I’m so excited to launch a small trunk show line this coming spring for my tiny clothing line….but phew, SO much work. My biggest concern with branching out from my online store was that I had to come up with a way to better label my clothing so it meets FTC requirements. I don’t like putting any type of tag in Lil Blue Boo clothing for comfort reasons (Boo is pretty sensitive to anything with tags)…..so I came up with an easy way to silk screen all the information using little handmade “mini” screens:
I found these little $1.00 wood photo frames at my local craft store and knew right away that they would make the perfect little screens. I purchased about 20 frames and I ordered a pack screen printing fabric sheets.
Step 1: I cut the screen printing fabric large enough that it would wrap just around the edges of the frame.
Step 2: I used binder clips to stretch the fabric as tight as I could across two sides of the screen.
Then added 2 more clips on the other sides. It is important to work across and around the frame to get the fabric as tight as possible.
I stretched the opposite corner last to pull out every last bit of slack.
Step 3: Using waterproof wood glue……
……I used a brush to apply a thick layer of glue all the way around the wood screen, using pressure to work the glue through the fabric.
After the glue was COMPLETELY dry, I removed the clips and applied glue to the spaces where the clips had been and then once the glue was dry I trimmed all the excess fabric off using a razorblade.
Step 4: I applied emulsion to each frame using a tiny squeegee (the one I am using is from the Yudu line).
…and stuck push pins into the bottom for the screen to rest on as it dried in the dark.
NOTE: You can find my entire photo emulsion silk screening tutorial here for all the details of this process because I am kind of glossing over a few details:
Step 5: I set up my registered trademark, sizes, and clothing information for each label and printed it onto transparency film:
Each label was exposed onto a screen. I made one screen for every clothing size that I regularly produce:
Washing out the emulsion after exposure:
Now with a little ink and a tiny squeegee I can easily add my logo, size, Made in USA and all the care instructions to every piece of clothing!
Very professional looking!
It might seem daunting to make so many screens, but if you do it in an assembly line manner it isn’t as much work as you think. It took me one Nanny McPhee movie with Boo to stretch and glue all of these screens!
Total cost for 20 screens? $47
It made me laugh to see you measure time in children's movies. I made a wreath recently that took me the length of Peter Pan. 😀
Those are GREAT! (I measure crafting time in kid's movies too).
ugh!!! I have been trying to figure out how to label all mine and remain tagless! I was going to resort to transfer sheets which can get expensive! This is going to be so much easier and I can silk screen a massive amount of labels too on fabric so that i can tag all my softies easier!!! I love saving money 😀
I too love the children's movies… my recent was two fabric christmas trees in the time it took to watch one jungle junction and a mickey mouse clubhouse!
I really really, really MUST dive into silk screening. I'm not sure why it scares me so. Maybe that will be my New Year's resolution. You can bet I'll be coming back here for info. when I do take the plunge. Thanks for all your advice on this!
Totally brilliant! Thanks for sharing!!
Awesome idea! I have some little prints that would fit well on those screens too!
Is it just me or does silkscreening seem way less daunting when done on such a cute mini scale? I feel like I could totally do that.
My daughter hates tags too, they itch, scratch and irritate her. Good luck with your line in the Spring!
Ashley, you continually amaze me. 1) with all your brilliant ideas, 2) with how much you can accomplish in a day, and 3) with your originality.
I SO want a Yudu, so I'll have to save my pennies for one. I just love seeing you screen stuff all the time, makin' it look so easy.
Just a quick note to let you know that a link to this post will be placed on CraftCrave today [09 Dec 01:00am GMT]. Thanks, Maria
This looks somehow so easy and I would love to try it… but I am still a bit "scared" of it and I would also have no idea where to purchase the materials… maybe one day I will.
that is super cool!
You are a genius! What a fabulous idea! I was talking a couple of days ago with a friend about printing with fabric paints and had no idea how to make it work.LOVE your tutorial. Now I just need to find a place to purchase the sheets over here in Germany. That wont be easy. ack!
Thanks bunches for your efforts to make an tutorial for us!
And funny that you measure time in children's movies too!LOL
Many greetings from Germany,
Kathrin
I am sooo going to have to try silkscreening again! I got all the stuff last year, but making the frames was such a huge task. Your idea for using the smaller craft frames is nothing short of genius – inexpensive and easy to manage!
I linked to your tutorial over at Craft Gossip Sewing:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-silkscreened-fabric-labels/2010/12/09/
–Anne
This is awesome. I use the same principle and print the labels on thrift store tees and then cut them out.
Now that's what I call a cool tutorial! Though I had some woven labels made, I think a printed label looks much nicer. I really need to try this. Thanks for sharing!!
awesome Ahsley, love the non scratchy tags! 🙂
I am so scared of screen printing. I don't know why. Perhaps the chemicals? I have been having thermofax screens made by someone on Etsy but its a pain to wait for them.
screen printing in mini, love it! it does make it seem less daunting. It looks like you print onto fabric squares and then attach that to the items, how do you sew them on?
What a perfectly timed tutorial this was for me! I was just looking to price out some tags but I realized I’d need to label multiple types of fabrics and was worried I’d end up having to buy 1000+ tags to just start my shop! And it’s much easier to adapt silk screen color to fabrics than having a bunch of different color tags!
Can you explain what you mean by the exposure process please?
Oh my bad i saw the link to the explanation sorry.
http://ezscreenprint.com/
i use these ezscreenprint sheets. it already has emulsifier. you just lay your image on top of the screen, take it outside in sun, bring it inside and soak in water and you’re done.
though- i never thought to use a wooden picture frame- awesome and cheap! thanks!
This looks like magic. Great results! Thanks for sharing how-to in such fab detail.
GREAT, I have been looking for just this ! Thanks
Ashley, You have opened up a whole world for me. Thank you. I hope you get better soon.
Screen printing, it is so fun! I love your mini-sized screens…I will have to try this sometime, thanks! 🙂
how long do screens last? can you use them an unlimited amount of times?
Wow, this piece of writing is good, my sister is analyzing these things, therefore I am going to convey her.