I tried printing out something today on the inkjet fabric I got from EQ some time ago. The color reproduction was great, and when I soaked it in water as instructed, I was happy to find that there was no particular color loss.

But the fabric itself is so stiff! I had figured on machine quilting the piece in which I intend to use it, but still, no one could hand quilt through this stuff without making a mess of it, and it's so stiff that the usual safety pin basting method creates puckers, and it seems to retain even tiny holes, so I have to wonder what machine quilting is going to do to it. Do any of you know some way to soften this stuff up?

I have the "regular cotton inkjet" fabric (the cheapest stuff *g*), which has a thread count of 200. The two "premium" choices are 240 and 283. Does that mean they're even stiffer?

http://www.electricquilt.com/Shop/Printing/Fabric.asp

If you've used this in your own work, what needle and thread sizes did you use to machine quilt on it? Are there other fabric choices out there for inkjet printing that have a softer hand?

I have no idea about printable fabric but with thread count for like sheets and stuff, the higher the thread count, the softer and more smooth it is Be interesting to see what those who have used the EQ paper say. :D

I have used quite a few different types of photo fabric and find they are all stiff but I only use it for labels - did a wall hanging a while ago and used bubblejet 2000 - very pleased with colour etc. and of course as it was done on white cotton was easy to quilt - not much help to you I'm afraid but I think it is a common problem!!

I did the same for labels, and had the same result.

I've used printed treasures brand and it also is a little stiff, but I don't quilt on it - I SID around the edge and leave the printed picture thread free. I'm guessing that if you do quilt it, whatever holes are made will work themselves out after it is washed...but that might be worth a trial.

Did you try pressing the fabric? Some of the threads at this site have indicated you need to iron the fabric after washing it to get the backing to release (remove the freezer paper type backing)?

Could it be something like that?

I have done several quilts with the printable fabric. You said you rinsed yours in water?

After you print the picture, peel the backing off and then iron on the back side of the FABRIC ONLY (not the paper) to heat set it. I use the hottest cotton setting. If you heat set it with the paper on, you are setting the wax into the fabric. The wax is what holds the fabric onto the paper. This could be why it's so stiff.

Then I hand wash mine in cold water, like use your kitchen sink, add a little mild dish soap to the water swish it around really good. Then rinse it in cold water to be sure no colors run. DO NOT wring it out but use your fingers to sort of push the extra water out then lay it on a towel to dry. You may want to square it up a bit while it's wet. I then iron it again from the back side.

now as far as being stiff? I don't think mine was that bad, I have noticed that once you sew it, it does leave needle holes if you have to redo something so you might want to be careful as not to make any mistakes.

I hope this helps you out a bit.

I use the Premium Printable Fabric Sheets from Australia. the fabric is not stiff as you describe. I can give you the email address;
www.accraft.com.au If you look them up and see if their sheets are than better than what you already have.

i have found a couple of the ones on the market are quite stiff and very difficult to stitch through...that is one of the reasons i started using my own fabrics instead of wasting my money on pre-packaged...the results just don't seem consistant. i use muslin, washed, dried, no fabric softener. pressed then i press freezer paper to the back cut to printer paper size and run it through...no stiffness, beautiful color, much less expensive. not all of them turn out as stiff as what you have but some.

Can you tell me the name of the solution you use so I can do the same. I would like to do some historical picture quilts with the patterns I have but don't know the name of the product.

I have just made a quilt for my MIL from both the EQ fabric sheets and the Premium brand, the one from here in Australia, neither of them are all that stiff but the fabric is very tightly woven so I wouldn't like to try and quilt it. I have just taken it to a LAQ and she has suggested quilting around each of the photos, I will post a picture when I get it back.
Out of the 2 products I would probably prefer the Premium brand fabric sheets as they are slightly softer and more white than the EQ. But I am happy with both so far.

I agree with you about the sheets. I still would like to have the solution so I can do more than only 5. I can't afford to but too many at one time.

I use Matilda's Own and find it quite good. The backing releases more easily than some others so the fabric doesn't stretch in the process. It comes up reasonably white. I don't stitch through the pics though, just SID. I use it for both labels and on the front of quilts.

Both pics are very clear "in the flesh", so excuse my poor photography.

I haven't hear of this brand but will check it out. The brand of solution that I have is from J.C. Jenkins Company called Bubble Set 2000. They have the pre-done sheets as well.

Did you remove the paper backing? I've used everything except printed treasures brand I think and the problems I had had to do with forgetting to remove the paper backing that was there to stabilize the fabric for printing. I use regular fabric and BubbleJet 2000 since I discovered it years ago at the Sew Expo in Puyallup at the HP Booth.

Thank you for all your input! I do wish my problem was just that I had forgotten to remove the backing, but no such luck.

I did heat set it before I did the water soak, even though the instructions said to soak before the heat set, something which I found odd.

I tried a couple of test lines of machine quilting on the edge of it today, and I was right to worry. The machine needle leaves huge visible holes, which catch the eye more than does the thread. I'd be better off stab stitching the piece by hand. *sigh*

Oh well, this was basically an experiment, and as experiments are wont to do, this one failed, except for the colors in the printout being so fine. One tries things and then tries more things - that's part of the fun - right?

I have ordered some of that Miracle printable fabric from C. Jenkins, along with the optimized freezer paper sheets. Checking around at what people have to say about the Miracle fabric, it seems that it has a softer hand. We shall see. If the better freezer paper works, then my problem is solved anyway, I'll just use my own "real" fabric. I've always had trouble with grocery store freezer paper going through my printer - I expect it's just not fused well enough. Maybe because the freezer paper is Very Old? Time to reinvest perhaps.

I'll let you know what happens next.

What happens next is this:

When I tried the machine quilting earlier, I was using an off white thread on the white margins of the printed image. Today I decided to just use the thing as a practice piece for my FMQ. But when I used a blue thread in the predominately blue image, the holes were not nearly so visable.

Life is better. *g*