spray adhesive:
Spray it onto a piece of cardstock and place your fabric on top, being sure to get out as many bubbles as possible. (I recommend spraying the adhesive outside.)
Then cut down the fabric so that it is the exact same size as your cardstock.
Place it in your printer with the fabric facing whichever side gets the ink.
You now have printed fabric!
Just peel it off of the cardstock.
And you are ready to use your new printed fabric!
I would never have guessed it was that easy :) Super cool.
ReplyDeleteThis is AMAZING! Thanks so much for sharing!!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat directions! You can also iron your fabric to a piece of freezer paper that has been cut to 6.5x11". The freezer paper adheres to the fabric without having to use the spray glue.
ReplyDeleteI worry about it bunching up, I guess you'd have to use a lot of spray adhesive.
ReplyDeleteSo cool! Thanks for a great idea!
ReplyDeleteDo you think this would work with a laser printer or just an inkjet?
ReplyDeletewould definatly only work with an inkjet ...... laser print would likly burn your house down. inkjets use ink, laser printers use a ladeer to precisely super heat the paper and then dust it with a powder toner that melts to were the laser heated the paper..... with a fabric it is likly the heat won't disipate and the the fabric would catch fire
Deletethat looks so easy!!
ReplyDeleteYou can also iron Heat N Bond Lite or Heat N Bond Heavy Duty onto cotton fabric and run it through your printer, then you can iron it onto anything. WOrks great!
ReplyDeleteJust as long as you don't get it wet this works beautifully.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to know the same as Sandi - did you use a laser printer, and is it waterproof?
ReplyDeletelaser printer would catch fire in your printer - i replyed to Sandi above
Deletecan it go in the washer?
ReplyDeleteThat's what I was wondering, can it be washed?
ReplyDeleteAwesome! I have to try this! the heatbonding thing is a good idea too! thanks for your creativity sharing!
ReplyDeleteI want to know if this can be washed, too!!! Please let us know!
ReplyDeleteEmail: jkrachow@yahoo.com
can it be washed is there anything special I need to know to make it wash
ReplyDelete"The most common ways to get washable prints on fabric is to use a product called Bubble Jetset 2000, or purchase fabric sheets that have already been pretreated and precut to size.
ReplyDeleteBubble Jetset 2000"
Inkjet printer only
Will it work on any fabric? I'm interested in burlap...what'cha think?
ReplyDeleteKat, I have heard good things about Bubble Jetset 2000 and will be trying it when I revisit this post soon. Thanks! :)
ReplyDeleteLindsay, You can print on burlap as well. Check out this site to see their burlap laundry print: http://www.domestically-speaking.com/2010/09/burlap-laundry-signhow-to.html
Okay, I'm a noob. How would I transfer this to a shirt?
ReplyDeleteAhh nevermind. I read through the comments and answered my own question. LOL
ReplyDeleteCan this be washed, and if so, does it last? Or is this only meant for a memory quilt that is never washed?
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ReplyDeleteThis is fantastic!! I would have never guessed it would be this easy!! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI use freezer paper. I cut it to 8.5 X 11 inch size. I iron it onto the fabric, shiney side adheres to the back with a dry iron. Then I just run it through my printer. It does not need to be pretreated if you do not plan to launder the piece. It become permanent through heat activation though so ironing it first will set the colors, I've been told. I have not tried that because I usually us my pieces to make art quilts that are not washed.
ReplyDeleteOk, this might be a dumb question, but what is freezer Paper??
ReplyDeleteFreezer paper is normally used to wrap meat and other foods before freezing them. You can find it at Walmart and similar stores with the aluminum foil and waxed paper. To give you a better idea of what you are looking for, I have a picture of a box of it in this post: http://www.polishthestars.com/2010/10/freezer-paper-stencil.html
Deletethis IS a dumb question....what would you do with this fabric that you just printed on?? as you can tell, I'm not a very creative person.
ReplyDeleteLots of people use these for quilt blocks. You could also print onto fabric that you intend to cut out in a pattern and sew clothing. I guess you could sew them into a table cloth or wall hanging. Anything you'd use a prepurchased, preprinted fabric for. But now you can choose/design the print yourself.
DeleteThanks you so much for that tip. You can use freezer paper also.I used it on burlap and it looks pretty good. Now I am going to use your technique. I love being retired but miss he $$check!
ReplyDeleteLaser is a heat process... the toner will rub off and you CANNOT Iron laser printed fabric! I encourage you to only use ink jet process for printing on fabric or transfers. You cannot iron or wash laser toner. If you do... you will regret it... it will get all over your iron, washing machine, and dryer!
ReplyDeleteInk Jet is the best way to print on fabric! You heat set the ink by ironing between two pieces of muslin... wash it... then iron it again. Just to make sure your ink is well set. If you are just using it for a wall hanging or something you do not intend to wash then a simple heat would do fine.
This opens up so many possibilities! And since I am easily sidetracked - do you know the name of the font you used on your last pictured sample? Thanks :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for this! I referenced your tutorial on my blog. What a brilliant idea!!
ReplyDeletehttp://extraordinaryoffspring.blogspot.com/
How do you get the adhesive off the fabric afterward?
ReplyDeleteWhen you pull the fabric away, the adhesive stays on the cardstock not the fabric. Or you can check out my updated tutorial ( http://www.polishthestars.com/2011/09/techniques-for-printing-on-fabric.html ) for other less sticky options if you prefer. :)
DeleteCan't wait to try this out!! Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDelete-Fotini { http://glamorousbride.blogspot.com }
so I used my laser printer and it worked fine. I Haven't washed it but no fires here
ReplyDeletedidn't see, how does it hold up in the wash?
ReplyDeleteI don't know how it survives through washing .
ReplyDeleteI used the solution 2000, ironed it then scotched guarded it. then i made a purse. i will let you know how it holds up.
Brilliant! Can't wait to try it :-)
ReplyDeleteI've used many techniques to print on fabric, mainly for labels for my quilts. Washing is fine for black ink, but if in color, they will fade dramatically. Bubble Jet does help keep the colors from fading as much when washed. Even after being heat set with a household iron, the colors will bleed if wet unless you spray a fixative on it after printing. I hate that part so I usually stick to good old black on light colored fabric. It has so many possibilities. Thank you for this idea (spray adhesive). I've never tried it. If it does stay on the card stock and not the fabric itself, that would be great! It might even be reusable (the card stock w/ adhesive.) I know the 8.5 x 11" freezer paper sheets I iron onto white muslin the same size, I can reuse the freezer paper over and over, even when I make a mistake a print it on the wrong side!
ReplyDelete