I did post this on the Cooking/Crafts forum but thought I'd try here also. I love designing quilts around a favorite poem and putting the poem on the quilt. The problem is my use of a pigma pen is pathetic and I do love the wonderful fonts available on the computer, but how to get the ink washable? Please don't come back with the ole "heat set thing, that does not work. Any other ideas? Thanks, LQ

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), April 10, 2002

Answers

'Bout the only thing I can get to work is the iron on transfers. They work great with letters and pictures. You can get them where most computer paper is sold, fairly reasonable. I add family photos to mine and they turned out great. One hint though, make sure the program you use for the printing can print them in a mirrow image so when they are ironed on, they will be correct. Don't see why you couldn't add hand drawn letters and or drawings to the transfer paper BEFORE the setting with the iron. Ink is ink.. right?

-- Bear (Barelyknow@aol.com), April 10, 2002.

My printer brand has the option of a waterproof ink cartridge. Check the stores and see if there is a cartridge that would fit in your printer that is waterproof. You could always take it to a copy shop and have it copied in reverse (backward), then transfer it with that Picture This stuff - it works pretty well - but you end up with a glossy, plastic-like coating that I doubt you could quilt through. You could also spiff up the print on the computer (fonts and what- have-you), then use a lightbox or some other similar arrangement to transfer the image to the cloth with your pens.

-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), April 11, 2002.

In my quilting store they have some printer paper with fabric on one side of it. When you put it through your printer it takes the ink and dosn't wash out. It has been treated with somthing so it takes good. You can also transfer photos with your printer on it. That is what I use it for. Anyway it is about 2$ a sheet and comes in 4 sheet pks. hope this helps. It is called photo transfer fabric but it is not iron on. the fabric is on the paper already so your printer just prints right on it then you peal the paper off the back. The paper just works to make it stable goning through the printer.

-- Teresa (Mo) (c3ranch@socket.net), April 11, 2002.

thanks to all for the good ideas. I will check on the ink cartridge that is colorfast for my printer and also some of the other good tips. Maybe I need a new Printer! LOL Thanks again, you guys are great! :) Little Quacker PS I am glad this site is back up!

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), April 11, 2002.

This may not apply to what you are working with but it might be an option for something else you want to do. Take your poem and get it just right. Then reverse it. You have several options, such as marking it heavily on thin paper and then turning it over and tracing it on the back. Then, take tracing paper and cover your reverse image. Once you have the tracing paper firmly attached, go over the reverse image it transfer pencil. Remove tracing paper and iron onto your quilt or whatever it is you are working with. Then embroider the poem. This can also give you an old fashioned look if you like. I really like this for getting something I can't find a pattern for, such as a child's quilt or wall hanging. annette

-- annette (j_a_henry@yahoo.com), April 11, 2002.

Soni, What brand and model of printer do you have? I would like to look into one that would have a cartridge with colorfast ink. thanks, LQ

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), April 12, 2002.

Hey Ladys, I have been on the phone all morning tryin to find ink that would work for what we want....and its rite under our nose, well almost..lol...call your michels crafts store. They have pins just for fabric that will not bleed, at least thats what the lady said..I told her about how the Sharpie's bleed into the fabric,and that we dident want that ,and she said that they have pins just for what we are looking for...SOOOOOOO I was off with fabric in hand to see if this is what some of us would like..This is what I found.Its calligraphy pins and are water proof, Fade-Proof,non Bleeding...So when I got home I put them to use and WOW I do like um (them)..a little bit of my southerness comein out.lol, but anyway, thats all I could find.As for the pretty fronts, I was on the phone all afternoon tryin to find something,,but no luck..im going to call a sign maker shop and see if they can make a stincel like what the lady said in the other post, with pretty fronts...I will Get Back with you all as soon as I can find out if it can be done...Ladys keep your thinkin caps on and Im sure we can come up with something...I just hope it wont cost so much.Oh and BTW my squares are done. Will get they sent off within the week...Happy Quilting..Amelia Kay

-- Amelia Kay (bluegrassgirl@charter.net), April 12, 2002.

No Amelia, this is not what I am looking for but thanks for trying. I have Pigma pens, fabric pens, and ink pads with colorfast ink. But I would like to use the "Fonts" on my computer for the poems. It is kinda fun looking though, will solve this, it is only a matter of time and persistance! :) Thanks, LQ

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), April 12, 2002.