by eggyannie 02 Aug 2011

I want to make a attic window quilt but i realy did want to use my own images but how to do it as the cost of the special fabric that you can use in the home printer is so high.

I surfed the web and found a solution here
http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/proj...
In the Uk its called washing soda and our mothers used it to get grease of the dirty washing and to clean floors and such i use it to clean the drains and to mop over the floors. Its CHEAP.
I must admit to doubling up on the amount needed and used a large glass bowl,with hot water.
i ripped cotton sheeting into just a half inch shorter width than A4 strips, then cut freezer paper to A4 size for my computer printer.
Next the fabric strips where then soaked for about an hour in the solution and taken out and simply hung up outside to dry, Once dry it was then pressed. That was last night.
This morning i decided to test it out.
i took a length of the treated fabric and a sheet of freezer paper and ironed the two together the shiny side onto the back of the fabric.
Just make sure no thread edges can catch in the printer rollers. I selected a
pattern for a dolls hous quilt and printed it onto the fabric.
Next with fingers crossed i pressed it dry and then removed the freezer paper.
SO FAR SO GOOD. But would it pass the water test.Will it run? Will it bleed?
NO..... it held the print, even when i rubbed it as if washing it as normal.
Ladies and Gents here is the answer to those prayers.
now i can make a wall hanging useing my own photos or pics.
Google images will be used to find some royalty free pics for the attic window quilt.
total cost of creating the printable fabric, about 50p
Need more ideas for this use? how about makeing paper dolls. or even those rag dolls can now have an actual face printed onto it. Personalise a note book with a photo and a special message.
come on let the imagination run wild.
Oh for those of you doing scrap books and want a neat cover for it, what better than a quilted one with those old sepia pics on it... ooh the brain
cell is working overtime. bet you wished i had not jumped in again. annie

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by momhome 17 Apr 2012

Thank you so much for your tips and helpful ideas.

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by blueeyedblonde 17 Apr 2012

Thanks for putting this up again.

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by jacquipaul 17 Apr 2012

Thanks for posting!

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by fannyfurkin 16 Apr 2012

I am not sure what freezer paper is. Do any Aussie cuties know what that would be called here? I don't think I have ever seen it. Unless I have just never looked for it.
Alice.

7 comments
eggyannie by eggyannie 16 Apr 2012

may come under the title of butchers paper but check out e bay . quilters use a lot of it

taydc by taydc 16 Apr 2012

It is plastic coated paper. Quilters use it. In Australia try quilters supply shops.

bevintex by bevintex 16 Apr 2012

find it in the grocery aisle,next to aluminum foil. It's made for wrapping meats before freezing.

sewcrazy1 by sewcrazy1 17 Apr 2012

wax paper

danababes by danababes 18 Apr 2012

It's called freezer paper here in Oz too but it's not in all supermarkets so can be hard to find. :)

sewtired by sewtired 20 Apr 2012

Freezer Paper and wax paper are not the same thing. Our freezer paper is white with a plastic finish on one side. Wax paper is translucent with a wax coating on both sides.

1allamericangirl by 1allamericangirl 25 Apr 2012

yes sewtired is so right wax paper & freezer paper are not the same thing at all. DO NOT USE WAX PAPER FOR THIS!

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by hightechgrammy 16 Apr 2012

I'm so glad this came to the top again, I missed it way back in August!

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by hightechgrammy 16 Apr 2012

Oh Annie, I can't believe this!!!! You are BRAVE! Are you actually saying you can put this through the printer??? Do you mean an inkjet printer?? This could change my world.......

1 comment
eggyannie by eggyannie 16 Apr 2012

yes a normal inkjet printer will do this

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by tracypullen 16 Apr 2012

My friend has been taking painting classes for years from another friend. She took pictures of finished paintings of the classes work and turned the pictures into a quilt for the teacher. She had a fit. She loved it so much.

1 comment
eggyannie by eggyannie 16 Apr 2012

so much can bedone with this method like memory scrap book covers or wedding albums

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by mops Moderator 15 Aug 2011

I noticed your method is today's article on Sick, congratulations!

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by chickaneedle 06 Aug 2011

In the USA this is washing soda. The only brand I've ever seen is Arm and Hammer, but don't get it confused with baking soda. I have not seen it in, say, a Walmart or Target store, but have bought it in grocery stores on the laundry aisle, of course. It comes in a box about 3 times larger than the baking soda boxes.

Annie, thanks so much for sharing this!

3 comments
cj2sew by cj2sew 16 Apr 2012

Arm & Hammer is bicarbonate soda. Soda ash is Red Devil Lye here in the U.S. that is why you must use rubber gloves. Arm & Hammer is used adjust the Ph in a swimming pool, clean teeth, cleaning surfaces, remove smells from a fridge, etc. You don't want to confuse the two.

cj2sew by cj2sew 16 Apr 2012

Got cut off. If you use Soda Ash which the recipe calls for you needed gloves and mask. Don't confuse Soda Ash and bicarbonate soda.

danababes by danababes 18 Apr 2012

Wow, "lye" in Australia is caustic soda (the main chemical in drain cleaner) diluted in water, and used in soap making .. certainly not what washing soda is. Eek would hate to mix them up.

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by spendlove Moderator 06 Aug 2011

I've just tried ine and all of the coloured ink washed out - the black was left behind. I wonder what I did that was different?

