If you're going to start a business selling your handmade items, it makes sense to have labels, right? Right! I don't know why it took me so long to get around to this. Well, I do know why.. I really dreaded the thought of sewing the labels onto every piece of clothing! But alas, it must be done. Here's a tutorial on making your own labels at home, not just for clothing, but for accessories, purses, or any kind of craft! Enjoy, and message me with any questions!
Overview: You can make machine washable clothing labels using printable Fabric Sheets. Basically, you print your design directly onto the fabric sheet, iron the fabric sheet to set the ink, cut to size and sew the labels into your clothing or other handmade item.
Materials:
- Fabric Sheets for inkjet printers (they also have sheets for laser printers). Cost: $9.99 for 3 sheets at Joann's (less if you remember your 40% off coupon!)
- computer & printer
- iron
- cold water
- scissors
- needle & thread or sewing machine
1. Create your design on the computer. I used MS Word to make a basic colored text design. Test print the design onto paper first. Once satisfied, print the design onto your fabric sheet (on the fabric side). You may want to start with just 1 or 2 labels until you get the hang of this, so you don't waste any of your fabric paper.
2. Let ink dry for atleast 10 minutes. Remove paper backing from sheet. Dry iron on high for 1-2 minutes on design side. (Don't press down too hard with iron or you may distort your image).
3. To make your labels colorfast, rinse under cold water and pat dry using paper towels. Dry iron again on high to dry and set labels.
4. Hand-sew or machine-sew the label onto your clothing. Ta daaaa! That's it! Now your items look totally legit!
Relabeling: After screen-printing my design onto the item below, I relabeled this skirt by removing the "Alternative Apparel" tag and replacing it with my own. (I know, not the prettiest sewing job in the world, I was getting tired!) I left on the manufacturer's label that includes product and size info.
The funkyfelter also has a great, in-depth tutorial on making labels.
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Did you know instead of buying the fabric sheets, you can make your own? Buy muslin and freezer paper, cut out an 8.5 by 11 inch piece of freezer paper and iron the shiny side to the muslin, cut around the muslin/freezer paper, then put that through your printer? Works just great and super cheap!
ReplyDeleteREALLY? do you have to pre-treat the muslin first? is it machine washable? do the edges fray? is it soft on the skin (for clothing labels?) that would be a great option, pls let me know, thanks for the tip!
ReplyDeleteI wash the muslin ahead of time to pre-shrink it. The edges do fray - you can use a product like fray check (I don't b/c I'm making kids shirts and the fray check isn't tested to be compliant with the safety regulations for kids - I just sew all the way around) Mine are soft, I'm not sure if with the fray check they get stiff at the edge, it probably has to do with your technique in applying it, but I know there are etsy sellers who use fray check and advertise their tags as being soft. Oh and mine have done fine in the laundry, I do iron the heck out of them to set the ink. You pull the freezer paper off the back before sewing the tag on, so the paper doesn't ever go through the wash. You may find even more tips if you search on the etsy forums - I know there were some folks making tags for lingerie so those would HAVE to be soft! lol. I should be thanking YOU b/c you turned me on to the screen filler and drawing fluid - has made making my screens SO much easier!
ReplyDeleteoh i'm so glad you're trying the screen filler & drawing fluid! good for you! what kind of screens do you use?
ReplyDeletethanks for the muslin tip, i'm totally trying that next!!!!
I just get sheer fabric from the fabric store - like the stuff for curtains. They have a bin where you pay by the pound - as light as that stuff is I think I paid under $2 for it, have made like 10 screens and still have tons left! I've never used real screens, so I don't know what I'm missing :-)
ReplyDeletesweet! do you screenprint or stencil using a sponge? the only trouble i'm running into with that type of material is:
ReplyDelete1. screen filler starts to wash out after 5-6 printing sessions
2. screen filler seeps through screen to other side when i'm applying it, so it gets messy
do you have those issues?
I like the idea of making you own clothing tags for your clothes. It is a sign of ownership for me as well as a great design.
ReplyDeletewoven clothing tags
This is just one of the main reasons why I really love visiting your blog. I always found a very interesting post just like this one. Your tag is just so amazing.
ReplyDeletepersonalized clothing tags
thank you very much! im so glad you find this blog helpful!
ReplyDeletereally useful
ReplyDeletethanks a lot
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Thanks ! This worked like a dream !
ReplyDelete