Making printable fabric sheets

Fabric sheets step-by-step
Now that you've got your supplies and have read through the tips, it's time to start having some fun. The following instructions walk you through making an 8-1/2 x 11 fabric sheet.

Materials:
• 100% cotton fabric
• Fixative for pretreating the fabric
• Iron
• Firm, smooth ironing surface, such as a cloth-covered table or piece of shelving
• Scissors or rotary cutter
• Cutting mat
• Freezer paper or full-sheet adhesive labels
• Ruler
• Lint brush

Instructions:
1. Pretreat the fabric with an ink fixative, following the manufacturer's directions for pretreating and drying the fabric.

2. Iron the fabric to remove wrinkles. Use a dry iron on the cotton setting for the best results.

3. Cut a 9 x 11-1/2 piece of ironed fabric. By cutting the fabric slightly larger than the finished fabric sheet, you'll greatly reduce the possibility of getting adhesive or wax on your iron and ironing surface. You'll be trimming the fabric to fit the backing in a later step.

4. Affix the backing to the fabric using either freezer paper or a full-sheet adhesive label:

If using freezer paper:
a. Cut an 8-1/2 x 11 piece of freezer paper.
b. Place the fabric (right side down) on the ironing surface.
c. Centre the freezer paper (shiny side down) over the fabric.
d. Iron on the freezer paper side until it is bonded to the fabric. We recommend starting in the center and ironing out to the edge, making sure the corners and sides are completely bonded. Remember to use a dry iron with a cotton setting.
e. Turn the sheet over and iron on the fabric side, removing any remaining wrinkles. Note: Colored fabric is being used in our demo so you can see better. However, white fabric works best for printing images.

If using an adhesive label:
a. Place the fabric (right side down) on the ironing surface.
b. Peel the backing off the label.
c. Align one end of the label with the fabric; then apply the adhesive side of the label to the fabric, using care not to get any wrinkles or bubbles under the label.
d. With the fabric side up, use a roller or cool iron to remove any wrinkles or air bubbles.

5. Trim your fabric sheet to match the freezer paper or adhesive label backing. Make sure you cut (don't pull) any loose threads along the edges so they don't get caught in the printer.

6. Brush the fabric with a lint brush to remove any lint.

What's next
Fabric printing with inkjet printers is blossoming, and people are discovering new and creative ways to incorporate inkjet-printed fabrics into their projects. Visit HP Quilting to learn new and innovative ways you can incorporate fabric printing into your life.