Miss Saira
When I started making hammock covers, sometimes the volunteers had a hard time distinguishing quickly between the small and large covers. I thought tags would be great, so I looked at custom tags. They were very nice, but they were also expensive.
I found all kinds of great instructions on Pinterest for making custom tags and labels by using my printer with iron-on transfer paper.
But it was a minor disaster. I don’t know what I was doing wrong, but after multiple tries, it was clear that project wasn’t for me.
I decided to figure out something simple using materials I already had around the house, or were inexpensive to buy.
Fabric
All that was really needed was something simple that would quickly indicate size. I designed 2 styles using scrap t-shirt material left over from making hammock covers.
Knit t-shirt material is a great fabric for tags because the cut fabric will not unravel, like woven cotton will. I sewed some decorative lines along the vertical edges, to make the tag more stable and a little prettier, but it’s not required.
I used 2 parts of the t-shirt – the hem (so it looked a little more finished) and the fabric from the middle of the t-shirt. The fabric from the middle of the shirt, makes a “looped” tag with wrong sides together.
I chose to use fabric color to indicate size, in case the ink lettering wore off; white indicating small, red for medium and blue for large.
The measurements that I used, and step by step directions, are below. The measurements are highly adaptable and may be easily changed to fit your project.
Ink
The ink used on the fabric would have to stand up to frequent washes.
Tags
I tried a few different things, and by far the simplest that I found were fabric safe markers. And they don’t bleed and feather on the knit material either.
I also used a pigment ink, brand name “StazOn”, with simple rubber stamps. (There are other pigment ink brands available, but I already had StazOn.) Even though there is a very specific note on the back of the stamp pad saying that it is not recommended for fabric, so far, it has held up very well. I figured I could use the markers to re-trace the stamp if it ever wore off.
The rubber stamps are simple alphabet stamps. I used the single S, M & L stamps the most, but it was very easy to tape letters together to make words.
I also tried fabric safe paint, and that has held up well. But painting is not my talent and even a simple letter “L” didn’t look great from my hands. I liked the look of the stamps and markers much better, but those more skilled at painting may prefer a painted look.
Using the Hem of a T-Shirt
Materials:
• Bottom part of a t-shirt – including the hem
• Sewing machine – my favorite stitch is the triple stretch stitch, with a twin ball
point needle – but other stitches and needles work as well
• thread • scissors • ruler or tape measure
• fabric safe marker, paint or ink, rubber stamp if desired
Instructions:
The raw measurements of this tag is 2” x 2”. But this can be easily adjusted.
2. Make a little dash every 2 inches.
3. In between the dashes, create your tag using fabric safe marker, paint, or ink and rubber stamp.
4. Using a sewing machine, sew a vertical stitch along one side of the dash.
I like to use twin needles and a triple stretch stitch.
5. Go over to the next dash and sew another vertical stitch.
6. Go over ¼” - 1/8” and make another vertical stitch.
This stitch needs to be far enough away from the other stitch, so you can cut the tags apart with scissors.
8. Cut tags apart.
10. Before sewing your tag, check it to make sure it is fully visible.
9. When sewing the hem for your project, sew the tag right along with it.
Using Part of a T-Shirt
Materials:
• Part of a t-shirt
• Sewing machine – my favorite stitch is the triple stretch stitch, with a twin ball point needle – but other stitches and needles work as well
• thread • scissors • ruler or tape measure
• fabric safe marker, paint or ink, rubber stamp if desired
Instructions:
The raw measurements of this tag is 2 ½” tall x 2” wide. But this can be easily adjusted.
3. Using a sewing machine, sew a vertical stitch from dash to dash.
I like to use twin needles and a triple stretch stitch.
4. Go over to the next dash and sew another vertical stitch.
5. Go over ¼” - 1/8” and make another vertical stitch.
This stitch needs to be far enough away from the other stitch, so you
can cut the tags apart with scissors.
6. Repeat so every tag has a stitch along both edges.
7. Cut tags apart.
8. If your piece of fabric is taller than 2 ½”, or 1 tag, cut each tag to 2 ½”.
9. Create your tag using fabric safe marker, paint, or ink and rubber stamp.
10. When sewing the hem for your project, sew the tag right along with it. Create a loop with wrong sides together.
7. Repeat so every tag has a stitch along both edges.
1. Cut the fabric in multiples of 2 ½” tall x 2” wide.
This piece of fabric is 5” tall x 8” wide.
2. Along the width of the fabric, make little dashes every 2” along the top and bottom of the fabric.
To download printable pdf instructions, click on the pdf icon.
1. Cut 2” off the bottom of the t-shirt, including the hem.