All about custom printed fabric: how to design, where to order, and using it to build a business

Regarding the dress I'm wearing: It's an old 2018 project. Printed, but inspired by 18th C Grecian embroidered petticoats blended with a Kate Middleton dress. I never made a video because I didn't like the fit, but it's a project I'd like to redo this summer. On request, I published the original print to my Spoonflower shop, but it is one-size. If I redo the project and come up with a fit I'm happy with, I'll upload it with a proper range of sizes.

I really want to create Alaskan designs and own the copyright

“Time is never wasted on a failure; you only learn from it, but it doesn’t make it hurt less.” Oh I felt that.

Correction for your Q&A:
Licensed fabric prints, even at Joann's, aren't supposed to be used in resale. If it has a sports team or recognizable character on it, it does break copyright law to resell the item. It's why Etsy can/will close your whole shop for using the trademarks/character/brand names in your titles and tags. Yes, lots of people still do it, but Disney especially regularly sues Americans that do. It's harder for them to track down and enforce copyright laws in other countries.

thanks for mentioning the spoonflower limitation on scale! That's always bothered me and it's what I get the most requests/messages about. Would be easier if the customers could make basic changes, even color shifts if they want, would be soooo nice.

Sadly, MFD seems to be out of business. The website is gone. Thanks for the info, though! If you have a new favorite print on demand, who have you switched to?

Have you ever attempted printing on sheer fabric? I am currently involved in a project that requires printing opaque patterns, which should block light and affect the fabric's porosity, onto a sheer fabric that allows light to pass through. However, according to my research, digital printing typically utilizes ink rather than thick paint.

Have you ever printed a print in 2 different fabrics to use in one garment? One of my favorite dresses is a linen floral that has cotton jersey knit panels in the side to give the whole dress some give. I would love to copy that idea in different prints, but worry that the knit would look very different from the linen once it is printed.

I do not like etsy

looking to get into tapestries, headwraps, etc. with my custom designs I've been working on. This video definitely helped me out as I wasn't sure where to begin. I took notes during this video! :P Thank you for your help. I Liked and Commented for the sake of engagement lol Appreciate the energy you put into this video. Wishing you happiness and prosperity!

A niche, I ' m going to borrow that word ,also yer papering the selection about skirt I, have less space not more I moved , so I have several plans .the events are different where I 've moved . Thanks for your chalkboard style.

Great info. I just went to mfd and it said connection not secure. I clicked go anyways and some odd windows server page came up. Maybe just maintenance?

You really impress me......wow, God showed you His plan for you........You really know your stuff.....🐳🤗

What I do not like about Etsy, is that you cannot talk to them........they do not have a working ph. number.....all their emails they send to you - you cannot reply too.......they fix it to where you cannot get a working email address that you can send......and if you have a problem on their help pages (and they have many help pages......) None of the problems listed the specific help I needed......this takes hours........I looked for many hours and my account will be closed if I cannot send them the correct banking number and they have the wrong one .......and send me emails, but will not let me reply and when go to the help page, it will not let me change it........I do not know what to do........I love your new ideas.......Thanks Mariah ....❤❤❤

omg..the youngest content creator with tons of information. I'm subscribed and will watch all the rest. Great job and thank you.

I make hard and soft goods for the golf industry, I’m excited to check out some canvas from mdf.

Hey @MariahPattie! Love this video, super helpful thank you for sharing! Do you have any insight into taking art (painting, drawing etc.) and scanning it for digital fabric printing? What is the best way to achieve a high-quality scan? Studio photograph or specialty scanner? Any ideas on this? Thank you!

This is a fantastic breakdown! Im looking into creating a ecommerce brand for golf head covers and this was a great introduction into the custom print game. Thank you!

This video is great!

I would suggest consider trying CONTRADO for future fabric printing needs. CONTRADO offers a wide range of customizable fabrics and printing options, along with a user-friendly platform for designing and ordering custom printed fabrics.

Really enjoyed this video. You thoroughly explain each topic in a clear and easy to understand way. I sincerely appreciate the information you shared, more so because I’ve been considering fabric print designing for a while now. Plus, I’m a SpoonFlower customer and have seen their info on becoming a fabric designer. The compare/contrast with MFD and your experience with other since valuable insights.

Love the dress you are wearing.

I'm so sad I just found this video. I just visited MFD and it says they are permanently closed. 😞 Any other suggestions?

Love your honesty!

THIS VIDEO IS PURE GOLD 💛💛💛💫✨✨⭐🌟✨✨

I’m very interested in how you designed the pieces of the dress you’re wearing onto fabric, any chance you could make a video demonstrating how this is done? ❤

Just a note for new viewers: MyFabricDesigns recently closed its proverbial doors, and has become defunct.

MFD has closed down!!!😢

Apparently MyFabricDesigns is out of business now, shame.

Looks like MFD is closed for good. :/

As a head’s up to all, My Fabric Designs has closed shop. Disappointed.

They closed my fabric designs! What do I do if I need black fabric now?

Great info, I would love to know how did you create the design for the dress you are wearing. I already know how to create repeating patterns. Thanks!

Your fabric designs are just gorgeous! Thank you for this most informative and helpful video. I am just getting started in this and this helped a lot!

Thank you! I appreciate you teaching inspiring individuals like myself ❤

Hi Mariah. I have a question: Can I work with these companies even if I live in Latin America? THANK YOU

I make good designs, and would like to have them printed, just a thought

Shoutout to everyone who just randomly hyper-focuses on a particular dress of a particular character in a 2D game and randomly decides to learn GIMP in an evening to get that geometric cube pattern right and then remembers that Mariah had a video about costum fabric printing and Spoonflower has a facility in Germany, it really is meant to be.
Just me? Can't be just me!
Anyway, thanks Mariah, that was very informative. Imma go make a Laura Vanderboom from Rusty Lake cosplay thingy now.

Which fabrics would you say are worst for ordering black?

Thank you ..for this love

You are one of the best presenters I have ever seen! I was blown away by the amount of information you included as well as the clarity, intonation and confidence your voice possesses. I would also venture to guess that you are perhaps an overachiever? Anyway, thank you for sharing your knowledge, experience, and some of your work.

Super video! So helpful!

For those annoying white lines, I highly recommend using photoshop's single-row/column marquee tool to constrain the area you're editing and avoid messing up surrounding areas. Depending on the design, you might even be able to copy an adjacent row/column and paste it, then make a few tiny edits to correct the edges of your shapes.

This dress is gorgeous. Have you managed to find time to redesign the cut of this dress and are offering different sizes anywhere?
Really enjoying going back and watching your older content

Are your fabric designs available in the UK?

How did you print just a border on fabric? I want to use the fabric just for skirts or bags. I 💖 the printed border on your dress.

HAHA!! The little chicken...XD

You, young lady are a brilliant star shining your light where others haven't gone. BRAVO!

etsy is a predatory tax-dodging parasite

To resolve that 1px error you can make the design slightly bigger than the canvas and you will not have a problem next time when exporting