Autograph on fabric help

[4xmom]

I have seen several posts where people got signatures on fabric squares to have it made into quilts. I love this idea but have some questions. What kind of pen do I need for the characters to sign with? And what kind of fabric? Can I use Disney printed fabric or does it need to be plain? Should I carry a clipboard to put the fabric on for signing? Will the characters mind signing for all 4 kids (I just can't see them sharing their special quilt)? Any advice would be great!

 

[DisneyOrBustColorado]

I would use fabric markers. You can google fabric markers & find them anywhere from Amazon to Hobby Lobby. Then you'll have to read the instructions on how best to use the markers. You may not want to use fabric that has too much of a design because the signatures may not show up very well. The characters won't mind signing one for each child. I assume it is the same as when children come up with their own autograph books & the characters sign them all.

Sounds like a good idea, best of luck & enjoy your trip!

 

[LockShockBarrel]

You'll also need to consider that the character will need a hard or stiff surface to write on, a loose piece of fabric would be too hard. I believe I've seen people say they use embroidery hoops and put the fabric in that.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

You'll also need to consider that the character will need a hard or stiff surface to write on, a loose piece of fabric would be too hard. I believe I've seen people say they use embroidery hoops and put the fabric in that.

Embroidery hoop is a great idea! Or some other way to hold down all 4 corners/sides so it doesn't bunch up when the character tries to sign.

Also, bring much bigger squares than you need. You can always trim them down, but it is hard for characters with limited vision and big hands to sign a tiny square!

 

[Pinkflmngo]

I did this by cutting my fabric before going into 6.5 inch squares. I used a tone-on-tone fabric, i.e. light pink fabric with a VERY slightly darker pink allover design. I backed each square with freezer paper for stabilization. I cut the freezer paper into 6.5 inch squares and then ironed them onto the back of the fabric squares -- apply the shiny/waxy side of the freezer paper to the wrong side of the fabric with no steam on a cotton setting. I stacked all the squares with a hard piece of cardboard on the top and the bottom for protection and placed the stack in a large ZipLoc bag.

When we got the autographs, I had the squares ready for quick exchanges and placed them one at a time on a small plastic clipboard. The clip holds it in place and gives the characters something to hold onto. It worked very well. We used a variety of Sharpie marker colors, depending on what we wanted for that particular character.

After the trip, I removed the paper backing and pieced it all together with lots of sashing strips. I wish I had actually gotten it finished and could show you a picture, but it is a work in progress. A LOT of work.

As far as I am concerned, this is a keepsake wallhanging type of quilt. It will never be used on a bed or drug around by a child. For that reason, I am not at all worried about washing and fading or bleeding of the markers. My daughter was 25 when we started it and maybe someday it will hang in her little girl's room if she ever has one!

Feel free to ask me questions!
Lynda

 

[Pinkflmngo]

PS to my above post: I would not use Disney fabric for the autograph squares. Keep it very neutral as far as design. Tone on tone or pale batiks would work well. Save the Disney fabric for the borders and backing!

 

[noahdove]

I have used the Permanent markers that click. they are big enough for characters to use and so far, so good...

 

[katiee37]

Crayola sells Fabric Markers for just a few cents more than normal markers (at least around here)

 

[4xmom]

Thank you all so much for the help! I am so excited about this trip and things like this just make it all the more exciting to me.

 

[DisneyFamily123]

Fabric Markers -- But check them out. Some fabric markers dry quickly... others require heat and drying time. Get the quick ones. I thought about embroidery hoop which is fine if it's a quick release... otherwise, that's not going to work when you have more than 1 character signing together;it will take too much time to move the material. We just stretched the fabric over an autograph book and held it for them. The advantage of fabric markers is the ink is less likely to spread when writing so you get a smoother line. We used pillow shams/cases. Stretching it over a book helped to prevent the ink from going through to the other side.

 

[4xmom]

Oh I love the pillow case too! My kids drag blankets and pillows everywhere. (Picture over grown 2 yr olds-they never outgrew that part) Did you make the pillow case or just by a Disney one?

