If they can do it, then why can’t you? Yes, we’re talking about making your own T-shirt with the perfect HTV. Wait a minute! Who said anything about having a heat press machine to do that?
You’ve got an iron in the house? Well, that’s more than enough for you to pull off the job. And all you need to do is know how to apply heat transfer vinyl with iron. Don’t worry; we’re going to get you that part covered in no time.
Things You’ll Need to Apply Heat Transfer Vinyl
Do you know what makes the execution of a task perfect? The elements and the way you’re using them. As you’re going to need the elements to go for the next phase, you better start with them first.
The same thing goes for applying an HTV as well, and here’s the list of things you’re going to need to jump in the game.
Heat Transfer Vinyl
Isn’t it the first thing you’ve had in mind? Pick the desired HTV that you want to see on your T-shirt. Usually, most of the people who like to see HTV on their T-shirts prefer to get their own design. So, if you’ve got something like that in mind, then get your one designed and printed.
The Iron
You won’t have to look for any special kind of iron here. The regular one of yours will be enough for the job. Just make sure that it can generate enough heat that you need to apply the heat transfer vinyl to your project.
Depending on the HTV, the required heat level might vary. The number there can be anything between 300° to 330° F.
Table
It’s always better to go with a table rather than any other surface. But the thing is, you need to make sure that table is perfectly stable. That’s because even a bit of instability might interrupt your focus and we bet you don’t want that.
The next thing you’ll have to watch out for is a table whether the surface is even or not. Because the uneven one not only can ruin the HTV but the T-shirt you’re working on too. And at last, pick a table that is perfect according to your height in order to remove all the discomfort while working.
Your Project
Nobody said that you’ll always have to stick to a T-shirt to work with an HTV. It can be a Jacket, a hoody, or anything that can handle an HTV. So, grab your one and get prepared.
Ironing Mat or Towel
You don’t want to decorate your beautiful table with a burned mark, do you? Then don’t even think about going ahead without an ironing mat. It’s better if you can get one as big as your T-shirt.
Otherwise, you’ve got a chance there to slip on the edge and end up with a damaged surface on your table. You’re free to use a towel there as well in case you don’t have an ironing mat.
Teflon Sheet
Pick a Teflon sheet to save your iron’s bottom from sticking to the HTV. You can also use a multi-purpose sheet there. We’re going to tell you in our next segment how you’ll need to use it. After all, isn’t it what you’re waiting for?
How to Apply Heat Transfer Vinyl with Iron? – Step by Step
So, are you ready for your HTV application lesson? All you need to do is just follow some simple steps, and once you get to know them, you’ll feel like it’s easy as kid’s play. Let’s get started then?
Step 1: Prepare the Table
At first, put the ironing mat on your table or towel. Check the evenness of it too. Now take the T-shirt or your project and put it on the mat. Then get your iron heated. Keep the Teflon sheet close by so that you can use it whenever you want.
Step 2: Iron the T-shirt
If you’re using the HTV on a shirt or T-shirt, Iron it first to get rid of the wrinkles. After that, fold the shirt in half in the middle to have a line there, so that you can put the HTV perfectly in its place.
Step 3: Place the HTV
Now get your design and put it on your T-shirt. Make sure you’re putting it on the surface properly in the right way. A miscalculation there might ruin your entire project.
Follow the line you’ve made with the fold to detect the right spot. For that, fold your vinyl lightly in half too, and put it on the line of the T-shirt. Just ensure that you’re not folding it on the adhesive part.
Step 4: Putting the Teflon Sheet on the HTV
The heat level on your iron will be high enough to make the HTV stick to your iron. To prevent that from happening, you’ll need to use a Teflon sheet or multi-purpose sheet there.
If you’ve got none, you can use a towel there too. Just make sure it’s not too thick. Otherwise, it’ll prevent the heat from reaching the vinyl. When you are putting it on, check if it has covered the whole vinyl or not. Because you might end up with a ruined iron and ruined t-shirt.
Step 5: Using the Iron on the HTV
Before you start with the ironing, check out the required heat level of your HTV. If you’re using the Easyweed, then 300° Fahrenheit will be perfect for you. But when you’ve got Thermoflex on your hand, you might have to go for 330° there.
Now gently press it on the Teflon or multi-purpose sheet for 10 to 15 sec. Some think that keeping it pressed for a longer time will make the execution better. But the truth is it can ruin the adhesive, which you surely won’t be expecting there.
Do the pressing evenly on every part of the vinyl so that you can have it perfectly set on your t-shirt. After all, you won’t like having a design on your T-shirt that’ll come off in a while just because you were rushing with the pressing.
Step 5: Peel
It might not be the most crucial part of the process, but the perfection of your project to a huge extent depends on this part too. Based on the HTV, the peeling condition can vary as well. So, if you don’t want to mess it up on the eleventh hour, peel in the recommended condition.
When you’re using the Easyweed, you need can peel it easily, whether it’s hot or cold. But if you’ve chosen something like the Thermoflex, then do it when it’s in warm or cold condition. Peel it slowly, and viola! It’s good to go!
Final Words
It isn’t any hard job to pull off if you know how to apply heat transfer vinyl with iron.
Actually, you’re going to love this one when you get to know that it was so easy to add a new skill to your DIY list. So, what are you waiting for? Get the iron heated and get started!