Need help with fabric labels for quilts...computer fabric
By coffeebreak
@coffeebreak (17798)
United States
November 18, 2012 10:10am CST
I begin today to make the labels for the quilts I made for my grand kids for christmas. I splurged and bought a package of "Tailor Sew-in Computer Printer Fabric sheets"...sheets where you print content out on the printer and then pull the backing off the paper/fabric and just sew it into the project...like a piece of fabric.
Cool thing I thought as I had tried other things and they left the block I made with it rather stiff, but still okay. But thinking of longevity...I slurged with my 50% off coupon and got this.
Now I am reading the "fine print" and it says DRY CLEAN ONLY! Are you kidding me? Dry Clean a add-on fabric? These are quilts for kids, hopefully they will take care of them, but still...kids and laundry go hand in hand so the quilt has to be machine washable! So..have you used these before, can they be washed without ruining them?
If not...what have you all used for your labels? I want something large enough to write a little note kind of thing plus who made and to whom. I have tried just printing the writing out onto fabric (backed with the freezer paper) but then when washed...it fades to even disssapears.
Please help! I have 5 labels to make. I have a HP DeskJet printer..about 8 years old so it doesn't have any "new" stuff if needed to print them. I am ordering new HP ink cartridge so that will be ready to go. I used only black prior, but would like to do color this time. Thanks for any suggestions!
Oh...if you have a favorite site that has labels you can print out so I have design/color going on, please share
2 responses
@scouture (7)
• United States
19 Nov 12
When you are doing the labels I think you need to 'set" them. To do this after you have written on your fabric you need to take a pressing cloth- any thin type of cloth will do ( a linen or smooth dish towel is what I use) and place the towel over the printing. Then you apply the very hot iron for several seconds ( 30 seconds or so) over the printed area.
I make my own labels buy cutting plain muslin into 3 by 6 ( or bigger pieces) . I turn under each edge and press. Then I write my words or name and date and then do the setting. After that I can attach it to the back of the quilt and it should stay.
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
19 Nov 12
I started out that way, but when I'd wash the label fabric with the writing on it..the ink either ran or just dissapeared or went really light. Even tho I did heavy ink and all that. Last summer I bought iron on transfer paper where you print it out BACKWARDS so when you iron it onto the fabric, the wording is correct..but that left a stiffer surface. So this is why I was trying the computer fabric. So I was trying this..didn't notice the dry clean only!
But I made it anyway, just to see...I printed out the label and then put it in a lingerie bag and washed it as I would the quilt..warm wash warm dry. Other than alot of wrinkles..it turned out fine! I dont' know what the deal is with dry clean only..does it shrink or disfigure the fabric? But I ironed it and most of the wrinkles came out. I am going to take it now and make the label with the backing fabric and then wash it again ans see how that works. If it turns out good, then I know it can be used...maybe I'll wash it a time or two again.. these are christmas gifts for my grand kids this year so i have to get something on them!
When you use the muslin... I have found that if you iron it onto a piece of freezer paper that freezer paper is what keeps it flat and all when going through the printer..if you use the printer. But doing it by hand as you mention, I 'd love to do that but my handwriting is just not up to pare for something like this and I haven't found a pen that doesn't fade or run...what do you use for a pen?
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
21 Nov 12
I always wash the quilt when done as it helps make it softer...but it has to be washed once dirty so I'd think that if the ink was going to bleed...it'd do it then and be all over the quilt. I dont' know..just assuming. But I don't want to take that chance. I did it on a trial piece of fabric once..and the ink literally washed out completely!
@scouture (7)
• United States
21 Nov 12
I use a quilting pen that is specially designed for use for writing permanently on muslin. I either got it at the quilt store or maybe even Walmart in their sewing section. Look for it there.
I have used the freezer paper for this for years and it always works out good for me. I also use the freezer paper when I do Applique which works wonderfully!
The other thing is I do not wash mine at all. I just attach mine to the back of the quilt or project. No one has ever told me that the wording came off.
I Also have a small light box so I can practice my handwriting ( or printing) . Then when I get it the way I like it, I can just tape both to the light box and trace it.
@cotruelove (1016)
• Denver, Colorado
19 Nov 12
Hello my friend,
A few years ago, I made an applique quilt for my grandson and went to a quilt shop and bought some fabric pens and a book of designs for labels. I could have paid less for the same type of pens from Hobby Lobby, but make sure they are designed as fabric pens. However, with that book came an idea to use coloring books for designs or whatever with the pens either in outline or filled in color, and hand write the message, with the date, my name, and the name of the person it was given to. Fortunately, I have a scanner and scanned in the design then reduced it's size. I used an old piece of a white sheet, cut in a rectangle the size that allowed the design I wanted, colored in the design with the fabric pens, and printed in all the information and signed it with my normal signature. I said: "Hand crafted and Presented to (name of grandson) by his grandmother (my name) on (date)." Hope that helps. Real fabric ink sets with vinegar and water and will wash beautifully. The trick is using the right detergent to clean a quilt because I guarantee, Tide will ruin a quilt in a heart beat including some of the dyes in the fabrics.
I do not like the printer fabrics and like you the "Dry clean only" is the turn off for me.
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
19 Nov 12
I have heard about that way, but my hand writing is no good. I try so hard but it just doesn't come out to my standards. I tried this stuff I bought, printed the label out and washed it (put it in a lingerie bag) and washed it on warm, dried it on warm and it came out FINE!!! Wrinkled, but fine! I pressed it and then used starch and it came out fine...only thing is it was slightly stretchy so I have to be careful about that, but I think I'll use this and make the whole label before I wash it and see how that works as far as keeping the wrinkles down and not stretching.
Detergent effects quilts that way? I hadn't heard about that before. Why is that? I have been washing finished quilts a few extra times to try to get hte stiffness out of them..so far, hasn't done much,but they say it helps in the long run. But I haven't seen any fading...I used to use TIde, but stopped when I found out it is not good for a septic tank..I now use Arm and Hammer or All. Is it something IN Tide that does that?
@cotruelove (1016)
• Denver, Colorado
19 Nov 12
I didn't write anything but my signature, otherwise it was all printed in block letters.
I use detergent like you use to wash baby clothes like Ivory, Dreft or Woolite. Tide many times uses bleach in it and other ingredients that are hard on batting and fabric colors. Many of the quilt shops sell detergent specifically designed for quilts, especially heirloom ones where the dyes are not near as good as the ones today. I have some that date back to the early 1900's and the harsh detergents would disintegrate them and the dyes would wash out quickly. Even the ones I have from the 1930's would be damaged by today's detergents other than the ones I mentioned.
