FAQs

Custom Fabric Printing FAQs

Have questions about printing your own fabric, choosing a base fabric, preparing artwork, or ordering fabric by the yard? Start here for practical answers about The Textile District’s custom printing process, fabric options, color, production, pricing, and ordering.

Custom printing starts at 1 yard, so you can test a design before moving into a larger production run. Natural-fiber fabrics are direct printed with fiber-reactive inks and fully finished after printing, while polyester and synthetic fabrics use a sublimation process appropriate to the substrate.

Getting Started

What is The Textile District?

The Textile District is an online fabric retailer and USA-based custom textile printer offering artist-designed fabrics and custom fabric printing by the yard. Customers include designers, makers, quilting shops, upholsterers, interior designers, small manufacturers, custom clothiers, and home sewists.

What makes The Textile District different?

We combine the flexibility of print-on-demand with a production-quality textile printing and finishing process. Custom orders start at just 1 yard, so you can test a project before scaling into larger production.

For cotton, linen, and natural-fiber blends, artwork is direct printed with fiber-reactive inks, then the fabric is steamed, washed, and dried so it arrives soft, colorfast, and ready to sew. Polyester and synthetic fabrics are sublimation printed with fiber-reactive inks using the process appropriate to the substrate.

Customers can also choose from a broad range of base fabrics, compare them in a Ground Fabric Swatch Kit, use printed color references, and reorder from approved files that have already been placed into production.

Do you have a physical retail store?

No. The Textile District is an online fabric store. Our custom fabric printing operation is based in North Carolina, and our team is available to help with fabric selection, artwork questions, and custom projects through our Contact Us page.

Custom Fabric Printing & Ordering

Can I print fabric with my own design?

Yes. Use our Print Custom Fabric page to choose the base fabric, enter yardage, select the repeat type, and place your order. Print-ready artwork is sent separately through Dropbox or WeTransfer after checkout.

What is the minimum custom fabric order?

The minimum custom print order is 1 yard. This makes it practical to test a new design, colorway, repeat, or base fabric before ordering a larger quantity.

Should I order a 1-yard test print first?

If color, scale, repeat, or placement is important to the project, yes. A test yard is the most reliable way to evaluate your own artwork on the actual fabric before committing to larger production.

The Ground Fabric Swatch Kit helps you choose the substrate, while the Custom Print Color Library helps with color planning. A test yard lets you evaluate the finished combination of artwork and fabric.

How do I order artist-designed fabric?

Browse our online fabric catalog, choose a design and colorway, select the available base fabric that best fits your project, enter the yardage, and add it to the cart. Pricing adjusts according to the base fabric selected.

Can you help me choose the right base fabric?

Yes. Start with Our Fabrics to compare fiber content, weight, printable width, recommended uses, and current printed pricing. If you want to compare the fabrics in person, order the Ground Fabric Swatch Kit.

Can you help with larger, commercial, or specialty projects?

Yes. We work with both individual makers and customers planning larger production runs. If your project involves multiple designs, special finishing, engineered panels, a special substrate, or other production requirements, contact our team with the project details.

Can I supply my own fabric for printing?

Customer-supplied fabric is not part of our standard online offering. Some specialty projects may be considered depending on the substrate, testing requirements, and production volume. Contact us with the project details before sending fabric.

Artwork & File Setup

What artwork specifications do you require?

Custom print files should be supplied print-ready and at the exact scale you want printed.

Resolution: 300 DPI at final print size
Color mode: RGB or Lab
File format: TIFF or JPG
Scale: Artwork should already be sized as you want it printed
Seamless patterns: Files should tile cleanly horizontally and vertically
Panels: Engineered or placement prints must fit within the printable width of the selected base fabric

For repeat examples and additional file-preparation guidance, visit Digital Fabric Printing Basics.

Will you resize or alter my artwork?

We do not automatically resize, recolor, or alter print files. Artwork should be submitted at final print scale. If you need a change made, include clear instructions or contact us before production. Design or file-editing services may be quoted separately when needed.

How should I name my files?

Clear file names help us match artwork to the correct design, colorway, and order.

Recommended format:
Brand Name_Design Name_Color Name.tif

Use the same file name in the Special Instructions field when placing your order.

How do I send my artwork?

After checkout, send print-ready artwork through Dropbox or WeTransfer to info@thetextiledistrict.com. Please use the same file name referenced in your order.

Do you save approved print files for future reorders?

Yes. Approved files are stored for easier reordering. If the artwork has not changed, you do not need to resubmit the file for a future reprint.

What repeat types can you print?

We support continuous repeats and fixed placement panels. Common repeat layouts include standard block repeats, half-drop repeats, half-brick repeats, and mirrored repeats. See Digital Fabric Printing Basics for illustrated examples.

