Handprinted Clothes: Care Instructions

So you want to care for your new piece! Let me walk you through how to care for it so it won’t smudge or disappear in the wash.

Peel

At this point, your piece is still very wet and vulnerable to smudging, even if it might not seem like it. Carefully transport it by keeping it flat and, if it has any, not removing the wax paper until you are home.

Dry

Peel off the wax paper. You may use a hair dryer to speed up the initial drying process, but it will take about 1 week for it to cure completely and be safe to wash.

Do not wash it for at least one week

Iron

When the ink is no longer tacky or oily to the touch, you may use a hot, dry iron on it for an extra level of design protection. Use parchment paper or scrap cloth between the fabric and the iron to protect both from unwanted ink transfer. The type of ink I use does not NEED to be ironed; however, I always iron pieces to ensure the design lasts.

Recap

After one week of curing and a pass of a warm, dry iron, the piece may be washed in a washing machine with your other clothes on a regular cycle.

It is normal for a design to fade very slightly after the first wash, but it shouldn’t fade anymore after that initial wash.

Enjoy your unique piece of wearable art!