Print Your Own Quilt Labels

OK, making your own quilt labels is pretty simple, but there are a few important steps to acheive the Permanent for these labels.

Start with some regular muslin (bleached or unbleached), (and I would leave the Downey or other fabric softeners out for these)

Get a 13"x9" glass cake pan (or a kitty litter pan) I have to emphasize that you should not use these pans for eating (or the kitty) after this process.

Put one or more layers of the muslin in the bottom of the pan.

Pour Bubble Jet Set over fabric, making sure the fabric is totally wet.
Squeeze out excess Bubble Jet Set and let the fabric dry.

Find a container, mark contents with permenant marker, pour the excess Bubble Jet Set in it. (don't use anything you might store food in).

After fabric is dry, iron onto freezer paper.

Using your 'Paper' Rotary Cutter, slice your fabric and paper into 8.5" x 11" sheets (use a sheet of printer paper as template).

Following your printer instruction (i.e. face up or face down), print your original label design in color or black and white. With some advanced preparation, you might fit more than one label on the 8.5 x 11 sheet.

After giving the the ink a few minutes to dry (you can use a hair dryer), iron with a hot iron - no steam, but do not scorch.

Here is the important part that is need to make it permanent.

After peeling off the freezer paper, pour some 'HOT' water into pan. Add a teaspoon of Retayne. Swoosh it around in the solution. I would just put one sheet of labels in the water at a time - don't stack or let the fabric fold back on itself.

Soak for about 10 minutes (don't get excited if you see a bit of the ink/color leach out). Remove the fabric and rinse it in cool water. Dry it, cut to the desired size (don't forget to leave seam allowance if folding under) and attach to your quilt. If you have more than one sheet of labels, you might need to add a little more of the RETAYNE to the pan.

The secret ingredient is the RETAYNE solution, but is much easier to use than the ash and other chemicals that dyers use. (I usually have it available in in EBay store).