 

[CluelessDisFan]

http://pinterest.com/pin/18084835973665992/

http://pinterest.com/pin/18084835973515305/

Here are our quilts. Yes, I brought a small clip board. I ironed on freezer paper to the back of the squares (kept fabric flat) and kept them in a ziplock bag. We used thick fabric markers for autographs, and I requested the characters to please keep 1/4 inch from the edges. Most understood, 1 or 2 wrote a little too close to the outside. But it gave those ones a little more character. I used plain colored fabric for the autograph squares and we used Disney fabric in the quilt design. I used blue and red markers for DSs yellow autographs squares and purple markers on pink sparkle fabric for DDs autograph squares. BTW these autographs are holding up after many washes too.

My MIL does all the quilting. She is now working on youngest DDs quilt will be autographs on squares plus all the quilted princess faces.

http://pinterest.com/pin/234187249346062673/http://pinterest.com/pin/234187249346062653/
My MIL is super talented on the sewing machine, I don't know what I'd do without her.

 

[Pinkflmngo]

Clueless: I love, love, love your quilts, but I am really over the moon about the princess blocks. I know how to do that kind of piecing and would love to know where you got the patterns if you could share that. Were they from Etsy or from a book? If your mother-in-law designed them herself then she should go into business. I am really impressed with her work even if she did not design them. If she did design them, she is a real genius!!!

 

[SEA333]

I have seen several posts where people got signatures on fabric squares to have it made into quilts. I love this idea but have some questions. What kind of pen do I need for the characters to sign with? And what kind of fabric? Can I use Disney printed fabric or does it need to be plain? Should I carry a clipboard to put the fabric on for signing? Will the characters mind signing for all 4 kids (I just can't see them sharing their special quilt)? Any advice would be great!

Sharpie makes two kinds of fabric markers - the black Rub-A-Dub laundry marker, and the (more fun) Sharpie Stained markers. They came out last year and come in 10 different colors and are specifically made for fabric.

 

[4xmom]

Clueless, I love them! They are amazing. My mil was great with quilting also. I so wish I had come upon these boards when she was still living. What a great gift your children have to keep now.

 

[CluelessDisFan]

Clueless: I love, love, love your quilts, but I am really over the moon about the princess blocks. I know how to do that kind of piecing and would love to know where you got the patterns if you could share that. Were they from Etsy or from a book? If your mother-in-law designed them herself then she should go into business. I am really impressed with her work even if she did not design them. If she did design them, she is a real genius!!!

Thank you. All I did was pick out the fabric and get the autographs. She does all the rest! No, she didn't come up with the designs, but I'm sure she found them on pinterest. Here, I found the link, good luck! I'm not talented enough or patient enough for that. http://www.misha29.com/p/disney-princesses.html

Clueless, I love them! They are amazing. My mil was great with quilting also. I so wish I had come upon these boards when she was still living. What a great gift your children have to keep now.

Thank you! Sorry for your loss. Your kids could still have great autograph quilts made. There's a lady on the disboutiquers thread that will make them. I can't remember her name, but the ladies on the Disboutiqe thread are amazing and will definitely help you out! Also if that's not a good option, I'm sure you could whip up a pillow case for autographs. The possibilities are endless, good luck!

 

[Pinkflmngo]

No, she didn't come up with the designs, but I'm sure she found them on pinterest. Here, I found the link, good luck! I'm not talented enough or patient enough for that. http://www.misha29.com/p/disney-princesses.html

Wow!!! Amazing. Thank you a million times for the link. I can't wait to make this myself.
Lynda

 

[CluelessDisFan]

Wow!!! Amazing. Thank you a million times for the link. I can't wait to make this myself.
Lynda

You go girl!

 

[4xmom]

So here is the stupid question...what kind of fabric? Is there a special type?

 

[Pinkflmngo]

From a strictly quilting perspective, I would use ONLY 100% cotton fabric. Any fabric with ANY amount of polyester is much more difficult for the sewing and pressing part of the job. You just want a good quality 100% cotton quilting type fabric. There are many marbly-type solid light colors or batiks that would be great for the autograph blocks. You could even use plain old white muslin. The connecting fabrics should be 100% cotton too. Other people will tell you something different about the type of fabric, but from years of quilting and teaching quilting, I would not consider anything other than cotton.

I hope that is what you meant by the question! If not, try again and I will try to help you again!
Lynda