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: 2/12/2007 Subject: printing on fabric
Question I followed the guidelines to the letter to make my fabric colorfast. Used the Bubble Jet 2000. I have a Lexmark printer. The fabric printed out beautifully. I allowed to dry for 1 hour. Then washed as instructed. Colors faded badly. Ran together. I had pretreated the fabric prior to printing with the baking soda, etc. What went wrong. Is my only option to get an Epson C-88 printer. I am so disappointed as I am making a Sunbonnet Sue baby quilt.
Answer Which specific "guidelines" did you follow for pre-washing? Do you mean that you washed/scoured the fabric with HOT water, washing soda, and synthrapol?
How exactly did you apply the Bubble Jet 2000? Did you lay the pre-scoured cotton into a tray of Bubble Jet Set 2000, pick it up, allow excess solution to drip away, and then allow it to dry flat?
Printed fabrics should be left alone for 24 hours before washing.
Baking soda is not the same chemical make-up as soda ash/washing soda, nor will it have any impact on the printed inks, whether dye-based or pigment-based.
How did you pre-treat with *both* Bubble Jet Set 2000 AND baking soda??
Since all inks perform differently, even amongst particular printers, I would try again before buying the Epson printer. Scour 2 sample pieces of cotton with the soda ash/washing soda and the synthrapol. Soak and dry 1 sample in Bubble Jet Set 2000, as described above. Print on both samples, marking which is which. Allow to sit undisturbed for 24 hours. Wash samples with non-bleach, non-harsh detergent.
