Skip to main content

Guest Post: Victory Patterns.

Now this is awesome!
I stumbled upon Victory Pattern's blog while admiring their patterns and 
found this tutorial on how to make your own custom clothing labels.
I just had to share!
So today we welcome our guest blogger, Kristiann from Victory Patterns.
Add an extra touch of class to your hand made item by making your own clothing labels! Making tags is quick and easy, all you need is a photocopy version of your own logo, name or artwork, and a few supplies. 
Make sure that your artwork or text is in mirror image to the original format. 
These tags use a chemical called xylene from blender markers to dissolve photocopy toner onto fabric. When the toner is transferred onto natural fibre, it creates a wash-fast transfer. You can expand on this idea and transfer images to clothing!

 Materials List

Photocopy of logo or your name in mirror image
100% Cotton fabric or 1″ twill tape
Xylene blender marker from your art store
Scotch tape
Thread

 Tape down your fabric or twill tape. Place your paper tag face down so the writing faces the fabric. Make sure to position it so it is centered.
Now comes the fun part! Take the xylene marker and using pressure, colour in all over the back of the tag. Keep on using pressure until you have transferred the toner. Use in a well ventilated area.
 Carefully peel away one side of the paper. Check to see if you have made a good transfer. If the image is still faint, tape it back down and reapply the marker.
 Now pull up the paper. The fabric will be wet with xylene, just let it evaporate
To make your fabric into a tag press the top and bottom edges of your tag.  Topstitch the edges. Now fold and press the sides.  Pin the tag onto your garment and sew along the pressed edge.
 Voila! Custom made clothing labels!

Thank you, Victory Patterns!
Check out their other wonderful posts on their blog here: 
http://www.victorypatterns.com/blog/



Comments

  1. Thanks for this! I can't afford to buy custom labels yet, so this will be a great money-saver for me!

    -Jules

    ReplyDelete
  2. We have bought custom labels before (embroidered) and I honestly think these labels are much more appealing, and the cost doesn't hurt either!! This is also a great idea to use for wash instructions on fabric that won't itch! Thanks so much for this post!

    ReplyDelete
  3. It should be noted, though, that xylene is toxic and flammable - it's found in gasoline, paint thinners, etc. OSHA has guidelines about xylene usage: http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/healthguidelines/xylene/recognition.html

    The reason I'm posting this is that xylene is not just problematic because of its fumes. It is specifically a skin irritant, and it's not clear that those irritants disappear completely in the wash. Anyone with sensitive skin should take caution when using this method. I personally wouldn't use it for children's clothing. Sure, the amount of xylene used per label is minimal, but if you make all your child's clothing and label them this way, that adds up to a lot of potential exposure.

    Just a thought.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks Kristiann. Great tutorial and very cost effective. I can't wait to try it.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Thanks for leaving a comment! All comments are reviewed before posting to help us eliminate spam. Your comment will be posted within 24 hours.

Recent Posts You Might Like

Sewing With Intention: New Look 6106 and a More Coordinated Wardrobe

Sometimes a sewing project begins with a beautiful piece of fabric or a pattern you just have to make. This one began with my closet. Recently, I did a major closet purge. I took a good look at what I actually wear, what I kept reaching for, and—maybe more importantly—what was missing. Once the pieces I no longer loved or wore were gone, something became very clear: I want to be more intentional about what I sew next. Instead of sewing individual pieces that I love but don't necessarily wear together, I want to build a wardrobe where my handmade garments coordinate with the clothes I already own—and with the pieces I'm planning to sew next. For this month's Fabricista project, this beautiful lightweight shirting from Fabric Mart turned out to be a wonderful place to start. The Fabric That Started It All Fabric Mart provided this beautiful oatmeal and black heathered shirting , along with the matching thread for my project. One of the things I love most about this fabric is ...

The Perfect Plan for this Linen Blend! Until I Changed My Mind.

Hello Sewing Friends!  It’s Sharon from Sharon Sews with another Fabricista make.  When I saw this linen blend designer fabric on the Fabric Mart Fabrics website, I was intrigued.  After all, I, like many of you, love to find designer fabrics at an affordable price. It is a linen/nylon/rayon/Lycra blend, and I wondered what the designer had created with the fabric as I wasn’t familiar with that combination of fibers.  Surprisingly, I discovered a sleeveless, lined, mid-length vest in the same color with an almost identical fabric composition. Perfect! I’ve been wanting to sew a longer vest with matching pants, and that discovery confirmed this fabric would work beautifully for the look I had in mind.  The vest I’m wearing, from the June 2026 Burda Style magazine, it is not what I was originally going to make.  You see when I found the designer’s vest, I remembered seeing a Butterick pattern that was almost identical.  I ordered the pattern excited to...

Fall + Flannel = Shacket

If there is one piece that transitions easily between crisp fall mornings, mid-day warmth, and chilly autumn nights, it’s a shacket. Today, I’m excited to share my latest Fabric Mart make: the Ellie and Mac Patterns Connie Casual Shacket, sewn in a dreamy plaid flannel coating fabric . Here’s a glimpse at how it came together, along with a few construction tips for planning your own version! The Ellie and Mac Patterns Connie Casual Shacket pattern offers plenty of options needed to make the perfect transitional top layer for fall. With a relaxed body, oversized sleeves, three lengths, and a curved or straight hem option, you can make your dream shacket a reality.  For this sew, I selected a plaid flannel coating fabric with a soft blend of sage green and cream tones from the Fabric Mart website. Heavyweight flannel is ideal for a shacket because it provides structure and added warmth. As a bonus, this particular fabric is extra soft and snuggly, which I love. In addition to the fa...

Meeting Endless Summer Energy with a Maxi Dress

How are the temps still so hot?! I’m trying to make the best out of a blazing situation with a gorgeous swishy dress made in a splendid graphic print in an attempt to keep my cool when I am very much not. The heat persists, but so do I (while wearing sundresses)!  I really wanted a full length, all-fancy-design-details-included version of the new Chalk & Notch Noe Tank Dress since testing the pattern. This is View C. This version features a beautiful open back with a tie closure and the long gathered hem for maximum impact.  I chose the higher of two necklines. The pattern features full lining and I used the same fabric for both. I prefer to avoid any peeking-issues the easy way.  As I was scrolling through the challis options on the Fabric Mart site, this one stood out immediately, a beautiful kelly green with big abstract swipes of aqua. Simple, bold, (non-directional!), all of my favorite characteristics necessary for a showstopping dress. I wanted something very ...