5 Creative Ways to Use a DTF Printer in Your Sewing Room

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I recently received the xTool Apparel Printer Plus, and I’ve been putting it to good use in the usual way of personalizing shirts for my family.  

However, as a sewing and machine embroidery enthusiast first, I’ve also been looking for how to integrate DTF printing with my fabric hobbies. Turns out, DTF printers aren’t just useful for Etsy shops and t-shirt businesses!

While I’m still discovering everything my xTool DTF printer can do beyond creating apparel, here are some of my current favorite ways to use my DTF printer in my sewing, quilting, and embroidery craft room. 

5 Creative Ways to Use a DTF Printer for Sewing and Quilting

I’m a sewing/embroidery lover who happens to have an xTool Apparel Printer Plus DTF printer as well. So, what can I do with it that integrates with my two favorite fabric crafts?

1. Custom Quilt Labels

I love quilting but despise, with a fiery passion, binding and making labels. Thus, I’m always looking for fun ways to make creating the labels less tedious. 

One of my new favorite ways for making custom quilt labels is using my Apparel Plus. I’ve even put together a whole DTF printing a quilt label tutorial if you want to check it out. 

The biggest advantage for me here is that I can print detailed, full-color labels directly onto quilting cotton rather than relying on embroidery or sublimation on polyester. 

2. Clothing Tags

Usually I sublimate the clothing tags for outfits I sew for my daughters, but I’ve also played around with DTF printing as another option when sewing cotton clothing. 

DTF printing takes about the same amount of time as sublimation does, but with DTF, the resulting labels are a little crisper, and I can use cotton fabric rather than polyester, which is required for sublimation. 

In addition to personalized clothing tags–mine usually say Made by Aly or Made by Mommy–you could also use DTF printing to create clothing labels with the garment size and care instructions. 

According to xTool, at least, these labels made by their Apparel Printer Plus will hold up to 50-100 washes, although I’m nowhere near that number yet to verify the claim for you.  

3. DTF Applique with Embroidered Features

One of my favorite crafty experiments so far has been using a DTF transfer as the base of an appliqué design and then stitching over it with my embroidery machine.

This fun mixed-media application is featured in my how to use an embroidery machine and DTF printer together tutorial. 

When using the DTF printer as my “applique” material fabric, it’s especially handy for intricate shapes that I don’t want to trim with scissors. It’s also nice to have practically unlimited options for printed designs rather than being limited to what fabric I can find at the fabric store. (RIP JoAnn!)

I then add embroidery to provide additional texture in the borders and on top of the applique. Of course, you can free-motion embroider with your sewing machine or sew the applique border with a satin stitch on your sewing machine as well. 

4. Personalized Handmade Gifts

Any project you sew can become even more personalized with the addition of DTF and then gifted or lovingly hoarded for personal use! Just a few examples I’ve been dreaming of:

• Aprons
• Stockings
• Tote bags
• Baby items: clothing, blankets, bibs, etc. (super nice because DTF has a different feel to it than embroidery!)
• Children’s clothing
• Sewing machine covers
• Fabric baskets

In my experience so far, DTF transfers have seemed a little more robust than HTV. Also, DTF designs are quicker to create than embroidering a highly detailed design with many thread color changes. 

Of course, you don’t have to sew the project yourself. You can also add DTF-created designs to store-bought fabric or blanks. For example, if you want to make t-shirts for your quilting guild, family, or sewing circle you can buy your favorite blank t-shirts and then make your own. 

For example, I wanted two matching shirts for my daughters, so I DTF printed both of the ones shown above! 

5. Creating Custom Fabric Panels

Want to create your own fabric but don’t want to pay and wait for Spoonflower or the equivalent? 

It’s easy to find repeating prints (or even standalone designs) that you can add to fabric. Then, use the printed fabric to sew your next pillow, bag, quilt piece, etc. 

DTF is by no means a replacement for getting an entire bolt of custom fabric printed, but it’s a fun way to create your own fabric for smaller sewing projects.

You can also personalize fabric with children’s and pets’ names, special dates, etc. Then, these can be turned into something sewn, like a blanket, tote bag, stocking, or even a stuffed animal. 

This is way easier than sublimating fabric, which again, isn’t cotton-friendly.

One thing to consider, though, is DTF changes the hand and drape of the fabric. Thus, I really wouldn’t make an outfit or anything very stretchy out of fabric printed with 100% DTF coverage. The more you cover with DTF, the less the fabric will behave like itself. 

Final Notes

I’m still learning what makes sense to print with DTF and what is better left to just my sewing or embroidery machines when it comes to practicality. 

However, what I love about having this new xTool DTF printer in my sewing room is that it gives me another way to add color, personalization, and details to projects I was already working on!