character autograph ?

[Megan's Mom]

I am planning to make a quilt with the character autographs this time when we go. I was wondering if anyone had done anything similar to this and how it worked out. I just didn't want another book with autographs in it I wanted to do something different. A friend that quilts suggested using a sharpie and ironing freezer paper to the back of the material that the characters sign. Any other suggestions that might be helpful?

 

[princessbaileigh]

What A great idea!
I was thinking of making a shadow box with the signatures in it and pictures of them signing them, Sort of like a scrapbook page only bigger. My daughter would love that and I would hang it in her room, somthing she would always have an treasure....just like yours!

 

[Megan's Mom]

What I have envisioned is a 5x5 square of white material that the characters sign and then there will be strips of Disney material (that I have been buying up) around of all four sides. the completed square will be 10x10. Someone told me that my design is kind of like a modified log cabin if you are familar with that. Like if Snow White signs then I have material of the princesses and even seven dwarfs that can go around it. There are some pieces that have a large print and on the back the backing will be made up of 20x20 squares of the large print. I have never made a quilt before so I may be bitting off more than I can handle for a first time quilt but I have several friends that are quilters so maybe they will bail me out. I would like to have the quilt top finished for Megan's birthday in April.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Sounds VERY cool, make sure to take a picture of it when complete.

 

[Fire14]

Sounds neat you could even use differnt color sharpies if desired. Maybe a hard surface under fabric so character could sign easier. How about a clipboard.

 

[suz72]

Great idea!! I'd love to do it too.

I have heard that character aren't supposed to use sharpees b/c it could stain their costumes. Anyone know if this is true?

I'm sure princesses could use sharpees.

You could also have them use a non-permanent marker and then trace over the signature later.

Susan

 

[Kendra17]

I'm not a quilter, but that sounds great. If you have pictures of the characters with your daughter, you could print the pictures out on transfer paper and iron them on the quilt squares. i don't know how washable that would be though.

Good LucK!

 

[poohandwendy]

That's so awesome, I have just recently taken up quilting and this sounds like a great idea!

A few things I would suggest is to make sure to prewash and iron all of your fabrics (before cutting and piecing them together) and always use 100% cotton, non-stretchy materials only. (I would avoid t-shirt cotton fabric for the autographs, way too stretchy)

The prewashing because you are talking about using different colored materials with white fabric. Eventually you will need to wash the quilt, you don't want all of your hard work to end up bleeding into the autographed parts.

100% cotton fabric (and thread) for 2 reasons, easier to piece together because blended fabrics stretch more and are harder to work with, just trust me...this is really important. Also, when the quilt is washed the eventual shrinkage will be more consistent (even after prewashing, fabrics and thread shrink a bit).

Also, be sure to make the fabric 'paper' you have the characters sign is a good bit larger than the square will actually end up being, you will need room for pre-washing shrinkage and cutting. If you are concerned that they will take up a larger amount of space signing than you want, use masking tape or something similar to block off a specific area for their signature in the middle of the page. (if that makes sense, LOL)

I would also use 'fabric' markers (they come in all sorts of colors) rather than Sharpies. Sharpies tend to bleed and fade a bit during washing.

***your quilter friends may have already advised you of the above suggestions, but they are important***

I have not printed any fabric yet, but I eventually want to try it.

Good luck, what a great idea!!!!

 

[poohandwendy]

Originally posted by Kendra17
If you have pictures of the characters with your daughter, you could print the pictures out on transfer paper and iron them on the quilt squares. i don't know how washable that would be though.

Good LucK!

You can actually print the pictures onto fabric with your PC using the same method as the OP mentioned (ironed fabric on freezer paper)...they also sell programs and pre-made fabric paper for this) I have not tried it yet, but it looks really cool....

 

[The LK 4]

My DD had a t-shirt that she had the characters sign this past August. I had a large piece of cardboard that I kept inside the shirt so the autographs wouldn't bleed to the other side, and also to give them a surface to sign on.

I received a very good tip from the Fairy Godmother. (She's so smart! ) She said that she has seen several people using an embroidery hoop to hold the material taut. I will have to try that next time! It would be much easier than the cardboard I had used.

 

[Barb D]

I planned on doing this once. I had the characters autograph the squares of fabric with Sharpie pens. I never did get around to sewing them together, though.

I tried the embroidery hoop method, but decided it was too much trouble changing the fabric between characters. What worked better was a piece of lightweight foam core board with a binder clip (which basically made a very lightweight clipboard.)