~ How to Print on Fabric Using an Inkjet Printer - Image Transfer - DIY - Tutorial

So why are we using the shipping label?
Good question, and if I don't answer that first 
this could be confusing! 

You can't print on fabric from you printer because the fabric is 
so flimsy. It will jam in the printer for sure.
So you are using the label to make it possible 
to get the fabric through the printer. 

All backing and paper will be removed
after you are done printing and
you will have lovely piece of art
printed on fabric!!
 ____________________________________________


Forget the spay glue adhesive and freezer paper. This is much better.

It is very easy to do and requires no messy chemicals to transfer your image to fabric. 

This tutorial will show you how to use your inkjet printer at home.
(I have read that others used their laser printers for fabric,
but I have not tried it, so I cannot say how it works from my
own experience.)

** All art in this tutorial is the original, copyrighted

art of Donna, The Decorated House. **

Click on "Continue Reading" Link Below for the Instructions:

The secret to making this technique so simple is the use of large shipping labels. 

They  come in 8.5 x 11 inches sheets with adhesive on the back.

You can easily find them at any office supply store 

and some other stores as well. 

They are cheaper per sheet if you purchase a box of 100, 

but you can find smaller boxes too.

Choose your fabric. This should be something like a cotton or cotton blend. 

The fabric here is a medium weight unbleached cotton. 

The first picture above is a white linen. 

1.  Cut a piece of fabric about 3 inches larger than the

8.5 x 11 label leaving a 1 to 1.5  inch area around the entire piece.

(The piece I used for that picture has not been ironed yet,

but be sure to iron your fabric if it has any wrinkles at all.)

 

As you can see here, there is a place on the back, in the center, for you

to take the backing off the sticky label. 

2. Take the backing off the label

and center it, sticky side down,

 on the BACK of the fabric.

3. Press firmly along the edge of the label. 

You want to make sure that you get the best bond 

between the fabric and the label as possible. 

A spoon works fine if you don't have anything else to use. 

 4. Next cut the fabric around the label.

Cut as close to the label as you can.

OR

Cut slightly into the label.

This will give you an even better seal. 

It will be less likely that you will have loose threads from
 the fabric going into your printer  if you

cut into the label slightly. 

(Tip: If you can sharpen your scissors before doing this step this is 

a very good idea.)

 

5. Load the label/fabric into your printer 
so that the fabric side will be printed on!
Each printer is different, so
if you can't remember, test on plain paper first.

Guide the fabric in as it begins to print.
This will help keep it  from catching, and will load
more smoothly.

6.  To "heat set" the ink, you
can iron your fabric after it is printed.
Lay a plain piece of fabric on top 
and just iron it after you 
remove the label from the back.

The above picture is what it will look like

after you print your fabric.

That fabric unbleached cotton and
printed on an Epson printer, 8.5 x 11 inches.

Both of the smaller art fabrics are 8.5 x 11 inches using one full label sheet. 

 They are both on unbleached cotton of slightly different weights and colors. 

The larger one, in the center, is using TWO labels.
 It is printed on white cotton linen.

It is 19 x 13 inches, 

and was printed on a large format Epson printer. 

7.  For Larger than 8.5 x 11 inches,
How to make a larger size if you have a large format printer:

You can print up to whatever size your printer will allow

by using more than one label. 

Cut out your fabric again slightly larger than the size 

you will  be printing. 

Lay the labels on the back of the fabric, covering the size you
want your final fabric piece.

Then cut around the label and fabric, 

making sure to keep it straight.
  

*Disclaimer: About Printers:  Although I have used my large format printer which is a little bit more expensive printer to do this, there is a chance that if you use your printer with certain fabrics it may cause harm if any threads come off inside of it. If your printer can print on fabric transfer paper, then it should print using this method. Just be sure to trim off any loose ends/threads before inserting the fabric into the printer.

You can use your fabric piece now for

 pillows, bags, art and dozens of things 

that you can think up to create! 

Have fun!

See Y'All Soon~

 ................................................................................
 Click on any of the pictures below to shop art from The Decorated House