 |
| |
Transfer images to fabric:
Three techniques to
create your own fabric designs with vintage images or photos
You can create your own printed fabric on your home ink jet printer,
using vintage images or your own photos! Here
are three ways
to transfer images - from purchased kits or do-it-yourself:
Purchase
iron-on transfer paper.
This paper is sold in
craft and fabric stores as 8.5" X 11" sheets, one
side treated with a heat-sensitive silicone film. Your
final result should be a clear image with a
somewhat stiff, glossy look on fabric.
You can also transfer images to flat surfaces like
wood, metal and glass. Of course, you should follow the
instructions on the package - but here is the basic process:
- Set your printer to photo-quality on coated or
photo paper. Print your image in reverse (reverse or mirror image
setting on your printer) on the sheet. Trim off the excess
paper around your image.
- Preheat your dry iron (no water or
steam) to HIGH for five minutes. Place the transfer image face down on
your fabric on an ironing board.
- Begin ironing at one corner of the image,
pressing firmly using the iron's center for five seconds, then continue
moving the iron and pressing until you have covered the entire image.
The total ironing time for a full sheet might be one or two
minutes.
- Let the transfer cool for three minutes.
- Gently stretch the fabric along the edges of
the transfer until the paper starts to detach. When it does,
peel it back slowly from the fabric.
- Place a piece of clean white paper over the
image and iron it again briefly to fuse the image to the fabric.
- If you plan to wear this fabric, turn the
garment inside out wash it in warm water first, separate from
other garments. Tumble dry on medium heat. This
will fix the image and prevent color bleeding. if the image
appears dull, iron it again and the color should return.
Purchase
fabric printing sheets. These have become very
popular among the quilting set, and you can buy them at craft, fabric
or quilting stores. The result is very different from iron-on
transfers; the fabric is printed directly, so there is no stiffness
from transfer film. However, it is not colorfast.
If you plan to wash this fabric, you need to treat it with a
fixative, such as Bubble Jet Rinse from C
Jenkins Company. Or, you can load your printer with
water-proof ink cartridges. Again, follow the manufacturer's
instructions, which will be something like this:
- Set your printer to photo-quality on coated or
photo paper. Print your image as usual (not reversed), on the
fabric side.
- Let the ink dry for 30 minutes before handling
the sheet.
- Peel away the paper backing.
- Rinse the fabric for 30 seconds under running
water, until the water runs clear. Don't even think about
wringing it out.
- Lay the fabric flat on a towel to dry.
- Iron with a warm iron.
Make your own
fabric printing sheets. C Jenkins Company covers
this too, and will sell you the supplies; Fabric treatment solution,
fabric, freezer paper sheets, and fixative solution. But,
what kind of crafters are we if we can't make our own? The
following instructions come from master-quilter, Pat Marabella:
- Purchase freezer paper and smooth white or
pastel fabric. Freezer paper is waxy on one side only,
unlike wax paper, and can be bought in sheets instead of a roll.
Look for it in craft, fabric or quilting stores.
We recommend that you buy 8.5" X 11" sheets.
- Cut your fabric a little larger than the
freezer paper.
- Heat your iron to HIGH. Iron the
fabric to the shiny side of the freezer paper.
- Trim the fabric to the 8.5" X 11" paper size.
A
rotary fabric cutter and a good metal ruler is recommended.
- One sheet at a time, print your images on the
fabric side. You may have to coax it a little.
- Let the ink dry for 30 minutes before handling.
- Peel away the freezer paper backing.
- If this fabric is for a craft and will never be
washed, you can
stop here. Otherwise, rinse the fabric for 30 seconds under
running
water, until the water runs clear.
- Lay the fabric flat on a towel to dry.
- Iron with a warm iron.
Return
from Transferring Images to Fabric to the Craft Techniques page
|
|
