Have you ever thought about how to print on fabric? I did, and it all started after working on several miniature kits. I realized the fabric included was always the same, and the thought of using identical fabrics every time frustrated me. That’s when I started exploring ways to customize and diversify the designs to better suit my taste. The first idea was to use patterned fabric I already had, but the problem was that the patterns were too large and didn’t fit the scale of miniature furniture. What I needed was fabric with small, perfectly scaled patterns.

That’s when I thought of printing on fabric. However, to print on fabric isn’t an easy task, especially without a sublimation printer and specialized ink. Instead of giving up, I decided to experiment with my inkjet printer. After several attempts, I discovered two methods that work for me and might work for you too. If you’re curious about how I did it, keep reading!

Method 1: Fusible Interfacing Fabric

What You’ll Need:

White woven fusible interfacing
Standard A4 paper
an Iron (preferably with steam)
Scissors and/or a rotary cutter
An Inkjet Printer
Fabric of your choice (I personally used a white cotton fabric)
Optional: fabric sealant

1 – Prepare the Fusible Interfacing:

Cut a piece of fusible interfacing to approximately match the size of an A4 sheet of paper. Place the fusible flat on the paper.

Using an iron, press down gently with a little steam to help the fusible adhere to the paper. Hold the paper and fusible steady with one hand, and press the iron in place with the other for a second before moving to the next section. Avoid ironing in a traditional back-and-forth motion at first, as this can prevent the fusible from sticking properly. Instead, press the iron firmly onto each section with a bit of steam.

Repeat this pressing motion over the entire surface, avoiding creating wrinkles along the way. Once the fusible is firmly stuck to the paper, finish by ironing it as usual so that every part adheres completely.

Once you’ve finished sticking the fusible to the paper, trim off the excess fabric with a rotary blade. You can use scissors, but a rotary blade will give you a cleaner cut and help avoid any pesky fraying.

I highly recommend trimming about 1 cm off the top of the fusible. This creates a small margin at the top, allowing the printer to grip the paper properly and to print on fabric. It also helps prevent the fusible from curling up during printing, which could damage your printer.

2 – Print Your Design

Load the A4 paper with the fusible adhesive into your inkjet printer, with the fusible fabric facing up. Insert it by the part with the margin. Print your design as you would on regular paper. Depending on your printer, make sure to use the optimal setting for the best print settings.

If you’re printing multiple designs on one sheet, I recommend placing designs with black or dark colors at the bottom. I learned the hard way that these colors can sometimes smudge and leave marks on other designs when you print on fabric. To avoid this, always position any designs with black or dark colors at the bottom of the sheet.

Once your design is printed, carefully peel the fusible away from the paper, starting at one corner and working along the edges. Take your time and do it gently to prevent the fusible from tearing or fraying.

3 – Adhere the Design to Fabric

Cut out your design from the fusible, then place it on your fabric of choice. To protect the design and ink, cover it with a piece of cotton fabric. Use an iron to press the fusible onto the fabric, making sure it sticks. You can add a little steam, but be cautious of any water leaking out, as it could smudge the ink underneath.

And voilà, your fabric is ready to use! What I love about this method is that the woven texture of the fusible is perfect for projects like carpets, rugs, bags, and more. While the colors may not be as vibrant as with Method 2 to print on fabric, which we’ll dive into shortly, it still creates a great result!

To preserve your design, use a fabric spray sealant or clear acrylic spray. Allow it to dry fully and completely before continuing with your project.

Now that you’ve got the hang of using fusible adhesive to print on fabric, let’s move on to Method 2, which gives you a different approach and even better results when it comes to color vibrancy.

Method 2 – Print On Fabric With Adhesive Paper

What You’ll Need:

Fabric of your choice (I used a white cotton fabric)
A4 adhesive paper, I used a transparent vinyl sticker paper, but this will work any adhesive paper.
An Inkjet printer
Scissors and/or a rotary cutter
Optional: fabric sealant

1 – Prepare The Fabric and Adhesive Paper

Cut your fabric to A4 size so it fits perfectly in your printer’s paper tray and matches the adhesive sheet. Use an iron to smooth out any wrinkles, no one wants a lumpy print! Gently peel the backing off the adhesive sheet and carefully stick the fabric onto it, making sure there are no wrinkles or bubbles. For a clean finish, trim the edges of the fabric with a rotary blade: sharp cuts are key to preventing any fraying. This step is super important because any loose threads or uneven edges could cause jams or damage to your printer. Keeping it neat helps protect your printer and ensures smooth feeding!

2 – Print To Fabric Your Design

Place the fabric-adhered sheet into your printer, making sure the fabric side faces the print head. To keep things running smoothly, load some regular printer paper behind the adhesive sheet in the tray. Why? Without that extra support, your printer might not “see” the sheet as paper. The extra paper helps the printer detect and feed the sheet properly, so your project stays on track.

Print your design, adjusting the printer settings for the best results. Once printed, let the ink dry completely before handling to avoid smudges and keep your design looking flawless.

3 – Remove The Paper

Once the print has dried, gently peel the adhesive paper off the fabric. This step might be a bit trickier than with fusible adhesive, so take your time and go slowly to avoid any tears. Afterward, give the fabric another quick press with the iron to smooth everything out. You’ll notice that not only will the fabric look even more polished, but the colors of the ink will pop, becoming richer and more vibrant! You can also spray some fabric sealant to protect the design on your fabric. And now you’re all set to continue your project!

Which method is better?

When it comes to choosing the best method to print on fabric, it really depends on what you want to achieve with your project. Using interfacing with its woven texture is a fantastic option if you’re creating miniature rugs or anything that calls for a textured, more fabric-like finish. Plus, the ability to stick it to another fabric for added firmness is a huge bonus; it gives your creations a sturdier feel.

On the other hand, printing directly onto fabric with adhesive paper delivers stunningly vibrant and crisp designs. The colors pop beautifully, and the details stand out so much better, making this method ideal for projects where the design itself is the star. Both approaches have their strengths, so it’s all about matching the print to fabric method to your creative vision!

Now you’re ready to create custom-printed fabric right from home!

I hope this guide has sparked some fun ideas for your next project and helped you discover that, yes, you can print on fabric with a regular printer! If you found this article helpful, don’t be shy, share it with your crafty friends! I’m sure plenty of people would love to learn about this little gem of knowledge. As always, you can find me on Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, and YouTube. And don’t forget to check out my other articles on the site, there might be something else you’ll love. On that note, see you soon for more crafty tips and tricks!