How to Make Iron Transfers

Why pay someone else to design and apply iron-on transfers? You can do it easily and quickly by following these simple steps.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Photo Editing Software
• Inkjet Printer
• White Printer Paper
• Iron-on Transfer Paper (like hp iron-on transfers)
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Pencil
• T-shirt, Baby Sheet, or any item that has a high percentage of cotton
• Iron and Ironing Board

1. Determine which design or photo you would like to transfer, and the item where you would like it to end up.

2. Print the picture on a plain piece of white paper to see how it will look once your iron-on transfer has been completed. If the sample printing doesn't look just right, make any necessary adjustments to exposure, cropping, or re-sizing and print again on white paper.

3. 
    
   Bunny (reverse image)

   Once you are satisfied with the look of your picture, make one final but necessary adjustment with your editing software...flip the picture so it is a mirror image of the original.

4. Insert a sheet of the iron-on transfer paper into your printer and print the picture.

5. Trim around the picture leaving about .25" border. NOTE: If your picture has a border (as in the illustration I've provided) there is no need to leave any border in the trimming process.

6. Turn your iron's setting to "no steam" and to the hottest setting available (usually cotton). Place your cloth in the center of the ironing board to ensure that you have as much support beneath the iron so you can press down firmly.

7. Place the iron-on transfer paper, picture side down, on your cloth exactly where you want it to appear when complete.

8. 
    
   Woman Ironing (photo credit pro-corbis.com)

   Press firmly and steadily over the entire transfer sheet for the time recommended on the iron-on transfer paper package instructions.

9. Let the transfer paper cool, and then peel off the backing paper. Your iron-on transfer is complete!

Tips & Warnings

• You can use any digital image you own to make the iron-on transfer.
• To ensure that your image will be straight and centered on your cloth, you can measure and make small pencil marks on the cloth indicating placement before making the transfer.
• Be sure your ironing board is sturdy enough to withstand very firm pressure - if it is not, you may need to use an alternate flat, hard, clean, heat-resistant surface.

[FrazzledNanny]

on 3/24/2009 We did this for our Youth Praise and Worship Dance Team. I put their picture and their group nickname on their shirt and then a group picture on the back of the shirt. They loved it. Great article. 5*