TYPEWRITTEN FABRIC LABEL
I’ve been toying with the idea of having labels made for years, but haven’t gotten around to doing it. Adding a personal label to some of my holiday gifts was something that I thought of in the last days before Christmas. There was no time to order printable fabric sheets (that I now plan on ordering for the shop) or even iron-on transfer paper.
I pulled out my beloved Underwood Portable typewriter and some large scraps of cotton muslin and typed right onto the fabric! If I had planned more carefully, I could have done sweet individual messages to each gift recipient. Alas, this year it will be the same heartfelt message to all.
In order to feed the muslin fabric into the typewriter, I folded it around a piece of copy paper. Ironing freezer paper onto the back of the fabric would have been another way to accomplish making the fabric stiffer, but I didn’t have any at home that night. Once the fabric is fed into the roller, then you just type away! I really love the feeling of typing on a typewriter and especially the ‘clacking’ sound.
To heat set the ink on labels, I ironed them for a few minutes. The labels went on items that are never going to be washed, but I still wanted to do my best to make them as permanent as possible. I had some leftover labels that I threw in the wash out of curiosity. The ink faded slightly from the washing, but is still visible. The idea that the label may fade over time, is actually appealing to me.
Sewing the labels was simple, I used a small zigzag stitch around the outside edge of the label to secure it in place. I really adore them! I’ve decided to add a label or message to as many of my makings as possible from now on. Tiny details can add so much delight to a handmade item.
47 comments
okay. this is the perfect idea. i just need to find myself a typewriter.
what a good idea, karyn!!!
i have a typewriter too, but i don’t know where to get tape for it. where do you buy yours?
I LOVE this! so clever and so beautiful.
i love it, karyn!!! so simple and sweet
What a great idea!
What a grea idea! Too bad i don’t own a typewriter…
J’adore!
I discovered your blog a few weeks ago and i really like what i see ;o)
AmΓ©lie / France
this is like whoa. i love it
ps you’re awesome karyn
it is not lost on me that this post suggests that you were taking impeccable photographs while pulling your hair out at five in the morning and having a craft meltdown.
either that or the photos were taken later and you are a little less crazy that i assumed.
typewriter ribbon is sometimes still stocked at places like staples. but it’s going out of fashion and you can’t stock pile it – it dries out (we learned that the hard, heartbreaking way).
my god. you know how to gift.
Wonderful idea ! Next time I get back to my mother’s home, I HAVE to find my old typewriter !!!!
Wow Karyn, the typewritten fabric labels are a great idea. While I have not made labels at home, I did found awesome labels at Hang Tag Design. The ones made of organic cotton are certainly worth checking out and can easily be used for personalized gift wrapping and decoration. I brought loads of them!
this is a great idea karyn! I use my typewrite a lot, but not on fabric…. and now I feel silly for not doing it….
Oh how cool!! I bought a typewriter off ebay a few months ago. Now I have another use for it. A friend of mine sent me a link to your wonderful site. Thanks for sharing your wonderful idea.
This is the perfect idea, but now I need a typewriter.
Cool idea! Got to this site while I was searching for how to make fabric lables. I have a question, which side to iron on? Directly onto the typing or onto the reverse side? Hope you can help me out. Thanks!
Jess – I iron both sides. Usually the reverse side first and then the side with the type on it. Have fun!
This is a perfect idea, I am in the process of making my own wedding invites. I have got old style photobooth strip pictures of us on the side, hand embossed date and location on the front, wax monogram stamps, inside I am using old luggage tags in patterned paper pockets for RSVP’s and I would like to print the actual ‘invite’ onto fabric and tie to the inside of the card using ribbon.
Now…to hand type 300 invites….fun fun fun
Abby – your wedding invites sound incredible. i would LOVE to see them when they are done… please post a link so i can see.. pretty please!
what a great idea! and i have a vintage typewriter! (and actually know where in the basement i’ve stored it.) i’m trying this out later today π
What a fun idea! My typewriter ribbon has dried up. I’m inspired to replace the ribbon so I can try my hand at this. Thanks for sharing…
Nice…almost makes me wish I hadn’t got rid of my typewriter. But I do have a font that looks like type! π I love that fabric! Is it new? vintage?
i love you for this awesome info karyn! π it’s been months since i started searching for an affordable way to make fabric labels.. “crafting a green world” lead me here (http://craftingagreenworld.com/2009/01/23/5-ways-to-make-your-own-fabric-labels/)..the iron-on transfer might work for me since i’ve a good ink-jet printer but the material demand in my country is so low that they stopped production and distribution altogether..ordering overseas costs a bomb and i really hate to waste during this world economy crisis..i googled and found other methods but most of the materials aren’t available where i am..so, i’d you to know that i truly appreciate your idea ^_^ it’s creative people like you that makes the world shine 10 shades brighter!
sorry for the double post but the link isn’t right :p
http://craftingagreenworld.com/2009/01/23/5-ways-to-make-your-own-fabric-labels/
this is the correct link that lead me to your awesome
you are brilliant and always an inspiration…mahalos
Aww, so pretty, I`ll do this. My typewriter will be happy, she was upset about being useless.
Beautiful use for a typewriter and such a clever idea. I will have to give this a try myself. XOXO!!! I love typewriters and sell ribbons in my shop if you need any.
I’ve been searching for simple, affordable and slightly urban chic label ideas. Thank you for sharing yours. I’ve got two old typewriters and I’m now on a mission to find replacement ribbons for them so I can try your idea for myself. Thanks again.
I love it. perfect. I just found an awesome type writer for 4 bucks recently and knew there was a reason why! π
thank you for posting this. i just got a vintage typewriter for a song at a thrift shop, and i was wondering if it was possible to type on fabric. π
Thank you for the tutorial! I’ll have to check if mum still has her old typewriter. I love the old school look π
I’ve read that you can refresh a dry typewriter ribbon with WD40 lubricant spray. I have not tried it yet.
Fantastic idea! Wish I had still type writer!
Perfect!
I’m making little creatures that are a “recently discovered endangered species” and they need to be tagged before they are available for “adoption.” The tags will have the “date of capture” and each critter will be numbered, something that will be crazy expensive if I order tags or labels somewhere.
Fortunately, I have a typewriter fascination and have acquired at least a dozen vintage versions over the past year or so. Surely one of them has enough ink on the ribbon to pull this off.
Can’t wait to dig out my muslin scraps and give this a shot.
Jan
Fantastic idea. You create your own handwriting front and print from a pc π