draadjes

the threads I collected along the way

Fabric labels

  • This project first appeared at @ma3ke@hachyderm.io on .
  • This article was created on .

I created a sheet of fabric labels that I can stitch onto my sewing projects.

The label graphics were printed onto a sheet of transfer paper with an inkjet printer.

I hold up an A4 sheet of transfer paper printed with colorful labels. The printing is mirrored.
An A4 sheet of transfer paper printed with colorful labels. Note that the printing is mirrored.

With the heat and pressure of an iron, I bonded the printing with a piece of sailcloth. To prepare the fabric for the labels, I very thoroughly ironed it to make sure the surface was as smooth as possible.

Me ironing the transfer paper onto sailcloth
A sheet of baking paper provides a nice and smooth barrier to iron on the transfer sheet.
The transferred labels!
Having them all sorted onto small piles is very pleasing.
Cutting the labels from the bigger sheet.
Cutting the labels from the bigger sheet.

They turned out very well. The sailcloth gives this beautiful tone and it has a nice stiffness.

For the design, I used only circles and rectangles. It spells out my handle ma3ke, with the "3" represented by three circles. It is rather abstract. I like it, even years later. Below the main name graphic sits the name of my site, set in Highway Gothic.

The final labels. Some long ones that repeat a word/phrase, and a couple sets with different foreground/background color combinations.
The final labels.

To sew them on, I like to use a zig-zag stich around the edge, mostly over the label, but with the outer stitches through the substrate fabric directly. Before sewing, I secure it with a small piece of double-sided tape on the back. This keeps it properly in place and it allows me to audition different placements in case I am not certain yet.

sewing in a red on white label onto a sailcloth bag
Sewing a red-on-white label onto the main section of a sailcloth bag.
Side view of the finished sailcloth bag.
The label on the finished sailcloth bag.
My yellow camera pouch with a black-on-white label stitched onto the lower corner.
I started infecting all my stuff with the labels, from that day onward. This is my yellow camera pouch with a black-on-white label stitched onto the lower corner.