Loading...
Transfer Tutorial
Here we go -- a tutorial on how to transfer with a heat tool.
Hopefully, you all will be able to follow this.
First off -- the heat tool. The Walnut Hollow one (about $19.99 at Joann's, Hobby Lobby) WILL NOT WORK. It does not get hot enough. You will need a regular wood burning heat tool that heats up to 700 - 800
degrees. Your tool will come with several different tips. These are
the two most commonly used for transferring. Some people like the
big fat one -- I prefer the smaller triangle pointed one (which I
have on).
Now you've got your tool, you need to let it preheat for about 5 minutes or so. I put mine in a ceramic coffee cup. Those silly little wire stands they give you with the tool do not give good support. And this thing gets HOT and it will scorch/burn whatever it touches -- so watch your fingers!
Get your item to transfer. I've been using print outs from a laser printer and photocopies from a copier using toner. I print/copy on regular typing paper. You will need a hard surface to make your transfer on. I use a square of pine board and I put a couple of sheets of plain paper on it to pad the surface. I wouldn't recommend using your good tabletop -- it could scorch!
The
fairy is now transferred onto fabric. This transfer is totally
water proof. It can be washed and there is no smearing or fading.
You're ready to paint, embroider, sew, whatever.
First off -- the heat tool. The Walnut Hollow one (about $19.99 at Joann's, Hobby Lobby) WILL NOT WORK. It does not get hot enough. You will need a regular wood burning heat tool that heats up to 700 - 800
degrees. Your tool will come with several different tips. These are
the two most commonly used for transferring. Some people like the
big fat one -- I prefer the smaller triangle pointed one (which I
have on).Now you've got your tool, you need to let it preheat for about 5 minutes or so. I put mine in a ceramic coffee cup. Those silly little wire stands they give you with the tool do not give good support. And this thing gets HOT and it will scorch/burn whatever it touches -- so watch your fingers!
Get your item to transfer. I've been using print outs from a laser printer and photocopies from a copier using toner. I print/copy on regular typing paper. You will need a hard surface to make your transfer on. I use a square of pine board and I put a couple of sheets of plain paper on it to pad the surface. I wouldn't recommend using your good tabletop -- it could scorch!
Here's the picture I want to transfer. It was printed on a
laser printer. I put down a piece of 100% cotton fabric (must be
100% natural fiber fabric -- polyester won't transfer as well and
can melt).
Lay your piece of fabric right side up on your board. Put your
transfer image face down onto the fabric where you want it to
transfer. Grab your preheated tool and go to work. (For those of
you who notice the scorch marks, it's because I already transferred
this once. I can get at least 2 transfers from each copy). Your
copy will also transferred reversed -- so if you have lettering on
your copy, be sure and reverse the print. Here's me transferring.
As you can
see you get a little scorching action going on. That's fine and to
be expected. Just keep the tool moving around on the paper. The
tool will cool off a little while you're rubbing it on the paper.
Just put it back in your cup and let it heat up a few seconds and
then keep transferring. You must keep the tool moving or you'll
totally scorch (and even burn) the paper. This doesn't take too
long (depending on the type of transfer you're using). For a simple
line drawing like this -- about 5 minutes is the total time to go
over all the lines).
As you can
see you get a little scorching action going on. That's fine and to
be expected. Just keep the tool moving around on the paper. The
tool will cool off a little while you're rubbing it on the paper.
Just put it back in your cup and let it heat up a few seconds and
then keep transferring. You must keep the tool moving or you'll
totally scorch (and even burn) the paper. This doesn't take too
long (depending on the type of transfer you're using). For a simple
line drawing like this -- about 5 minutes is the total time to go
over all the lines).Here's the finished transfer:
The
fairy is now transferred onto fabric. This transfer is totally
water proof. It can be washed and there is no smearing or fading.
You're ready to paint, embroider, sew, whatever.