Transfering Designs Tutorial

Some people have asked me how I transfer patterns so I thought I would put up a quick tutorial.

1.  Find and print your pattern.  The one I am using I got off of Craftster .  Look for many cute patterns here and here.

    If you want your pattern larger or smaller you can adjust the size on a copier or in a photo editing program (I use Gimp, free and AWESOME).  Also remember to reverse your image if it isn't already.

2.  Use a Heat Transfer Pencil to trace your pattern.  Go Slowly, this will be permanent, but it will probably not be very dark (test first on scrap fabric).

Since its permanent I only do one or two tracings over the pattern before ironing.  You don't want the transfer to be too dark.  I also don't go over details.  Trace outlines only and add the details later with disappearing ink.

3.  Next iron your fabric then arrange the pattern over your fabric in the desired location.  Getting the fabric warm first helps the ink to adhere.  Iron over the paper carefully on the hottest setting.  Hold the paper firmly and move the iron quickly all over the pattern for about 10 seconds then check to see if the ink has transfered.  It will be light.  Don't mind the writing on the back of the paper.  Its scratch paper and the pattern is on the other side.

I told you it would be light. 

4.  I almost always go over it with an disappearing ink pen, sometimes adding in possible details (since they will disappear anyway).  The ink lasts about 3-4 days and if I am not finished I go over it again.  If it does disappear I can usually see the transfer well enough to re-trace it.

5.  Put it in the hoop and start embroidering!

Update: Someone showed me the Sulky Pen recently and I love it!  It makes a dark line that is permanent so you have to be able to cover it completely.  It works great for most projects though!

Comments

[Steph]

I trace my patterns onto baking paper to iron with, it stands up to the heat really well.
I have one of those vanishing ink pens too, but it sucks! It's brilliant to use but it says it lasts 2-14 days before fading, I can turn my back and it's often faded in 2-14 minutes!! Gotta stitch like wildfire!

[Cat.]

these pencils eventually wash/wear off. don't know if they are the ones you are using -

http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog.jsp?CATID=cat3423&PRODID=prd11597&source=search

and i use this tracing paper with them -

http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog.jsp?CATID=cat3777&PRODID=prd11626&source=search

both are on sale right now and i actually take forever to use them up, usually i just lose one or the other!

[Sarah]

This is fabulous! Question: What type of fabric are you using there? I've not ever done any embroidery, but this looks fairly easy and I'd love to try--and I was wondering if I could just buy some cheap unbleached muslin to make a skirt and embroider it...

[Veronica]

Thank you! you rock!

[Mary]

I just tried the transfer pencil for the first time tonight... I used it on flour sack towels and it burned/discolored the fabric before I could even see the marks transfer onto the fabric...I had my iron on 'cotton' setting...not sure what is going on with that...just another roadblock on my way to embroidering!

[Maggie]

I was wondering if you could recommend a webiste where I could order a sulky pen online? I live in Canada/Quebec and have access to the Ottawa region but no stores seem to have that and plus, all the online stores I've checked don't have any or don't ship to Canada...

any help would be greatly appreciated! :)

[Claudia]

Nice! thank you for sharing that. I have wondered how to transfer a design - the inkjet way smears for me - clearly I'm doing something wrong there, but this looks reasonably easy.

[linda collins]

I use the Aunt Martha's transfer pencil and if your finished item is washable, you can remove the marks by soaking in oxy clean.
Goo Gone Ink Remover is also effective, but expensive if you do a lot of embroidery, and hard to find. I have purchased it at www.googone.com.

For Veronica - yellowing of the fabric seems to be a transfer of chemicals from various papers. My "yellow" has disappeared since I bought the hot iron transfer paper.

[Logo Design]

Thank you dear, that is really very pretty.

[Willa]

I copied large transfer designs on a copy machine and made them smaller. I bought a hot iron tracing pencil at one store and traced the design on the copied paper and then onto a piece of fabric. The design was so faint I could hardly see it, went over the design again and not much difference. Bought a different brand pencil, same thing happened. I'm taking both pencils back for a refund. Oh well, so much for transfer pencils. They don't work for me!

[Miss Paula]

I bought one from Joann's that is supposed to do the iron on thing. Didn't work! I am looking at the Sulky pen from Sublime St.

[cara meninggikan badan]

If you want your pattern larger or smaller you can adjust the size on a copier or in a photo editing program (I use Gimp, free and AWESOME). Also remember to reverse your image if it isn't already.

[emma]

Your collections are awesome.you've really good designs there.