Questions re labels and materials

[Former_Member]

I have a couple of questions....
1. concerning the tracking labels - I make crocheted hats for babies and children, they are COMPLETELY 100% acrylic yarn that I buy at craft stores and Walmart. Can I just put "100% Acrylic" on my labels or do I have to state the country of origin as well? I have listed on my new labels :
Handmade for you in USA by A Touch of Heaven 100%Acrylic Care instructions size Westfield, NY
___ - 2010. I plan to hand write the month of construction in with a laundry pen. These will be printed on transfer paper and ironed on 100% cotton fabric then cut out with pinking scissors and hand sewn into the hats. Will these labels meet the requirements? Do I have to get certifications for the printer ink, laundry pen ink and transfer paper?

2. Since fabric seems to be exempt so far, does this include polyester ribbons, in particular, the premade ribbon roses/flowers that contain no plastic, only colored ribbon? I also make infant sweater sets and am looking for alternative closing options ( yarn and fabric "buttons: and ornamentation.

Thanks. Mary B.

[Former_Member]

The only ribbon that is exempt is solid colors...any ribbon that has been screen printed has to be tested. Yes, I think the labels (including ink) also has to be certified as well. I'm not sure about the country of origin for the yarn...I'm sure someone will chime in here with an answer for you about that....

[Former_Member]

Just to let you know certain clothing items need 2 seperate labels 1- the FTC care and content label and 2- the CPSIA tracking label. Neither agency has issued a clarification or notice that these two labels can be combined since both agencies want certain information on front of their label and very visible.

Hats are part of the FTC exemption list, but if you include any of their information on a sewn in label you must have all the information including country of origin for the fibers. So if you don't have all the information then and the final product is on the FTC exempt from taging list then don't put anything sewn in, just use a hang tag if you want to include partial information like how to wash the hat for the customer.

Now for the CPSIA tracking labels there are no exemptions if the product is clearly for children.
For a crafter the CPSIA label must include at minimum :
* Your company, shop name, or RN#
* The city, state/territory, & country where the item was completed
* The date of manufacture or completion of the product
This label must be permanently on the product unless there is a very compelling reason the CPSC will allow it not to be then it must on the packaging.

[Former_Member]

So if I understand correctly, I do not need to put a label with fiber content and washing instructions since hats are exempt, but I do need my business name, place of manufactuing and lot or date of manufacturing?

[Former_Member]

You do not need a label for the FTC care and content as long as your hats are not made of wool. See http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/business/textile/bus21.shtm#covered for more information about what needs and doesn't need FTC labels.
If the hat is sized for children under 13, the tracking label is part of compling with the CPSIA law. What you have above is mostly right, the exception is the lot #. The governments definition of lot is a group of identical products made from the same batch of raw materials. So if your able to make 5 hats out of skeins of yarn that have the same dye lot # then you have a lot of 5 identical products and would need to develope a system to come up with different lots #s for your different groupings of hats. Once you inividualize them though with different color trims or embellishments then you have 5 seperate products and no lot # is needed because the item is distinct and now not made entirerly out of the same raw materials.

[Former_Member]

jewlerydesigns, do you know if iron on is considered permanent? i prefer iron on vs sew. thx

[Former_Member]

Honestly I don't know for certain. I do know that the content and care tags on my husband's tagless colored tees and underwear has held up better than my son's tagless white wear, and they're both from the same manufacturer. So I guess it depends on the quality of the iron on, the type of washing, and how rough the person is on the clothing.
Just remember if you use iron-ons to get the GCC or test results on the tranfer media, it's not exempt like fabric or the CMYK ink jet process.

[FayeMaloneDesigns]

The only ribbon that is exempt is solid colors...any ribbon that has been screen printed has to be tested.

First statement is not correct. Woven plaid and stripe, figured ribbons would be fine. Yes, screen printed ribbons are not exempt as some screen printing inks could exceed the lead in paint levels.