Underground Railroad quilt by Elenear Burns Help
 

hi everyone! just got all my underground railroad blocks completed!!! but I cant seem to figure out how to get the "story" printed out and onto the quilt?? im doing the 16 block option. it says u have to use a non-laser printer (which is what I have at home and work)...anyone have any ideas?? also is there a link to somewhere u go to print it out? im confused LOL -- thanks!

How about the library? They will print stuff and it's like a quarter here.

Have you gone onto EB website?? She does have some u-tube videos. Never made this particular quilt.

I'm working on an URR quilt too, I had not thought of including the story. Sorry I don't have any experience w/ printing on fabric.

ok I think I found the link to print the story -- just have to figure out how to get it on the fabric -- thanks all!

use inkjet printer and print on fabric sheets
you can buy at Joannes etc.

You are not likely to be able to use a library's or other business/organization's printer to print onto fabric as they'll be concerned about damage to their machines. (not likely to happen, but still.....) You'll have to find a friend who'll let you use their inkjet printer to transfer what you want to print onto fabric.

1. Cut a piece of freezer paper the size of the paper that fits the printer. (This is merely your stabilizer for the fabric.
2. Press the shiny side of the freezer paper, without steam, to the WRONG side of the fabric you wish to use as the label.
3. Trim the fabric to the size of the freezer paper if you didn't before.
4. Line the fabric-fused paper up into the printer so that the printing will be on the fabric -- NOT the paper -- and print as usual.
5. Gently remove the freezer paper from your fabric.
6. Be sure the ink is thoroughly dried before getting this fabric damp or wet. If you press to turn the edges for appliqueing it down to the back of the quilt, be sure to use NO steam. Using an HP printer and HP inks, I have washed many quilts with these printer done labels with no problems, especially after waiting for a few weeks. Even those done in color or with fancy printed borders. :)

Jan in VA

Print it out on the fusible fabric sheets. That's what I did and it came out perfect.

Jan- I've been wondering how to rpint labels so this helps a lot. You are always soo sooo thoughtful and thorough in your explanations!! Thank you so very much for everything you contribute to the quilting board.

THANKS to all! and jan ill try that!!

dltaylor -- where did u find it to print it out? I have searched the web and cant find it thanks -- laura

Thank you for the kind words!

I agree. Jan you make things so clear!!

if you PM me I can fax the story to you. For those who have the book its on page 159. follow Jan's directions for printing.

Fabric must be treated to retain the colour from inkjet printer. If you can't buy the pre-treated fabric, you will have to buy 'Jet-Set' solution to soak your own fabric, and cut to A4 size. The bottle will have instructions. Then it's best to allow to leave over-night then set with the iron.

Jan, I also thank you for the instructions.

I have made this quilt. I'm not sure why you want the story with the quilt. The story of underground railroad and the quilt patterns has been largely questioned. If you do some research on this you will find a lot of information on how this is thought to be more myth than truth. That being said, it doesn't take away from the beauty of the quilt. I love sampler quilts and Eleanor Burns.

Jan, thanks for the great instructions. As always you have such great solutions.

Joann sells fabric on paper that will go through your ink jet printer. I buy it in a roll and use it for all my labels. You just cut off the size you need, print your label, then peel off the paper back. I use Microsoft Word to design the labels and can use pictures, etc. on them. So pretty. Then you can attach to the back of your quilt as desired. I have also thought about printing pictures and using on the front of a quilt but have never done this. I've seen it done though. You will find the product in the t-shirt section in their stores.

I printed it out on fusible fabric sheets, too!

When our guild did this quilt for a project several years ago, we ordered the book and the story already printed.

I'm curious as to what the story is since the idea of quilts being used in the Underground Railroad is supposedly a myth. It makes for a beautiful quilt and I can see how the names of some of the patterns could have been used but no one seems to have found facts to back it up.

I use the fabric packet you can buy at Walmart or JoAnn's for printing. Then I use my printer at home. Just make the blocks so they will fit on a page.

Jan, don't you have to treat your fabric first with Bubble Jet Set, or whatever it is called? I thought it had to be treated in order for the ink to last on the fabric. I know that the Epson inks are supposed to be very durable.