3 comments
eggyannie by eggyannie 06 Aug 2011

you soak the fabric in the solution for about an hour, the squeeze out surplus and hang it to dry. once dry press it, you should then be able to use it in your inkjet printer. the photo in the projects is actuall a brown and tan the actuall fabric used was cream. and if you look at the other photo in the projects the coloures have stay'd. ok try a stronger solution

spendlove by spendlove 06 Aug 2011

That is what I did - perhaps my solution wasn't as strong.

danababes by danababes 18 Apr 2012

I'm yet to try this but I've heard that you cannot use re-inked printer inks, they must be genuine cartridges/refills .. ? maybe thats why you colour washed out but not your black ..?

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by spendlove Moderator 06 Aug 2011

I bought some soda this morning and have some fabric in soak right now!

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by loves2j 06 Aug 2011

Thanks for the great tip. I will try the Arm & Hammer washing Soda that is available in the USA and see if that works. I have a family tree quilt project that I think would work well with this. And ideas of doing a quilt of verses or smart sayings are boundless now that I can do it cheaper. Thanks G. for directing me here... You are great too

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by drro 02 Aug 2011

This is good information! Thanks for sharing it with us!

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by sjbrower 02 Aug 2011

Annie, Thanks for sharing this with us... I have just got to try this out. I saw the pics that you posted as well. You've inspired a bunch of us!
--Sharon

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by kttyhwk4 02 Aug 2011

Thanks! Please keep us posted on your project.

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by chenille 02 Aug 2011

Wow! Now you have my brain cells activated!
Thanks for this.
Hugs,Nadyne

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by marcellelewis 02 Aug 2011

Great idea! Thanks for posting it.

Marcelle
http://embroideryavenue.com/

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by deeside 02 Aug 2011

Ann, I've been wondering where you were, haven't seen you here for a while. Hope all is well with you & yours. Laura

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by bevintex 02 Aug 2011

Is this it? I wonder if you can find it in the laundry aisle of your supermarket.

2 comments
marjialexa by marjialexa 02 Aug 2011

This looks like the stuff, Bev. And we have an Ace Hardware about 12 miles away. Just an aside, most of these people are making their own laundry soap with this product. Oy! One guy uses it to smelt aluminum. Incredible what things can be used for, wow. Thanks for the link, Bev. Hugs, Marji

ssampsel by ssampsel 15 Aug 2011

i bought some at ace this weekend, then when i went to the grocery i noticed the same stuff in the laundry aisle..what a surprise.

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by ethan 02 Aug 2011

How much washing soda did you use say to pint or a litre of water?. Sounds a great idea and we have washing soda in the emerald isle. G

3 comments
loves2j by loves2j 06 Aug 2011

Have a great triphom G. Thanks...

eggyannie by eggyannie 06 Aug 2011

i used a mug full to a large mixing bowl and 3/4 filled it with hot water.
annie

ethan by ethan 24 Apr 2012

tks

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by marjialexa Moderator 02 Aug 2011

Argh! You guys get my brain cells all motivated, then I spend hours on Wikipedia and the links there! I have to do more research about what this product is called in the USA, because this is really an answer to a prayer. I've wanted to do a memory quilt with pictures of my parents, brother, family who have passed, with my mom's old stash. I've looked at the printing material and different "setting" products, and they're so expensive! This would just be wonderful to do, so Annie, thanks so much for this post!! In my various wanderings and clicking links, I found this page about dying fabric, and using the products mentioned as a setting solution for the dye. Interestingly enough, the page recommends using swimming pool chemicals of a certain brand/type, because they don't have the additives the washing products do. This is not a recommendation, I just found the page, but if anyone is brave enough to try it, let us know how it works. Those pool chemicals might be going on sale for the end of the year here in USA? I don't know, I don't have a pool. Interesting page, anyway, as were the ones provided by Annie. Sigh, I'm going to be poking around on the net all afternoon, I bet. Thanks again, big hugs to you, Marji

2 comments
eggyannie by eggyannie 02 Aug 2011

yes i was told by a friend that soda ash is used to clean pools.we can buy washing soda over the counter in most large general stores in the UK lad i could help you find a solution to the big problem of cost. may be you could share a tub with friends. annie in the uk

marjialexa by marjialexa 02 Aug 2011

I'm sure we have it, and it wouldn't be expensive, just have to find a brand name. Maybe Arm & Hammer here in USA. It's the "official" stuff they sell in the craft stores that is super expensive. Probably the same thing, and they're making a bundle on it because it's a "specialty" item. This was really a great post, Annie! Hugs, M

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by rmj8939 02 Aug 2011

Thank you for letting us in on the information.

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by spendlove Moderator 02 Aug 2011

What a great experiment. I've got a bottle of the bubblejet liquid but I won't be buying another when it runs out!

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by eggyannie 02 Aug 2011

for free downloadable E book go here
http://www.dollshousepatchworkqui...
i did and had my book downloaded along with the instructions for sewing it was from this that i tested out the fabric. more books to buy for less than $4.00 including one for the barbie sized doll i think. go have fun ladies and gents. annie

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by almag 02 Aug 2011

wow!!! thanks, Annie.
What a brilliant idea. I'm going to try it out during the next couple of days while DHDon is away in Adelaide.
Last weekend I attended a quilt camp and saw a marvellous memory quilt with the clearest family pictures I've ever seen in a quilt and it has fired me up, so your message is very timely.
I also have a small collection of paper doll pictures (what!! another collection?????.... yep!)
and that idea sounds great to me.
Again..... a huge thankyou.
AlmaG.

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by jasanne 02 Aug 2011

I for one am glad you jumped in again! I love your posts and had missed seeing your name here. As for the idea, it sounds great, thankyou for sharing. I shall mark it and try and remember for when I need it - I'm thinking it could be great for projects for my daughters too... brain cells working working....

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