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How to Create Your Own Patterns and Designs for Fabric Printing
June 29, 2023
Do you want to stand out from the crowd and show off your style? Creating your own patterns and designs for fabric printing is an excellent way to put a personal stamp on apparel, accessories, home décor items, and more.
Whether you are interested in creating unique patterns for quilting projects or curious about what goes into printing logos onto t-shirt designs, there are many ways to customise upholstery fabric and other materials with your own patterns and ideas.
In this blog, we cover what fabric printing is and provide a step-by-step guide to creating patterns and designs for printing on fabric.
What is fabric printing?
Fabric printing is a process of applying patterns, images, or logos onto fabric. This can be done on natural fabrics such as cotton and silk, synthetic materials like polyester and nylon, as well as blends.
Printing fabric techniques used for fabric printing vary depending on the fabric type (such as upholstery fabric), desired effect, and the size of the project. Common methods include screen printing, digital printing, sublimation printing, and heat transfer.
How to print your own fabric (UK)
To get started with creating your own patterns and designs for printing fabric, follow our step -by-step guide below:
1 - Gather inspiration from nature, art, or fashion trends to create your own patterns and designs
An effective way of producing creative ideas for projects in any form of design is to explore various sources of creative inspiration. Nature provides a range of textures, colours and shapes that can be adapted and used in patterns, designs and artwork. Similarly, looking at recent fashion trends across the seasons for colour, fabric, clothing styles or accessories can give insight into small details to bring interest to your work.
Art can also be a useful source of inspiration - from large wall murals to fine illustrations, these can be adapted and used in your fabric printing designs.
2 - Draft a design for the fabric, either by hand or on the computer
Creating the perfect design for upholstery fabric can be made easier with the use of modern technology. Using design software, artists and designers can create complex, intricate designs in a matter of minutes that would have taken hours or days by hand.
For those who prefer to keep their creation process more traditional, small scale drawings on paper are always an option as well. No matter which method you choose when designing your upholstery fabric, it is best to ensure that all details are accounted for.
3 - Choose a colour palette that expresses your chosen theme or style
When considering a colour palette to express a chosen theme or style, it is important to think through the overall mood that you are trying to achieve. Are you looking for bright and cheerful colours, or is a more subtle and sophisticated hue desired? Do you want the colours to complement one another or make a bold statement?
Consider researching colour trends and other successful palettes that have been used effectively in the past. Taking the time to carefully craft your selection can go far in making sure that your chosen palette expresses your desired theme or upholstery fabric printing style.
4 - Research printing techniques to decide which is best for you
As a business or individual, it is important to take the time to research printing techniques and materials in order to make an educated decision on what is best for you. From traditional methods like offset printing to newer ones like digital printing and even 3D printing, there are an array of options that vary in quality assurance, material needs and more.
5 - Select the right upholstery fabric for your fabric printing design
When selecting the right upholstery fabric for your printed fabric design, there are a few factors to consider, such as the type of fabric, its durability, as well as which printing techniques it is best suited for are all important things to think about.
Some upholstery fabrics have inherent qualities that are better suited to certain projects than others. For example, some materials like cotton and linen provide a smooth feel and luxurious look while other fabrics like polyester may be considered cheaper but can still produce great results when printed on properly.
It is important to do your research and make sure that the fabric you choose is well suited for your desired fabric printing project. Taking the time to consider all of these aspects will ensure that you select a fabric that best fits your needs.
6- Consider adding special effects such as glitter or metallic accents to make your fabric stand out
Special effects like glitter and metallic accents on upholstery fabric can really make it stand out. Adding these features to fabric can give a project a sparkly, luxurious look that could turn any printed fabric design from ordinary to extraordinary.
For instance, you can use glitter to add sparkle to a simple garment or item of decor like curtains, or you could use metallic accents for an opulent feel. Whichever option you choose, it's sure to give your fabric printing design a unique and eye-catching touch.
7 - Select a professional printing company to ensure quality results
High-quality results are essential when it comes to professional printing. Selecting the right printing company can make all the difference when bringing your vision to life. When looking for reliable and experienced professionals, researching companies and reading customer reviews is key. Consider what type of material you need printed, turnaround time, budget and any special requirements you may have.
Ultimately, taking the time to research your options will help ensure you get the quality results you desire when getting upholstery fabric printed.
Shop Upholstery fabrics for fabric printing at I Want Fabric Today
Creating a successful fabric printing design involves careful consideration of many elements, including colour selection, printing techniques, upholstery fabric choice and special effects. Taking the time to research everything thoroughly can help ensure that you produce the best results for your project. By keeping these tips in mind, you can easily create a successful printed fabric design that stands out from the crowd.
At I Want Fabric, we make it easy to find the materials you need for getting fabric printed. With our extensive selection of textiles, you can easily create stunning fabric designs that are perfect for any project.
Shop our upholstery fabric today for fabric design printing and take advantage of our unmatched customer service to help bring your fabric print to life.