"The Monkey Wrench turns the Wagon Wheel toward Canada.
With help form Jesus the carpenter, follow the Bears trail through the woods
Fill your BASKETs with enough Food and supplies to get you to the crossroads. ,dig a log cabin in the ground.
Shoofly told us to dress up in cotton and satin Bow Ties.
Follow the Flying Geese and Birds in the Air., stay on the Drunkards Path ,Take the Sailboat across the great lakes to the North Star above Canada." Found in E Burns book underground RR.

This method of freeing slaves is no myth. there would only be one quilt at a time on the line to " air out" giving silent directions what to do next.

I feel this is a reliable source:

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/african-amer...ound-railroad/

4. Freedom quilts? Simply put, this is one of the oddest myths propagated in all of African-American history. If a slave family had the wherewithal to make a quilt, they used it to protect themselves against the cold, and not to send messages about supposed routes on the Underground Railroad in the North, where they had never been! However, sometimes, on occasion, messages of all sorts were given out at black church gatherings and prayer meetings, but not about the day and time that Harriet Tubman would be coming to town. The risk of betrayal about individual escapes and collective rebellions, as we shall see in a future column, was far too great for escape plans to be widely shared.

Again, thank you to all who appreciate my graphics and instructions here on the board......that's what I am, a teacher. I love sharing this heartwarming art!

Yes, I am well aware there are lots of products on the market these days for printing labels....I sold some of them in my shop years ago, even from one of our teachers who developed one of the very first fabric sheets for printing.

But I also was putting labels on quilts long before any of these products were developed, when all I had was some muslin, a printer, or a few Pigma pens. I learned long ago to use methods that would allow me to create appliques, and half-square triangles, and labels, and even strip cutting, and so on and so on, before products were available to make these processes easier or more efficient.

And, boy, was I glad I knew how when, at a midnight hour in the studio, I found I was out of "whatever" I needed to keep sewing and creating! No stopping and waiting to run to the LQS for me!

So I teach these ways "on purpose" because there are still good reasons to know how to do things "the old fashioned way".....including time, finances, availability.

Blessings to all who quilt *their* way, whatever that way is, and thrill the world with warm hugs from home! :)

Jan in VA

ditto SusanSusan33 on Jan in VA.....thanks Jan!!

I used the 15-block option and put the story block on the back. The URR BOM was done with a class and our teacher printed the blocks for us.

Very interesting. Thanks for posting.

You are correct, this is only a "story", not fact. The fact is that it was discovered to be a "story"....it is nice one, you have to admit,...the real story is that you made a beautiful quilt that will be shared with family for decades to come.
Now that is a great story and a piece of art to be passed along.

Thanks for posting that psychonurse, I will include that in my backing on mine. The main part of my backing is going to be pieced words anyway. "Never cruel, nor cowardly, never give up never give in" I am a huge fan of Doctor Who, and feel those ideas fit well w/ the idea real or imagined of the URR quilts. Whether it is a big myth or truth, makes no difference to me it is the idea behind it that does.

Jan I am so glad you are on this quilt board. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with us!

I'm concerned that, in using the inkjet printer, the story you print will bleed when you wash the quilt. How do you prevent this?

I took photos of my mother's art and printed it onto prepared fabric (bought at Joann's or some such). We followed the instructions on the packaging and have not had any problem with bleeding or fading. We made this quilt when the product first came on the market and there weren't even examples in magazines yet!

Edited to add: We did print them on an inkjet printer.

Time. That's all it took for mine.
Sorry not to be more specific or technology oriented than that! I am thinking of one personal quilt in particular that was made in 1993 with a computer printed label (HP Deskjet) that is still legible.

Jan in VA

laurafaith55, Jan is right on target. I would add that I turn my freezer backed printed paper over and Dry iron on the unshiny side to set the ink. Let it cool completely before peeling off the freezer paper. Never have had one dye anything.

I just finished this quilt. After printing the story,I framed the square. I really like doing this quilt. I will pass the quilt on to my grandchildren in hopes they never have to relive the story.