It is easy to put a personalized design on fabrics with heat transfer vinyls.You can make unique items like T-shirts, hats, bags, pillows, and towels for sport teams, fun events, or to fulfill a crafting hobby.
Step 1: Purchase vinyl if you want to.
There are a lot of colors and patterns to choose from.Visit your local craft store to get a better idea of what the vinyl will look like.Bring fabric samples with you to make sure your vinyl color is visible.Purchase a vinyl that is compatible with the fabric you want to use.Some vinyls work best on spandex, while others only work on cotton.
Step 2: You can use computer software to design your own image.
You can use a program that's free.When adding letters to your design, choose a bold, easy to read fonts.Consider the amount of room you have on the fabric.If your design is for a baseball hat, you might want to keep it simple and not add too much information.
Step 3: If you don't have design software, choose pre-printed vinyl designs.
You can buy vinyl designs in stores.
Step 4: You should reverse your design.
It's important to reverse the image so that it doesn't show up on your final product.If you don't want your design to be a mirror image of what you want, you can use edit tools like flip horizontal or flip vertical.For example, "love" should read as "evol" in your design if the letters are backwards.
Step 5: According to the instructions of the cutter, run you're design through.
You will need to feed the vinyl dull-side-up if you are using a specialty cutter.
Step 6: If you don't have a cutter, you can print your image directly on the vinyl.
It is possible to cut the vinyl sheet to the size of printer paper.Make sure your image is on the dull side of your vinyl.If you want to use artists tape to tape down the paper to the vinyl, then you can print your image on paper.
Step 7: If you don't use a cutter, cut out your design by hand.
There is a shiny side to your workspace.Carefully follow the stencil you have printed with an exacto knife or precision scissors.Take breaks to make sure you don't cut through the entire vinyl.You can use a die-cut machine to make fast shapes.
Step 8: You should peel your vinyl.
Make sure you don't rip any part of your image by peeling away the clear layer of the vinyl.Remove anything that isn't in your final design.
Step 9: "Weed" your design with sharp tools.
Weeding is the removal of small parts of an image.Pick up small areas with the help of the sharp points of your tools.
Step 10: Your vinyl's packaging has a temperature on it.
It is a good idea to iron over your fabric to make sure it is dry.
Step 11: The design should be shiny side up.
It needs to be positioned in a way that makes it appear in your final product.
Step 12: For about 10 seconds, press your iron onto your design.
Move along to the next section of your design and press for another 10 seconds to iron out the vinyl.You don't want to accidentally damage the vinyl if you hastily rub the iron over it.
Step 13: The carrier sheet needs to be removed.
If you read the instructions that came with your vinyl, you should be able to peel off the carrier sheet right away.
Step 14: You can wash your new item with cold water.
After applying heat transfer vinyl, do not wash your item.Don't bring the item to the dry cleaner because the chemicals used are too harsh.
Step 15: To iron your vinyl item, dry it with low or no heat.
Once again, turn the fabric inside-out and tumble dry.Lay your item flat to dry or line dry it.Turn the item inside out, use low heat on the iron, and use teflon sheet paper over the vinyl when ironing.
Step 16: Fix areas that are peeling off with teflon paper.
If your vinyl is peeling off, iron the peeling parts back on with the same heat setting you used for that vinyl before, placing teflon paper over the vinyl.Press for 15-20 seconds.