Writing on labels- what am I doing wrong?
 

Hi everyone. I have been trying to write on fabric labels to no avail. I have tried fabric pens, fine markers and sharpies. The fabric doesn't lie flat or I am pressing too hard or something but I just can't seem to get the letters look like they should. Would using Iron on interfacing do anything to help? Any ideas? Thanks.

I iron my fabric onto freezer paper before marking.

I iron my 100% cotton onto freezer paper as well, and then I use an 08 Pigma Pen, you need to let the ink flow into the fabric, not just scratch across it. HTH

Yep, freezer paper makes all the difference in the world when writing on fabrics.

I use my printer to make all of my labels!!!

Use the freezer paper and don't use the Sharpies. Sharpies will feather out and your letters will not have clean lines. Get a Pigma pen sold at just about any craft store or office supply store.

Are you prewashing your fabric ... without any additives? That means no softener or starch or other 'stuff' such as Best Press.

The prewash is only the first step. Then iron. Yep, I use freezer paper and trim the leading edge before putting it through my printer. I do not use Best print because it will leave some extra ink. Then I iron again after the printing.

If I do by hand I do all but put through the printer. The freezer paper isn't always necessary but can be helpful.

For signature blocks I make a frame out of a manilla file folder and have a baseline drawn darkly on the inside of the folder. That way there is always adequate room for seam allowances.

you can also lay them on fine grit sandpaper.

You can either iron the fabric onto freezer paper or put a piece of sandpaper behind the fabric you are writing on. Good luck~