Preserving your printed designs

Heat setting and curing printed fabric

Fabric printing involves the use of either screen printing or block printing ink.

To make sure your printed design stands the test of time, you need to either heat set or cure your print.

Here’s how to heat set your screen printed or stamped fabric design.

  1. make sure your print is completely dry before heat setting

  2. heat a household iron on the cotton, linen or wool setting depending on the material you’ve printed on (most often cotton)

  3. make sure to switch OFF the steam setting if there is one on your iron

  4. lay your printed fabric flat on a table or ironing board

  5. cover with clean baking paper or a clean tea towel

  6. hit play on your favourite 3-4 minute song

  7. place iron over your design and move across the design slowly, making sure not to sit in one spot too long or your fabric will scorch

  8. keep ironing in a cross hatching-like motion (moving up and down and side-to-side - it helps if you dance along to your favourite song!)

Some people have asked if a heater or hair dryer can heat set a print. The answer is no, as the heat is just not hot enough. You need around 175-180 degrees celsius to effectively heat set your print.

Here’s how to ‘cure’ your block printed design.

Most often a printed design is ‘cured’ when you use an oil-based ink, like Speedball. Check out the Frequently Asked Questions section to understand more about the curing process for Speedball inks.

Basically, these inks dry overnight then need about 5-7 days to fully cure and become permanent fixtures on your fabric.

The good thing with these inks is that you only end up using a very small amount for your block print.

Like to know more about fabric printing and ways to refresh your fashion? You can check out our REthread page or visit our shop and browse our unique hand-printed garments that might just tickle your fashion fancy!

Subscribe to keep in touch about our upcoming sessions, or contact us to arrange a bespoke experience just for you.

Like to know more about our activities and projects…?

We offer a range of studio-based or community-based activities to suit small to large groups. Some of our offerings include:

  • Lino-cut printing

  • Screen printing

  • Gelatine printing (mono printing)

  • Nature printing and ink making

  • Face painting

  • Games to make and share

  • Beeswax Wraps and bee hotels

  • Untangled - tangle drawing and mindfulness

  • MAKA and miniMAKA after school maker sessions (tools, projects and reusing materials)

  • The Kindness Project (pre-Christmas holidays studio sessions)

  • ARTpreneurs. refashion your thinking (upcycling fashion printing sessions for youth and young adults)

Playing, making and creating together is a fun and memorable way to celebrate a special occasion.

We can also facilitate family and friend gatherings, birthdays, or community events that are tailored to your interests. Or you can get a group together and we’ll turn your day into a memorable occasion.