Whether you’re crafting for business or pleasure, it is always fun to add new mediums to your repertoire! If you’ve never given heat transfer vinyl a try, this blog is the perfect place to start. We will introduce you to the craft and give you an overview of everything you will need to get started. While it may seem like a lot at first, once you make the investment you can create a wide variety of things for years to come, and you can even turn your hobby into a business.
What is Heat Transfer Vinyl?
Before we go any further, you need the basics. That includes going over exactly what heat transfer vinyl is. This product, which is also referred to as iron on vinyl and HTV, is for garment decorating. But, it isn’t just for garments! Heat transfer vinyl is applied with heat (hence the name) like from a heat press or an iron, so you can apply this product to anything that will not melt or warp from the heat. That includes gym bags, sneakers, dish towels, aprons, hats, canvas, glass, wood and so so SO much more!
What Craft Supplies Do you Need for Working with HTV?
A few of the items you will need can be found around your own home, but you will need to purchase a few speciality supplies for crafting with heat transfer vinyl.
Heat Transfer Vinyl
Well, first things first. You will need to get your hands on some heat transfer vinyl. Be sure you’re shopping for a reputable brand with quick shipping, high-quality products and a 100% money back guarantee. The type of HTV you get depends on what you want to make. You can go for a basic, flat matte material, or you can go for some more specialty HTV sheets and rolls in materials like hologram, glitter or liquid metallic. All of your HTV, besides pattern heat transfer vinyl, will come with the carrier sheet attached. That is what holds your design in place after you weed out the excess and get it ready for pressing.
A Cutting Machine
Now that you’ve got your material, you will need a machine - like a Cricut, Silhouette or Brother - to cut your material. The cool thing about these machines is even if they are a little bit pricey, they do so much more than just cut HTV! You can also use these for other materials like vinyl, cardstock, fabric and more. Don’t forget to get a machine with a blade and a cutting mat, or be sure to purchase those items separately.
Weeding Tool
Once you have cut out your design, you will need a special tool to weed out the excess material leaving only your design that is ready for pressing on the carrier sheet. This is one of those things you can find around your house, or you can pick some up from a craft store or online. Some options include needle-nose tweezers, a pin-pen, an Xacto knife, or a crafting hook.
Heat Press or Home Iron
Heat is really the most important component when it comes to HTV. An iron - like one you have in your house - or a heat press is needed to heat up the material’s adhesive allowing it to adhere to the item you're pressing - and stay put during wear and wash. While a press is not necessary, it does apply heat more firmly and evenly and will be a big help for bulk orders.
Teflon Sheet or Parchment Paper
When you’re pressing a design, you need to keep a barrier like a Teflon sheet or a piece of parchment paper over any part of it that is directly exposed to the heat. After you remove the carrier sheet, you will need to do a final press to ensure your material is fully adhered. Be sure to cover it properly so the HTV doesn’t get stuck to your iron or press and not your garment. A Teflon sheet usually comes with your heat press - or you can get it online. Do not use wax paper in place of parchment paper when you’re crafting with iron on vinyl. The wax can ruin your design.
That’s it! Those are the basics of what you will need! Once you get more experience working with HTV you may add more things to your list of supplies like cutting mats with different grip strengths, heat safe tape and a wide variety of weeding tools.
The most important item on this list is really the heat transfer vinyl you purchase. All HTV is not created equal. You want to ensure you’re using a high-quality brand for easy weeding and applying, and so your decorated garments are bright, beautiful and long-lasting.
For More information Please visit our website –www.icraftvinyl.com
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Call us: (800) 533-9344
The new research report titled "Heat Transfer Films Market, Global Industry Analysis, and Forecast to 2027" gives a detailed analysis and future forecasts of the market.
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The major players in the heat transfer films market include Advanced Display Materials, ITL Group (Apparel Label International), Armor Group, Avery Dennison Corp., Chemica US Corp., Dae Ha Co. Ltd., Dynatex Textiles Ltd., FOREVER GmbH, Hanse Corporation, Hexis Corporation.
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Its application is widely exploring among heat-protected fabric textures and prints, food and beverages, healthcare, and personal care.
