How to use Freezer Paper to Print on Fabric

Printing on fabric can be done.

This is a great option for printing your own fabric label…or pictures if you are making a memory quilt.

Because fabric is so soft and snuggable, it does not go through the printer very nicely on it’s own. It will need a little help.

All you have to do is pop into your kitchen, and after you grab a little snack – bring that freezer paper back into your sewing room and get started.

Materials Needed:

freezer paper

fabric – light in color, minimal print

scissors or rotary cutter

printer – ink jet, NOT one with a powder / heat cartridge

How to use Freezer paper to print on fabric —

1) Iron your fabric — muslin is ok. or any other light fabric that you have on hand or want to use- IRON it to the shiny side of freezer paper.

2) Cut to paper size…8 x 11. I found that laying a normal piece of paper on top and cutting around the edges was the easiest.

3) stick it into the printer. Print off the label in color or b/w. The freezer paper is a bit thinner and still a little too pliable for the printer and can get jammed. I found that I had to put a piece of cardstock on the backside {touching the freezer paper} and taping in 3 places along the top edge. That way the fabric freezer paper didn’t roll away from the cardstock. Just a thought.

Make sure that your paper and fabric are placed in the right place. I place the fabric down in the printer because it rolls it up and prints on that bottom side. Just pay attention, so you don’t drive yourself batty trying to figure it out.

Peal off the freezer paper.

Now that you have that down– it’s time to make a few quilt labels with this method.

You can use this printable (it’s for organizing your sewing room, but they could be used as quilt labels just the same!) Quilting Labels Printable

4) Iron all 4 sides under 1/4″ – Hand stitch the label to the back of your quilt. Here’s a quick how to on that if you need: How to attach your quilt label.

5) Use a sharpie marker to write the information down. Of course mine has mysteriously disappeared— so no words here. But I love it still the same.

Extra hints and tips for using freezer paper:

1 – The freezer paper can be used many many many times over!
2 – This is a good way to transfer embroidery designs, as long as they are small enough to fit through your machine.
3 – Choose fabric with a high thread count to ensure better printing.
4 – Treat the fabric first with Bubble Jet to make it colorfast if it’s a bright red or blue color…or anything you think would bleed.
5 – Cut fabric and paper slightly larger than 8.5″ x 11″ just before ironing the fabric to the freezer paper, then cut the fabric stuck to the freezer paper to 8.5″ x 11″. This will help prevent the fabric from peeling back and jamming up in the printer.

Did you know freezer paper is used for applique as well? It totally works! Check out the hand applique with freezer paper here.