How to Print Your Own Calico Bags
If you’re looking for a way to express your personal style or promote a brand, personalized calico bags may be just what you need. Rising in popularity due to their eco-friendly properties and versatility, these strong cotton carriers provide an awesome opportunity to display your creativity. In just a few simple steps, you can add your own unique flare to any calico bag! Here’s how.
Procure your necessary materials prior to starting
To begin your creative journey like printed calico bags at Claytons, you’ll need a few tools. Gather together calico bags, fabric paint or ink, a brush or sponge of your choice, stencils (if you prefer), plus either newspaper or a plastic drop cloth. Now secure yourself some comfortable space to work in and don’t forget about the newspaper or drop cloth – they’ll help protect your surface! Finally, throw in iron for good measure.
Take Time to Craft Your Design
Crafting a design with your printer? Before you get started, carefully consider which look you’d like to create. Drawing one up by hand on the bag may be the best option if you’d like a unique touch, or utilize stencils for more precise shapes and patterns. Play around with multiple colors to make it stand out even further and keep in mind that simple designs often work best – so stick with something you can replicate easily.
To ensure productivity and safety when working on your workstation, familiarize yourself with the following rules:
Get ready to create with your calico bag. Take a piece of cardboard or plastic to line the inside of the bag. This will keep a barrier between your artwork and the other side, as well as help to keep the bag flat and taut while you work.
Applying the paint or ink is the next step in this process. Ensure all the preparation is complete before you start this phase, so you get the perfect results.
Working with care and precision, cover your bag with fabric paint or ink. Start off by adding the background colour if you’re using one and let it dry before incorporating other shades. Employ steady hands to draw accurate outlines with even coverage. If stencils are your tools of choice, firmly attach them before painting or inking. Have patience and take your time to create a beautiful result.
Allow it to dry, preferably until fully evaporated. A complete drying cycle is necessary to completely eradicate all traces of fluid.
After you have concluded the printing of your design, set it aside in a calico bag until it is entirely dry. While it would take a few hours to dry, the time needed may differ based on the type of paint or ink. Patience is the key and keep away from affecting the design during drying time in order to prevent smudging.
Set the Design in Place
By heat setting, one can ensure that the design is firmly fixed and kept in place. Applying heat ensures that the design adheres firmly to the fabric or material, giving it a permanent finish and lasting quality.
Ensure your design will stay put by performing a simple heat-setting process. Place a lightweight material (such as a cloth or parchment paper) over the area and press with an iron on medium heat for several minutes. This technique forces the paint or ink into the textile fibers, effectively decreasing the chance of fading or flaking in the future.
