I figured out this method for printing labels after making a few labels on printable fabric sheets and finding there was a lot of waste once you cut out your label! Those scraps of printable fabric are too expensive to throw away and my handwriting isn't good enough to write out my own label, so I had to come up with a way to print on the scraps. It's easy...print out the text for your label on a plain piece of paper just as you want it to appear on the fabric, center a scrap of printable fabric over the text, and tape it to the paper on all four sides (make sure the tape doesn't cover any of the areas that will be printed). Feed the paper with the printable fabric taped to it into the printer and print the label onto the fabric. Voila!
No more waste! At this point you can add the label to the quilt, or you can do as I do and add a border. Simply cut 1" strips and sew them to the sides, top and bottom of the label. Press the raw edges to the back and then use an applique stitch to attach the label to the back of the quilt.
Ok, here's the fine print...I've used this technique for lots and lots of quilt labels and have not had a problem with running them through my HP printer ever. I use regular scotch tape and all brands of printable fabric. I prefer the fusible printable fabric over the sew in kind for the simple reason that the fusible does not have an annoying paper backing to peel off. Fusible fabric also allows me to fuse the border to the back and then the label to the quilt (no pinning). I do still hand stitch the label to the quilt even though it is fused. If you do choose to use a sew in printable fabric, leave the paper backing on until after you have printed the label.
7 comments:
It's a great way to make sure that all of your quilts have labels.
I am going to try this! Thanks for the post. I love to print labels too but hate the waste. I've been trying to print 2 labels at a time. I did try the method of ironing freezer paper to muslin and that DID NOT work-just jammed my printer-arrgg.
I also add the strips of fabric to the label before attaching and if I'm piecing a backing I'll just sew it right in before quilting. I'll look into the fusible labels too
Excellent idea. Thank you for sharing.
I love making the labels on this fabric too! Haven't tried this method for scraps, but will definitely do so. I hate wasting it as it is too expensive to waste. Thanks for the good tip.
I have some printer fabric for labels but haven't played around with it yet. I need to because I haven't labeled any quilts!
Thanks for the idea! I got the freezer paper/muslin method to work once. Then it decided to jam. Will have to try your method. Thanks!!!!!
Just tried this, Susan, and it worked really well! I didn't even use printable fabric, just some solid quilting fabric in a light green that I used in the quilt. Thanks for the tip!
Post a Comment