Handprint Sunprints

DIY Cyanotype Sunprints on Fabric Using Kids Handprints

an easy project tutorial perfect for creating fabulous gifts

When I was a little girl my mother made each of my grandmother’s an apron appliqued with the handprints of each grandchild. She embroidered each name on the apron, too. My grandmothers wore those aprons all the time. I remember each of them vividly. In fact, when my grandmother died a few years ago, her apron made its way into my collection.

I wanted to make something similar for the grandparents in our life, but I decided to take a slightly different path. I made cyanotype sunprints using the handprints of each child in our family. Sunprinting is actually a photographic process — you are essentially developing a photograph on the material of your choice. The resulting print is permanent, washable, and beautiful! I created pillows from our sunprints, but you could easily use the same process on aprons, a shirt, a tablecloth, napkins and placemats… the possibilities are endless!

And while I sew and sewed mine together, you could also buy a plain white item and use the process on something that is already complete. This can be a great no-sew project. Scroll down to the bottom of where I have gathered a few no-sew ideas that I think would be fabulous for sunprinting.

Next I am going to try this with handprints from my child’s class to make a fun teacher gift!

Materials

• Tracings of each child’s hand

• Cotton or linen fabric or a pre-made item of your choosing

• Jacquard Solar Fast

• Jacquard Solar Fast Wash

• Disposable gloves

• A sponge or paint brush

• A sheet of cardboard larger than your object (a flattened box works well)

• Straight pins

• Clamps (optional — but they help hold things in place)

• Paper

• Glue Stick

• Pencil

• Scissors

Note: if this is your first time making solarprints, the Jacquard Printmaking Starter Kit is great! It contains three colors of Solar Fast as well as the wash, gloves, pins, and sponges. It’s reasonably-priced and has enough materials to make at least 3 of the prints I turned into pillows.

Step 4: Apply the Solar Fast Solution

Again, follow the directions for your product. Be sure to wear gloves and work with some speed.

Step 5: Add the Hands & Pin

Position the paper cut outs over the fabric. Secure them with straight pins. Push the pins in as vertically as possible. Even a push pin creates a shadow which could show up in your final product.

Step 6: Place in the Sun & Wait

Choose a sunny spot with no shadows. Place your fabric in the sun and wait for the prescribed amount of time.

Step 7: Bring everything Inside

DO NOT remove the handprints until you get inside!

Step 8: Remove Paper

Once out of the sun, you can remove the pins and the hands from the fabric. The revealed image isn’t completely developed, however, until you have washed and set the solution.

Step 9: Wash according to Directions

Follow the product’s directions for rinsing and washing the fabric using the special wash.

Step 10: Transfer Signatures to Fabric

1. Use a pencil and color heavily over the BACK side of the page with the signature on it.

2. Place the signature where you want it to appear.

3. Using pressure, trace the signature with a pencil.

4. The graphite from the back of the paper will transfer the areas of pressure to the fabric.

5. Trace the signature with a disappearing fabric pen.

Step 11: Embroider

I used a whipped backstitch to outline the hands and to embroider the signatures, and I am very pleased with the end result. I dotted each “i” with a French Knot. But there are lots of options that would make a beautiful end result!

Step 12: Finish as Needed

I turned mine into pillows using cloth napkins for the backing.

But this is a great no-sew project. Just buy something that’s already finished. Make sure, though, the item is cotton and has been washed and dried before you begin the process.

I absolutely love the finished product! I made our handprint sunprints into pillows for Mother’s and Father’s Days, but I have several other ideas:

• Birthday party or slumber party favor: have the kids each make a pillowcase with everyone’s handprint; use fabric markers to sign them once they are washed.

• End-of-the-year gift for a teacher with handprints from the entire class

• Christmas gift for grandparents, aunts, uncles, or friends

• A going away present for someone special who is moving away

• A wedding gift: have all of the guests trace their hands, collect them, and then make a tablecloth with hands printed across it

Whatever you end up doing, share it on Instagram and tag me! I want to see your creation!

@MidModernMama

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