Fabric, Color & Care

What fabrics do you print on?

We offer cottons, linens, natural-fiber blends, performance knit, fleece, outdoor polyester, and other specialty base fabrics for apparel, quilting, home décor, upholstery, accessories, and more.

Visit Our Fabrics for current specifications, printable widths, recommended uses, care information, and pricing.

Do you print on colored fabrics?

Our base fabrics are white. If you want the finished fabric to have a colored ground, include that background color in the artwork itself.

How are natural-fiber fabrics printed?

Cotton, linen, and natural-fiber blends are direct printed with fiber-reactive inks. After printing, the fabric is steamed, washed, and dried as part of the finishing process. This helps produce rich color, clear detail, a soft hand, and dependable wash-and-wear performance.

How are polyester and synthetic fabrics printed?

Polyester and synthetic fabrics are sublimation printed with fiber-reactive inks. Polyester Outdoor uses a special ink system that provides its water-repellent performance and 500+ hours of UV lightfastness.

Do you offer pigment printing?

Pigment printing may be available by request for qualifying projects. Contact us with the substrate, project requirements, and expected yardage so we can determine whether it is appropriate.

Do I need to pre-wash my printed fabric?

No. Natural-fiber fabrics are steamed, washed, and dried as part of our finishing process and arrive ready to sew. Polyester and synthetic fabrics also arrive finished and ready to use.

Will printed color look exactly like it does on my screen?

No. Screen brightness, monitor calibration, color settings, and the fabric itself can all affect how color is perceived. A screen is backlit; fabric is not.

For projects where color is important, use the Custom Print Color Library as a printed reference and consider ordering a 1-yard test print on the actual base fabric before larger production.

Does the same design look different on different base fabrics?

Yes. Fiber content, weave, surface texture, and fabric weight can influence how printed color and detail appear. The same artwork may look slightly different on a smooth cotton, textured linen, or synthetic base.

Is the fabric colorfast?

Our printing and finishing processes are designed for strong, lasting color under normal use and care. Long-term performance still depends on the specific fabric, end use, laundering method, exposure, and amount of wear.

How should I care for my printed fabric?

Care recommendations vary by substrate. Most of our current bases are machine washable and dryable, but always review the care information for the specific fabric on Our Fabrics.

Will the fabric shrink?

Natural-fiber fabrics are already steamed, washed, and dried during production, so they arrive ready to sew. As with any natural-fiber textile, some additional dimensional change may still occur with future laundering depending on the substrate and care method.

Do you print stretch fabric?

Yes. Our Poly Spandex 4-Way Knit is designed for projects that need stretch, recovery, and comfortable movement, including activewear, swimwear, and athleisure. See Our Fabrics for current specifications.

Pricing, Volume & Production

How much does custom printed fabric cost?

Pricing is based on the base fabric selected. Our Fabrics is the source for current printed pricing and substrate specifications.

For custom-print ordering information and volume discounts, visit Custom Fabric Pricing.

Do you offer volume discounts?

Yes. Standard volume discounts apply when printing on the same qualifying base fabric:

Yardage	Discount
1–50 yards	Listed price
51–100 yards	5%
101–150 yards	10%
151–200 yards	15%
201+ yards	20%

Can multiple designs count toward volume pricing?

Yes. Multiple designs and colorways may be combined to reach a volume threshold when they are printed on the same qualifying base fabric.

How long does custom fabric printing take?

Standard turnaround is typically 10–12 business days after the order and print-ready artwork are received and ready for production. Larger or more complex projects may require additional time.

How is larger yardage packaged?

Orders of 3 yards or more are shipped rolled on a core to help prevent folds and creases. Larger production orders may have additional put-up options depending on the project.

Shipping & Returns

How much does shipping cost?

Shipping cost depends on the order and delivery destination. Add items to your cart and proceed to checkout to view the shipping methods and rates available before submitting payment.

What if my shipping destination is not available at checkout?

Please contact us with the destination and order details. Some destinations or larger production shipments may require a custom shipping arrangement.

Do you accept returns?

Because printed fabric is made to order for each customer, returns are not accepted unless we made an error with the order. If you are unsure about a design, colorway, base fabric, scale, or color before ordering, contact us or begin with a swatch or test print.

Designer Program

Do you have a Designer Program?

Yes. The Textile District Designer Program gives artists and surface pattern designers a way to offer their work as printed fabric by the yard without the large inventory commitment of traditional fabric production.

Where can I learn more?

Visit our Designer Program page for current information and application details.

Still Have Questions?

If you need help choosing a fabric, preparing a print file, planning a custom order, or evaluating a larger project, use the resources below or contact The Textile District.