What to print photo on plain material. What do I need to do to the material first?

Question

I want to make a photo quilt. I want the material to hold the picture.

Answer 1

I use Egyptian cotton from Jo-Ann's. It's very white and very smooth, no nubbies to disrupt the photo. I find that the photo sheets are very nubby and they're not always washable. You can also use plain white muslin but it's a little nubbier. Cut it into 7 X 10 inch rectangles and use bubble jet set before printing. I get chemicals from dharmatrading.com.

Then, iron freezer paper onto the back. Trim the freezer paper to match the fabric. Tape this to card stock using one long piece of tape across the top. Don't tape the sides or bottom. Choose the thickest paper size on your printer, and the best quality of print.

After you print, use bubble jet release from Dharmatrading. Sew your item. When it's time to wash the item, use the gentlest cycle, and use a soap made for antique quilts. Never use heavy duty family laundry detergent.

Good luck and have fun!

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Answer 2

I would strongly suggest buying some Fabric Printer Sheets at your local quilt or craft supply store. This fabric comes in pretreated 8 1/2 x 11 sheets made for your home printer. June Tailor and Printed Treasures both make this item. JoAnn Fabrics carries both brands most of the time . . .

http://www.printedtreasures.com

Answer 3

If you want to use your own fabric to print on with the computer printer, you will need to treat the fabric with Bubble Jet Set liquid. This will make the inkjet inks permanent on your fabric. After the faric has been treated and dried, you will need to iron it to a sheet of freezer paper, on the waxy, shiny side, that has but cut 8x10 inches to fit through your printer. Without the Bubble Jet Set the ink will wash off the fabric.
Another option is to purchase a package of June Tailor Fabric Sheets. They are pretreated and come already adhered to paper that will feed easily through your printer and the inks will remain permanent. This is the easiest way to print on fabric. A pkg of 5 8x10 fabric sheets costs about $8. I use them for photo transfer quilts and for creating labels for the back of my quilts.
Good Luck To You, LuAnn

Answer 4

Another option is to buy photo transfer paper. I have found this at JoAnn's and at TransferMagic.com. You print a mirror image onto the transfer paper and then iron it on to your fabric. The iron sets the image so that the fabric is washable.

Answer 5

get an all white cotton fabric, wash it, no fabric softener , no softener sheets in dryer, wash and dry hot so if its going to shrink it does it before you start. iron it, cut the blocks to the size you want, then transfer photos to the transfer paper on your printer, and iron on the fabric as it says to.