Fabric Label Tutorial

 I looked everywhere online, and could not find cheap labels for my items. I then had a wonderful friend tell me her husband could do them, but again it was just out of our price range. I thought maybe I could do them myself, and started researching the internet and "how to." Finally, I came across one blog that mentioned using vinegar to set the ink in fabric! Oh yeah, it was on!!

First I used freezer paper to give my fabric a hard back, so that way it can go through the printer.

I then cut out a 8.5 inch by 11 inch piece of the freezer paper.

I cut a piece of white fabric again, 8.5 inches by 11 inches.

I then ironed the white fabric to get any wrinkles or creases out.

I then carefully place the waxy side of the freezer paper on top of the fabric. Matching corners and making sure its perfectly aligned on all four sides. I then starts in one corner and ironed the back of the freezer paper to the fabric.

Iron from one corner up to the next, and then work across the page slowly moving up and down.

Using a word document, set it to four columns. Place your BLACK ink design in the four columns evenly spaced. I printed a few test pages to see if the spacing was okay, and if I liked the size of the font. Once you have your design set, place your fabric/freezer paper in the printer.

NOTE: I tried all the different colors, and the vinegar bath washes the colored ink away.

I like to take all the paper out, lay my fabric paper on top, shuffle the papers so they all sit perfectly together, and slide the stack of paper back inside the printer. (Make sure you put the fabric in the right way, so your printer prints onto the fabric and not the paper).

Then simply print your BLACK ink labels.

Let the page dry while you grab a flat pan big enough to hold your page, and some white vinegar.

Carefully peel off the freezer paper from the fabric.

Place the fabric labels into the pan.

Cover the fabric with a small amount of vinegar until the entire piece of fabric is wet.

Let the fabric sit for 5-10 minutes. Then remove the fabric from the vinegar bath, and rinse under cold water. I make sure to rub the fabric a little to get the smell out.

I then hang the piece of fabric on a hanger with clips.

Then place the hanger out in our garage to dry. Its been in the 100s all week, so they actually dry really fast!

Once the fabric is dry, you should have something like this:

I then cut each label out, leaving some space around the edges for folding.

I then go to my ironing board and start to iron down the edges.

I start with the shorter sides.

Then move to the longer sides.

I then flip it over, and give it a nice press.

You can sew them directly onto a piece of fabric, or skip the small side fold and just tuck it into a binding or finished edge.

All done and they look so nice:

I hope this helps you out, and you are able to save a few bucks! I purchased about 5 yards of white basic fabric for $1.99 a yard, from Joanns. I used a 30% off coupon to help save a few bucks. I am sure with 5 yards I will have plenty of labels!

Enjoy That Special Touch,
Sarah