Custom Printed Fabric Start to Finish

Hey there! I recently talked on my Instagram about custom printing fabric and how some people think I should share where I get my fabric. If it's for a specific race, I'm making something exclusively for that purpose. If it's a fabric that isn't specifically for a race but I think it would make a great skirt, I don't mind sharing how I got it made.

I asked for help naming custom skirts in the Bolder Buddies Group and had a few questions about a couple of the fabrics. I messaged a few people and am now trying to make the information easily accessible for everyone. I'm happy to help you get your own custom-printed fabric! This post is from the beginning to when the finished fabric arrives at Bolder Athletic Wear.

The first thing you need to understand is seamless and repeating patterns. Knowing how to resize images in Photoshop or Corel is also important. I usually find most of my files on Etsy and Shutterstock. Today, for example, I used an image from an Etsy shop. These options are cost-effective and the files are already in jpg or png format. You can purchase your files and save them to your computer. Remember to resize your file to 2400 px by 2400 px and save it with a different name. 

Just wanted to add that some fabric designers may have their files smaller that 2400x2400, like Sophie Rae.  You will not be able to resize them up to 2400x2400.  If you do, the DPI decreases and the fabric will lose it's details.  It will be a 6.83 inch repeat and it looks great.  The scale is still fantastic for skirts and other Bolder Athletic Wear items.

When you are ready to print your file, you will go to Raspberry Creek Fabrics website.

Click on the CUSTOM PRINTING tab.   Take some time to view their videos.  It is very helpful.  You will click on the Upload and print your own designs.

Next... it will pop up and you will find the file on your computer.

I am going to look for my Manatee file.  Here you can see my original file and my resized file.  Click on your resized file.

When it uploads, it will look large.  I have my Preview Zoom set at 12 inches.  This will give me the best idea for my size small skirts.  Look at the scale.  It shows up large and the DPI is only 150.  This is way too small to print nicely.

You will have need to change the scale, down to 8 inch by 8 inch.  Then you will see the DPI change to 300.  I change the view to see how it will look.

Looks good to me.  Time to choose the fabric.  It defaults to Cotton Spandex.  You will need to click on the dropdown box.  Scroll down to Synthetic Fabric and choose Swim Knit.

Now...the amazing thing about Raspberry Creek Fabric is that they sell in Half Yard Increments.  Which means if you need one yard, you will have to add TWO to your cart.  If you need two yards for your skirts, then add FOUR.

You can continue to shop and add more files/fabric to your cart.  Since I am done, it is time to check out.

I am having this order sent directly to Bolder, so I put their zip code in for the shipping calculator.

I have my home address saved as my default because sometimes I hit a large sale and need more time to order all my skirts and tops.  I also have Bolder's Address saved in my address book.  The people receiving and opening the mail at Bolder must know whose fabric it is.  

The easiest way for me is in the "First Name" section, put in Individual Custom, and then in the "Last Name" section, I put my name.  This order included personal fabric for Sherry, I put her name in the "First Name" section.  I wanted to make sure that she had a chance to open the package and take out her fabric and put it in her stash/orders.

Complete my order and wait for the shipping notification.  I do track it to see when it was delivered.  After that, it is in safe hands. 

I do not bug them to see if they received it.  Be patient.....You will get an email with your shorts options when your order is ready to process.  The more you message, email, or call them, you are taking the employees away from their jobs.  They are trying as hard as they can to get caught up.  Please be kind, they are working with a tiny staff.

The Manatee fabric arrived safely and Sherry sent a picture so I could use it in this post.  Now to patiently wait for the shorts options and the mesh color for the tank.

Again, if you ever need my help, I am just a message away.

Custom Printed Fabric

 

Hey there!

Today I wanted to talk about Custom Fabric, specifically Custom Printed Fabric.  I love custom fabric groups on Facebook and have my favorites linked on the right side of my blog.  I ran into a creative hindrance.  I wanted something for a race.  I searched through all the groups and nothing was inspiring.  I did have someone from a fabric group reach out and try to have me join their group so I could buy something from them.  Honestly, I just don’t like the quality of their fabric.  There also are other people that have fabric groups and while I was looking for a print, found the majority of the shop's files on Shutterstock.  I was a bit perturbed.  I thought the person legitimately designed these prints.  Ok maybe I am just naïve.  One of the downsides of custom fabric groups is that the TAT can be a few months since it is printed in China.  Then if the round falls over CNY, it is much longer.

I resorted to posting in a general group and again, nothing.  A shop owner that I had purchased from before reached out and said that she could have something custom printed if I had a file.  We chatted a bit and understood what she was explaining.  So I purchased a file on Shutterstock and emailed it to her.  She sent an invoice and off we went!  I received the fabric in under two weeks.  I then sent it to Bolder for skirts and tops.  This was for our first Run for the Turtles. I then repeated it for Universal’s Mardi Gras and a few other designs.  

Last year she referred me to the company that she used for printing.  So I set up an account and started having them print my fabric directly.

Here is how I created our skirts for the 2023 Margaritaville Race.  I found this file on Shutterstock and purchased it. Learning that the optimum size is 2400x2400 px.  I resized the file directly in Shutterstock and downloaded the jpg.

Next, you will want to go to Raspberry Creek Fabrics and create an account.  Then you will go to the custom printing tab and upload your jpg.  Please make sure to check off any required boxes.  You should check the scale by viewing Full Width.  The DPI must be 300 for the print to be clear and not fuzzy.

