How To Print On Fabric At Home: Four Easy Ways

Discover easy home tutorials for printing on fabric with four different methods. Explore creative craft ideas and step-by-step guides to personalize your fabric projects—from clothing to decor!

In this post, I’ll show you how to print on fabric at home using the stuff you already have. There are four different methods you can use, and I will discuss each one with all the pros and cons.

Three of the fabric printing methods involve using a home inkjet printer. I have printed on paper napkins and tissue paper with my inkjet printer. Did you know you can also print onto fabric with a home office printer?

Printing on fabrics is a great way to upcycle old fabrics, such as bedsheets, to make fun crafts like fabric mushrooms. You can also personalize your crafts by printing photos onto the fabrics.

We’re a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

The Different Ways of Printing On Fabrics at Home

The four methods of printing discussed here are:

1. Freezer paper printing
2. Printable fabric sheets
3. Iron on transfer paper
4. Image Transfer Fluid

1. Freezer Paper Fabric Printing Method

For this method of printing on fabric at home, you will need freezer paper (plastic-coated). This method is suitable for thin fabrics such as linen or even old bedsheets.

Step 1: Choose your fabric, which should be thin enough to print on a home printer. Lighter-coloured white or cream fabrics are best, too.

Lay the fabric you want to print on top of freezer paper. Make sure that the plastic-coated side of the paper is in contact with the fabric. Then, with a hot iron, iron the fabric until it sticks to the paper.

Step 2: Using a rotary cutter and mat, cut the freezer paper-backed fabric to the size of computer paper (A4).

Step 3: Next, feed this paper into your inkjet paper feeder. Ensure the image prints on the fabric side, not the freezer paper side.

Step 4: Print as normal from your computer, but go into the printer’s advanced menu settings and choose the best-quality print option.

Step 5: Pull away the freezer paper backing once the image is printed onto the fabric.

The Pros and Cons of Freezer Paper Fabric Printing

2. Printable Fabric Sheets

This method of printing onto fabric at home has to be the easiest. It is basically the same as the freezer paper method. However, the work has already been done for you, as the printable fabric sheets come preprepared for the computer.

The Pros and Cons of Fabric Printer Paper

3. How To Print With Iron-on Transfer Paper

The next two printing fabric methods are transfers, which means the images are transferred onto the fabric via a medium.

Step 1: Iron-on transfer paper comes in two different varieties, one for light-coloured fabrics and the other for dark-coloured fabrics. Choose the paper depending on what colour fabric you want to print on.

Step 2: Place the paper in the printer paper feeder. Make sure you put the paper on the right side for printing. This will be marked on the paper.

Step 3: In the advanced printer menu, select the best quality print as with the other fabric printing methods. This time, select the mirror print box in the menu settings. This will print a mirror image of the picture.

Step 4: Next, trim the printed-out image close to the edge of the image you want. Then, heat an iron to the hottest setting and switch off the steam settings.

Step 5: Place the image face onto the fabric and press down with the iron. The length of time you iron depends on the instructions that come with the iron on transfer sheets. However, it is about 20 seconds per section.

Step 6: Leave the paper to cool for about a minute, then peel away the paper backing.

Pros and Cons of Iron On Transfer Paper

4. How To Print With Image Transfer Medium

There are several different mediums you can use to transfer images. I have used Dylon Image Maker but there are other products that work just as well such as Mod Podge Photo Transfer.

Step 1: This is another transfer method of printing, meaning you will need a mirror image copy of the picture you want to transfer. Follow the instructions on the packet.

Step 2: The methods for all the transfer mediums are very similar. First, cut out the mirror image you want to print onto the fabric.

Step 3: Place your image face up on a protected surface (as the medium may leak). Brush the face of the image with an image medium. You want a thick layer so the image becomes opaque.

Step 4: Place the image face down on the fabric where you want it to print.

Step 5: Next, roll over the paper with a rolling pin to eliminate and any creases or bubbles. Then, leave the image to dry for at least 4 hours.

Step 6: After the medium has fully dried, soak the back of the paper with a sponge of water for about 2 mins. Then, carefully rub away the paper. The image will now be transferred to the fabric.

Pros and Cons of Using Transfer Medium

Which Print-At-Home Method Is Best

I’ve listed the pros and cons of each fabric printing technique. The quality of the printed images was similar between them all. The iron-on transfer was the most vibrant, but it did alter the feel of the fabric.

The fabric printer sheets were the quickest and easiest printing method, but they were also the most expensive. The freezer paper method was great for upcycling fabrics.

With both the transfer methods, iron-on and medium, you can print on a greater range of fabrics. The transfer medium is especially useful as you can also use it on wood, and I’ve even printed on rocks with it. However, the medium was by far the longest process.

How To Print On Fabrics: Practical Craft Ideas

One of my favourite things to print onto fabrics is vintage images, especially flower illustrations and other wonderful botanical drawings. There are many wonderful free vintage images and maps on Pictureboxblue, which would be great for printing onto fabric.