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Have you ever left a fabric store disappointed that you couldn’t find exactly what you wanted?
I know I have…
Even though fabric stores have hundreds of fabrics to choose from, that doesn’t mean they’ll have the colors or patterns you’re looking to use for the items you sell.
Luckily, there are companies that offer fabric printing services where you can submit a custom design and get it printed on fabric. You no longer have to settle for something that doesn’t quite meet your needs.
Creating custom fabric is a great way to make your handmade business stand out. Plus, it’s easy and relatively affordable. All you have to do is choose a fabric printing company, create a design and upload it, and then order the amount of fabric you need.
With custom pronted fabric, you can create unique items for your sewing business that people can’t easily replicate. Plus, you’ll never have to worry about your fabric going out of print because you own the design and can print on demand!
How to Design Custom Fabric
I know what you’re thinking…
You’re not a graphic designer, so how can you create a design to print on fabric?
Don’t worry! You can create fabric designs from almost anything — hand sketches, photographs, paintings, computer-generated images, or anything else. Simply scan your designs onto your computer to convert them into a digital format.
Most fabric printing companies like JPEG or GIF files. You can sometimes use other formats, but be careful because it can lead to image distortion and ruin your fabric design.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when designing custom fabric:
- Repeatable tile patterns work best because you can print any continuous length of fabric.
- High contrast colors on a white background can cause problems from dye bleed.
- Pattern distortion can occur when printing on fleece and fabric with a nap.
Note: Always order a fabric sample before buying large quantities of your design. That way you can adjust your design before committing to buying too much. Most companies that offer fabric printing services do not offer refunds.
Where to Get Your Fabric Printed
Once you have designed your fabric, you’ll need to choose a company to print it. Spoonflower has been the leader in fabric printing services for over a decade. However, several competitors exist that offer all sorts of fabric options. You should compare each one to choose the best company for your needs.
Here are some companies that print fabric on demand:
Disclaimer: I have not personally tried all of these fabric printing companies. Therefore, I do not recommend one over another. Please do your research to choose the best fabric printing service for your handmade business.
Most custom fabric printing companies offer cotton prints, but if you want something else, you’ll need to make sure it is an option. You also might be limited on the amount of continuous yards you can print. Ten continuous yards is the industry standard. Some fabric printing companies also have a minimum yardage amount when you place an order.
Every fabric printing company has its own turnaround time, so that can affect your choice, as well as the shipping charges. Some companies also have software to make the fabric designing process easier, which is good for people that aren’t good with photo and image editing on a computer.
Have you ever tried fabric printing services for your handmade products? How did it go? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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Thanks for pointing out that repeatable patterns are also great for custom handmade fabrics. I’m interested in looking for a good designer of that because I’m thinking about stocking up on such fabrics. They will be great to have when I start working on making my own bags at home.