How to Reuse Scraps of HTV
How to Reuse Scraps of HTV
Looking for creative ways to use your leftover HTV scraps? For this HTV project, we show you how to reuse your scraps of heat transfer vinyl in a way that looks like layered vinyl, but much easier to accomplish.
Are you an HTV enthusiast? Do you spend hours upon hours between a cutting machine and heat press making awesome things? We sure do.
We love HTV projects, but we always end up with a bunch of leftover scraps that are too small to use for other projects…. Or so we thought! Keep squirreling away all those leftover scraps because we have a simple HTV project that makes a multicolor design without having to cut and press each color separately.
If you’re like us and have a hard time letting go of HTV scraps, keep reading this HTV tutorial to learn how to use your scraps of HTV and heat-safe transfer paper to create a multicolor striped design.
You can use this method to create fun and colorful designs on shorts, hoodies, t-shirts or whatever else you want! Let’s get started.
Products We Used:
Blanks
- Allmade - Unisex Organic French Terry Pullover Hoodie #AL4000
-
As always, we encourage you to use the same blanks for heat transfer vinyl that we’ve already tested and approved, but if you’d like to go your own way, we salute you! Just make sure there are no seams on the areas you want to decorate.
-
We’ve also listed our recommended blanks for heat transfer vinyl at the bottom of the tutorial.
Supplies:
-
Heat-safe transfer paper
-
Scraps of HTV
-
Straight-edge cutter (or cutting mat, ruler, and rotary cutter)
-
Heat press or home iron
-
Vinyl cutting machine (we used the Cricut Maker)
-
Clear acrylic ruler
-
Teflon sheet (or parchment paper)
-
Scissors
The Prepping
Step 1: Find a design that you like and determine the dimensions.
Within your cutting machine’s digital design space, choose a design that you want to cut. It should only be one layer or color. Then look at the garment you want to decorate to determine the dimensions of your design. Our design was about 3.5” x 4” because we wanted to place it on the sleeve of this Allmade hoodie.
Step 2: Turn on your heat press.
Turn your heat press or home iron to the setting that your HTV manufacturer suggests for the type of HTV you’re using.
Step 3: Gather and cut scraps into strips.
Break out your glorious collection of leftover HTV scraps. Use either a straight-edge cutter or a cutting mat, ruler, and rotary cutter to create strips at whatever width you want.
We used a variation of Siser EasyWeed HTV colors and cut them into equally sized strips.
Step 4: Cut a piece of heat-safe transfer paper.
Heat-safe transfer paper is the key ingredient to this HTV project. You need to cut a piece of heat-safe transfer paper that is at least an inch larger than your design’s dimensions.
The Making
Step 1: Place heat-safe transfer paper onto the mat.
Remove the paper backing from the heat-safe transfer paper and place it sticky side facing up onto your cutting mat. Don’t be fooled, in pictures, you likely won’t see the heat-safe transfer paper because it’s clear. Trust us, it’s there, and a vital part of this HTV project.
Step 2: Lay strips down over heat-safe transfer paper.
Once you’ve placed the heat-safe transfer paper onto your mat, start placing your strips of HTV carrier side down. We preferred to do horizontal stripes, but you can do vertical or even diagonal. Just make sure your strips are nestled up close to each other without overlapping them.
Step 3: Cut your design & don’t forget to mirror your design!
Use your cutting machine to cut your design. Don’t forget to mirror your design prior to cutting.
Then remove the mat from the machine.
Step 4: Peel the heat-safe transfer paper off your cutting mat.
Starting with a corner of the heat-safe transfer paper, peel up and off your cutting mat. The vinyl strips should stay stuck to the heat-safe transfer paper.
Starting with a corner of the heat-safe transfer paper, peel up and off your cutting mat. The vinyl strips should stay stuck to the heat-safe transfer paper.
Step 5: Trim away any excess heat-safe transfer paper.
With a pair of scissors, cut away any excess heat-safe transfer paper from the edges of the HTV strips.
Step 6: Weed your design.
Remove the unwanted vinyl elements with a weeding tool until all that’s left is your design.
Step 7: Remove any wrinkles, moisture, and excess fibers from your blank.
Lint roll the placement area to rid the surface of any loose fibers that could hinder the application.
Then, remove any wrinkles and moisture by pre-pressing your blank for 3 - 5 seconds. This step will help ensure the HTV bonds effectively to the fabric.
Step 8: Press for 20 seconds.
Lay your weeded HTV design on the blank with the heat-safe transfer paper side faced up.
Place the teflon sheet on top of the design. Then, press the design for 20 seconds.
Always refer to both the HTV and heat press manufacturer’s guidelines to confirm the right setting for your project.
Step 9: Reveal your finished product.
Peel the plastic carriers and heat-safe transfer paper from the vinyl to reveal the design. Refer to the HTV manufacturer's guidelines to see if the vinyl quality you are using is a hot peel or a cool peel.
In the event of hot peel, immediately peel the plastic carrier from the vinyl.
If a cool peel, wait to remove once the vinyl has cooled off.
We hope you enjoyed this HTV project! Now you have a real reason to keep your HTV scraps. If you try this fun HTV project for yourself, make sure to tag us on instagram to show us your final product. Our handle is @presshallmade.
.jpg?auto=webp&width=1200&quality=80)