Sticky Fabri-Solvy and Laser Printers
 

I am new to using Sticky Fabri-Solvy, and I love it so far! I now want to print a complex design on my laser printer, to use both as a pattern and as a temporary stabilizer. I have no doubts the Sticky Fabri-Solvy will be great for that.

My only concern, so far, is that I want to put this on solid white fabric. Has anyone had any issues with the ink from the paper staining the fabric? I assume the laser toner/ink will be "set free" once the fabric is washed and the Fabri-Solvy dissolves?

No doubt this would be a tiny amount, but since it's white fabric, I'm worried it will show. The quilt itself will be large, and the blocks using the Fabri-Solvy about 5% of the total area.

Thanks for your thoughts and experience on this!

I'd try a sample and see what happens.

There are a number of factors involved -- I can tell you that when I printed on my fabric I wanted it to stay so I did specific treatments.

I'm with Cashs Mom -- really think is best to try a few test samples first to see what you get. Really, a day and half a yard of fabric is well worth a project that didn't come out the way you wanted.

One thing that comes to mind is that laser toner isn't water soluble, so if it gets "pushed" into the fabric (and especially the quilt sandwich) when the needle goes through the print of the design, and stays there when you tear the solvy away, you might not be able to wash it out of the needle holes. You'd have to try a pick it out.

For that reason, I would definitely test it extensively on a sample of exactly the fabric AND quilt sandwich stack you're considering using it on.

I don't know anything about Fabri-Solvy and printers.
Can it be used in a laser printer? Or only in a inkjet printer?

I'm asking, because the fabric sheets to print labels on, clearly say ... not for use in laser printers.

So before you do any sample runs .... check first .... wouldn't want you to ruin your printer.

Another thought ... being that the ink transfer is a concern ...
change the printer settings to a grey tone, or choose a grey colour,
or a colour closer to what it will be next to (embroidery? or an applique?)
so there is less ink on the fabri-solvy.

Less ink ... less risk!

Good Luck!!

Will this link help you with any of your questions? https://search.brave.com/search?q=ca...c07555295560b4

Thank you so much for your replies! I must admit my brain is not firing on all cylinders these days, and I had not even thought about doing a sample! I have since done one, and it worked fine. The water I washed it in got cloudy, but the Fabri-Solvy washed out well, and so did the toner ink.

Fortunately, the blocks are only 16" square, so it would not ruin a whole quilt, but the blocks are complicated, which is why I need the Fabri-Solvy (at least for me!). Due to my less-than-acceptable first attempts, I know I will have at least 1 16" block I can wash just to make sure.

Thanks again!

SueZQ,

Was that an AI search you did? You seem to have been able to ask a question and get a full reply- wow!

Thanks!

If you read to the bottom of the first section, it says "AI-generated answer. Please verify critical facts."

... plus the question asked is about printing on fabric ... and not fabri-solvy.
Likewise, the AI summary is answering the specific question.

That being said ... @LadyAg77 ... glad that your test run worked for you!
The proof is in the pudding, as they say!! :)
Are you using this for hand embroidery?
Did you find it being much different of a feel when you were stitching?

I do a lot of embroidery and have been intrigued for awhile.
... I guess I just need to spend the $$$ and give it a try!

I'm interested in how it works on hand embroidery. I have some and I think I'll try it out. I might work on the dish towels I'm wanting to embroider.

You're ahead of me!
You have some ... I don't!
Which is why I keep hesitating to spend the bucks.
Plus I don't know where to buy it as there are so few places now that cater to embroidery needs.
What is in my mind is that it's something else to stitch through! :)

Sure would make life easy when it comes to transferring designs if it works.

I'm using it as a temporary stabilizer to machine piece the non-FPP sections of a block that contains 3 LeMoyne stars. It has been great for this. I believe it also keeps the fabric from fraying as it is being handled. It is really a great help, also, to have my sew lines precisely marked on fabric pieces that won't shift. I just lay the fabric pieces I want to sew together on top of each other, put pins through the combined sewing to line the seams up, and sew away! The result is having seams that begin and end exactly where
I want them.

I do think it is lighter weight than any level of interfacing, although it definitely holds my fabric pieces without them ever losing their shape (until I wash it all out!).

The Sticky Fabric Solvy I'm using was purchased from Amazon. I have recently discovered this product, however, so I haven't actively looked for it elsewhere.

@LadyAg77 for the explanation and your experience. It's good to learn about other uses than just for the hand embroidery which I was planning. When you washed it away, did it basically just melt away under a running tap? or?

Hope you'll show us some pics of your work-in-progress!

BTW when I checked Amazon it was around $30 for 11 sheets. I figured I could stay old school at that price!!! Need to find an IRL store with it, as I am sure that price can be beat!!

Yesterday I ordered a new package of 12 sheets of 8 1/2 x 11 Sticky Fabric Solvy for $12.78 plus tax. I didn't see that one today on Amazon, so they may be out right now. There are a lot of Fabri Solvy sizes and shapes, as well as bundles of multiple packages, so you have to pick through the various offers.

I put my trial fabric with the printed pattern Solvy on it in a small bowl with water, so I could hopefully see if the ink smeared on the fabric. It just took a couple of minutes and I could see the paper start pulling off the paper all by itself and floating to the top of the bowl- no hand swishing the fabric required!

@LadyAg77 That seems pretty slick for it to come off so easily.
As for the price ... remember, mine is Amazon Canada.
My next thought was Michaels, but none there.
After that, it's the smaller independents ... so just a matter of luck, I think.