Vintage Harvest Crate Stamp Label Patches

I love John Steinbeck....I own every book he wrote, including Grapes of Wrath. I love the wooden crates used for harvesting fruit way back before plastic was available. My friend George and his family have owned a grape farm since the 1940's and I asked him for some of his old wooden crates with the ranch's stamped logo. I used the wooden crates and some vintage fruit crate labels to create knit patches for girl and boy t-shirts. My two favorites: the "Brother's Pride" crate label because of the wood grain, and the "American Beauty" fruit label because of the distressing technique I used.

Shopping list:

• Super Soft Inkjet Transfer Paper
• fabric, or clothing
• Fusible Web
• Copyright Free Photos

Let's get started!

Below is a photo I took at George's farm. I think it is amazing how much agriculture is grown out here in the desert.....it is all irrigated by canals! You'll be driving along surrounded by only sand and tumbleweeds and then all the sudden:

Step 1: Scan your vintage materials

I took these wooden crate slats and scanned them directly into my computer. I also had a few paper labels I scanned in. You can actually buy an entire CD of copyright free images if you have trouble tracking down physical labels.

Step 2: Prepare and print on transfer paper

Reverse the images on your computer, resize them and then print them onto t-shirt transfer paper.

Optional: If you wish to apply a distressed look (similar to the "American Beauty" label shown at the bottom of the page), lightly scratch off portions of the printout before transferring.

Step 3: Apply transfer to fabric

Cut out the transfer and place face down onto the t-shirt knit. The trick is NOT to use an ironing board.....you should use a hard surface like a table or the floor and place protective brown paper or an old t-shirt on your surface to protect it. Follow the directions of the specific transfer paper you are using.

Step 4: Remove backing and trim

Peel off the transfer backing...

......and cut out your transfer leaving about 1/8" of plain white knit around the edge.

Step 5: Prepare fusible web

Cut out a piece of Wonder Under or other fusible web product slightly smaller than your patch. Note: Do NOT use the fusible web that needs to be steamed in a second step (usually has backing on it)....the steam will affect the ink in your transfer.

Step 6: Position the patch

Position your knit patch onto your t-shirt with the Wonder Under sandwiched in between.

Step 7: Initial fusing

Place a cloth over the transfer, press and apply enough heat from the iron around the edges to fuse the patch enough to keep it in place. The transfer will block much of the heat so you will have to continue fusing with the next step.

Step 8: Finish fusing from inside

Turn the shirt inside out and place over the narrow edge of the ironing board and press the patch area with the iron to finish fusing the patch to the shirt.

Step 9: Secure with stitching

Zigzag stitch or use an embroidery stitch around your patch to secure it permanently.

Finished!

There are so many designs out there you are destined to find the perfect ones for your little girl or little boy! You can also use the patches for jeans, coin purses....so many possibilities!