DIY Sublimation Printer

For those interested in sublimation, this is a cheap way to make your own sublimation printer using an Epson Ecotank.

Sublimation printing is a popular method of printing designs onto various substrates, such as textiles, ceramics, and metals. It involves transferring a design from a special transfer paper onto the substrate using heat and pressure. While sublimation printing is a great way to create high-quality, long-lasting prints, it can be costly to set up a sublimation printer. However, there is a cheap way to make your own sublimation printer using an Epson Ecotank.

The Epson Ecotank is a range of inkjet printers that use refillable ink tanks instead of traditional cartridges. They are known for their low running costs, high-quality prints, and versatility. By using the Epson Ecotank and a special sublimation ink, you can create your own sublimation printer at a fraction of the cost of a traditional sublimation printer.

Sublimation ink is a special type of ink that turns from a solid to a gas when exposed to heat and pressure. This process is called sublimation, hence the name sublimation printing. The sublimation ink is printed onto a special transfer paper, which is then placed onto the substrate and subjected to heat and pressure. The heat and pressure cause the ink to turn into a gas, which then bonds with the substrate and creates a permanent, vibrant print.

DIY Sublimation Printer

I was recently approached by Alyssa, the cross stitcher behind the Etsy shop Stitchonomy, to take a look at her cross stitch pattern subscription club, known as The Pattern Club.

I took a look around and there’s a lot of cute stuff and fun options you’ll want to check out, especially if you love themed patterns that are small, easy to stitch and fun to combine.

The Pattern Club combines cross stitching with a social network. When you open the site you’ll see a news feed and have the ability to share updates much like you would on Facebook. You can see who is online, have buddies and post your own updates and photos. The community aspect is a little sparse right now but that should only grow.

The stitch along hub is the place to find the most recent patterns and information on the current stitchalong. As of this writing the Book Lover’s stitchalong was happening, with little designs like Peter Rabbit, a skull for Hamlet and keys for Jane Eyre as well as authors including Arthur Conan Doyle, Charles Dickens and Jane Austen.

Other pattern collections include European designs, Halloween, ocean life, an allotment garden and more. Alyssa tells me there’s a new theme every month that either she picks or members in the community suggest. You can stitch just the patterns you want or put them together to make a larger collage.

The Stitchanomini vault gives you access to all of the previous patterns, and new patterns are released daily through the stitchalong. You can download individual patterns (most of them are 19 by 19 stitches) as PDFs or Pattern Keeper files. The PDFs include a color and black and white chart as well as a floss list.

Another cool thing you can do is build your own pattern collages from all of the squares that have been released. The collage configurator allows you to add patterns of your choosing to a grid ranging from 2×2 patterns up to 4×4. You can scroll through all the current patterns or search by theme and size to make a project that suits your needs. (Above is an example I made kind of at random but you get the idea.)

If you want to check it out, you can grab a three-day free trial and see all the pattern options. Membership is $7.99 a month, or if you pay for a year at a time you’ll get two months free. In addition to the patterns in the club, members receive discounts on patterns and supplies purchased through the shop within the club. Annual members get access to three paid/retired stitchalongs and lifetime members receive all retired patterns.

If you check it out I’d love to hear what you think!

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