Then on the right side, you will want to choose your fabric type.  Scroll down to Swim Knit.

You should notice that Raspberry Creek defaults to HALF YARD increments, so if you need 1 yard of fabric for your Bolder skirt, please make sure that you 2 to your cart.  If you are a larger size and need say 1.5 yards, change the amount in your cart to 3.   That extra little bit could be used to make a raglan tank with a mesh body.  You can either check out after your one file or keep adding files/prints.  What I love about this company is that it is located in the USA and are eco eco-friendly.  They have been around since 2010.  I also purchased their fabric swatch booklet.  Their swim fabric is so silky, light, and has movement.  

TAT is super short.  I received our shark fabric in about a week and sent it right up to Bolder.  We received our shorts options from Leah.  I chose Kitty Purry and Miss V chose Sunflower.

Our finished skirts looked amazing and we received so many compliments at the race last year. 

I also am including pictures of other fabrics that I had printed at Raspberry Creek Fabrics.  I also have two more prints that I just purchased so that I could have a couple more skirts ready for Disney this fall.

I have purchased seamless, repeating files on Shutterstock and Etsy.

If you ever consider custom printing fabric and need help, I would gladly help.  

Crowned Athletic Sash - reimagined

 

Time to get crafty!

This morning I decided to finally reimagine a Crowned Athletic Sash.  This idea came to me after I tried the magnets for a local race.  I really didn’t think they worked for us.  We put them on our shirts and then drove to the race.  Our bibs moved around with the seatbelts and during the race.  I really prefer a belt with toggles.  I also love that our belts can hold a water bottle, but sometimes feel too tight for my liking.   Disclaimer:  I am a walker so the bottles don’t bounce around.

Ok, back to craft times…I got out all my supplies.

Enchanted Rose Sash (small)

Heat & Bond seam tape

Side release buckles

1 inch wide elastic

Race bib toggles

Needle, thread and mini cricut heat press

Ruler

Fabric scissors

First I measured out a length of the elastic that fit around my waist and added a few inches.  I then looped it through the buckles.  To be safe I folded the ends over twice and hand stitched them across three or four times.  This made an adjustable belt.

Next I wrapped the sash around my waist the same way as the elastic and added a few inches and cut.  I turned the sash inside out and pressed the ends.  Then folded the ends over once and pressed with my mini cricut.  Fold over again and put a small piece of seam tape between the layers and press again.  I did this on both sides.  

Next, I turned the sash inside right and slipped the belt through the inside of the sash.

Then undo the toggles and slip them around the belt/sash and attach the bib.  If you are afraid of the stiff toggle material, you could also use some ribbon, cording, tulle.

I am going to test it out tomorrow on our walk.  But for now, it fits comfortably and is adjustable YAY!

Road trip with a large custom order

What do you do when you place a large Bolder Athletic Wear order and all the fabric won’t fit in one large USPS Flat Rate box?  You could split it up into two boxes or you can take a road trip and still spend less on gas than shipping.  You take a road trip!

Miss V and I headed up to Bolder Athletic Wear on April 9th.  Here is what we ordered and our shorts options.

First was our swings for the Margaritaville Race.  Miss V chose Dark Purple shorts and I picked baby blue.

Second was a FunkiFabric in Zenith.  I had this printed to match the Crowned Athletic Changed Fate Athletic Top.  I am hoping to be able to register for the Princess 10k next year and going to wear Merida.  I chose Golden Shorts.  Since my last order of FunkiFabrics didn’t feel as though it had as much stretch, I chose to go with a medium skirt with small shorts.

Third up is my Alien Fabric from MissMac Fabric (the shop closed suddenly this year)  I chose Moss Green Shorts.

Fourth is also a MissMac Fabric of Goofy.  Goofy is my favorite Disney Character.  I chose Ultra Royal Blue shorts. 

Fifth is a Friendship skirt and Raglan Tank.  I chose Space Blue shorts and white piping.  For the tank, I chose a white mesh body and mix and match the “Fetti” print for the neckline, armholes, and the the shoulders.  This fabric is from Purple Dragon Fabric.

Sixth was tropical flowers and I chose Fuchsia shorts.  The fabric is from Oh So Pretty.

Seventh was the pineapple print and chose Grass Green shorts.  The fabric is from Oh So Pretty.

Eighth was the fabric for Miss V’s WRC Triple Champion shirt.  It was from Kammie Lou Lou.  This was one of those easy choices.  Lime shorts!

Next up was an Orange Bird fabric from Oh So Pretty.  This one was a bit more difficult.  I kept going back and forth between tangerine and sunflower.  I finally decided on Sunflower.

Next up is another Oh So Pretty fabric.  This one is another LP inspired called Castle Mouse.  I chose Tangerine shorts.

I also decided to bring up my Minion Giggle Scrap to have a shirt made.  I chose to have an Anthracite mesh body.

The morning of our trip, I quickly added one more order and that was the Madam Leota fabric from Wonderground. (They don’t sell fabric like they used to, so this has been sitting in a bin for a couple of years)  I chose dark purple shorts and purple mesh for the tank.

While there, I decided to order a White Criss Cross Flutter with Lime piping and shorts to go with the Crowned Athletic Pixie Flyer Athletic Tank.

Yes, this was a very large order.  I had sold the majority of another brand's skorts.  I have also been saving points for a very long time and turned them into two free items.  I am also a Bolder Insider so I receive double points on orders.  They do add up.