Here is my tried and tested method for how to make fabric labels tutorial! I have tested the best method for making fabric labels and this was the most washable and durable method that I tested and the most professional looking, too!

This method uses heat transfer paper and is great for making labels for handmade clothing or just for your handmade items in general. You can also use this method for creating custom clothing labels. This method is very cost effective if you are starting your own little handmade sewing business or t-shirt business, as you can customise the labels to have anything you want on them. I’ll even show you a little hack for making custom one of a kind labels as well. I hope you find this tutorial useful and let me know if you have any feedback!

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You can watch the full step by step video below or scroll on to see the steps in pictures and words

or watch it on YouTube

What You’ll Need to Make Fabric Labels at Home

Materials:

Heat Transfer Paper (you can get it from eBay or Amazon ) I use the gloss kind for Inkjet printers

or ) I use the gloss kind for Inkjet printers Wax paper or baking paper

Cotton (twill tape) tape or ribbon

Tools:

Publishing program ( I use Microsoft Word) on a computer

Inkjet printer

General scissors

Iron

Heat Proof surface (I use a flat bottomed pan from the kitchen)

How to Make a Fabric Labels at Home

Step 1

Design your labels in a publishing program of some sort. I use Microsoft Word on my Mac.

Step 2

Before printing, you must make sure you flip your labels horizontally so they come out back to front.

You can do this within the program or from the printer settings. I like to do it through the printer settings.

Step 3

Before you hit the print button, load your Heat Transfer Paper into your printer. I have 2 Inkjet printers and they both load differently. You’ll need to do some testing to workout how to load the paper in so your labels are printed onto the dull side and not the shiny side (if you are using gloss heat transfer paper like I am). Did I mention that you need to make sure you flip the labels horizontally before printing??!

Print!

Step 4

Your labels should now be printed onto the dull side of the heat transfer paper.

Cut the labels out ready to iron onto your preferred ribbon.

Step 5

Take one of your labels and place it printed side down onto the cotton tape or ribbon.

Ensure you have your label on a solid heat proof surface and not an ironing board. An ironing board will be too soft.

Slowly iron the label onto the cotton tape or ribbon, holding in one position for 3-4 seconds before moving the iron on.

Step 6

Leave the label to cool for about 10-15 seconds. (If you are using Matte heat transfer paper the instructions may be different)

Slowly peel the backing paper away from the tape or ribbon.

N.B. Please check the manufacturing instructions that come with your heat transfer paper, as the instructions may differ slightly.

Step 7

Place the wax paper (baking paper works well, too) over the label and press with the iron. this will help press the transfer into the cotton tape or ribbon nicely and it may also take away some of that shine.

Carefully remove the wax paper from the label.

Step 8

Cut your label to size.

Your label is now compete and ready to sew into your next sewing project!

(Apologies for the out of focus picture quality!)

The photo below is a much better example of what your finished labels will look like. The one below was done with satin ribbon.

Below is an example of what the labels look like in a finished project. Such an easy way to add a personalised touch to a gift! (I’ve created a tutorial for these knot bunny loveys now! The design is slightly different as they also have arms in the new design, but it would be easy to not include the arms to get the same result as the knot bunnies below)

Top Time Saving Tip!

Cut the labels out in one long strip of multiple labels and go through the process all at once. This will save time if you are making a large amount of the exact same label.

Unique One of a Kind Labels – Tip To Save Wasted Heat Transfer Paper

Step 1

To make unique one of a kind labels, print off your design onto printer paper.

Step 2

Cut a small piece of the heat transfer paper so it’s big enough to cover the printed labels on the paper.

Sticky tape the heat transfer paper over the printed image on the printer paper.

Place the paper back into printer so the label will be printed onto the same place on the paper.

Step 3

Cut out the labels.

Step 4

You now have unique one of a kind labels and you didn’t need to waste a whole sheet of heat transfer paper! All you need to do now is iron them onto your desired tape or ribbon.

Until next time, happy sewing!

Domenica

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