AboutConnie Hester Expertise Quilting and applique expert.Can advise on the following topics:quilting, art quilts, quilt design and construction, machine and hand quilting, paper foundation piecing, machine piecing, hand piecing, raw edge applique, turned-edge applique and fiber art.
Experience Winning awards in international fiber and art competitions since 1983; http://www.conniehester.com/
BS,MS
See my work and books at http://www.conniehester.com/
Expert: Connie Hester Date: 8/4/2006 Subject: printing on fabric
Question
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Followup To
Question -
I saw your recommendations on preparing fabring to print on from June 16. After washing and drying, I'm assuming you would iron it and cut it into 8 1/2 by 11 pieces. Is there anything else? I would like to avoid buying the photo sheets, and would like to make my own. Thanks.
Amy
Answer -
Hi, Amy,
My June 13 recommendations applied to using an Epson printer with pigment-based ink. To prepare fabric for direct printing, after scouring (as explained June 13), yes, iron the fabric. Then, iron it to freezer paper for support. Next, trim the fabric-and-freezer-paper to 8 1/4" x 11". Being slightly narrower helps it to slide through the machine easily, as well as to avoid wiping excess ink onto the side edges.
For additional support, tape the top edge of the fabric-and-freezer-paper to a piece of cardstock. This step is not imperative, but it does guarantee success. I tape all the way across that top edge with cellophane tape.
I run it through just as if it were typical computer paper, not changing any settings for special "paper".
I use the "Best Photo" ink setting, laying down the most ink of the ink quality settings. In addition, even if doing black&white prints, I use the color setting.
Good luck! Let me know if I can help further.
Connie Hester
Connie,
What kind of fabric do you recommend. Muslin? Bleached or unbleached- what thread count? Pima cotton?
Thanks, I am excited to get started, but want to buy the right supplies.
Amy
Answer My current favorite fabric is white cotton sateen. I don't know the thread count, but it is tighter than muslin. In fact, I don't use muslin because the weave is so loose.
If not sateen, I buy plain ol' regular white cotton from the bolts with the solid cotton "quilters" fabric collections at the fabric store. It has a tighter weave than muslin as well.
You want white, not "unbleached" or "natural".
You also do not want to buy any fabric with "wrinkle-resistant" finishes, as this will interfere with adherence of the ink to the fabric.
While Pima cotton produces the greatest degree of crispness in photo details, it has such a tight thread count that it can be difficult to quilt through by hand and leave needle marks from machine quilting. Both of the other cottons mentioned have plenty of photographic detail from the images printed on them, though.
