20 steps to making a custom shirt using DARK transfers - "how-to" procedures

[dis2010]

Tammy,
It is always best to prewash as this makes the transfer stick better because it removes all store/production residue. Since you have already ironed the transfer on - I would not worry about it.

Some here have reported doing the vinegar wash. I have personally never done it. It really is a personal preference. But just a general warning - some transfers will show wear, cracking or peeling after the first wash - so I would personally wait until after your trip to wash them.

If you are using my transfers, you can wash them before your trip if you wish and there will be no cracking, peeling etc... but again, I do not do the vinegar wash ever.

Thanks Amy. We're doing these shirts totally last minute so I wasn't able to order them from you this time. I'm definitely keeping your information for next time.

Thanks for all your help,
Tammy

 

[embutler5]

I think this is a great thread. I have read every post and even taken notes. I am getting ready to make my shirts but I have a few questions that I have not seen yet. I would appreciate any help!!

1) What is the best way to cut these designs? Most of my designs have borders and I am concerned about keeping the lines straight. Are there any specials tools or techniques?

2) What size are most transfers on T-shirts? 8 x 10? 5 x 7? I am making shirts for adults and children (7,4 and 1 year old).

3) Can you print two 5 x 7 on designs on one piece of transfer paper?

Thank so much!!

 

[kirs10paige]

Thank you for the info. Very helpful.

 

[tinkerszs]

My husband and I just made 28 shirts the last two nights. They look fabulous and were super easy. The DISgners here have some amazing designs that are wonderful on t-shirts!

 

[chaoscent]

I think this is a great thread. I have read every post and even taken notes. I am getting ready to make my shirts but I have a few questions that I have not seen yet. I would appreciate any help!!

1) What is the best way to cut these designs? Most of my designs have borders and I am concerned about keeping the lines straight. Are there any specials tools or techniques?
My DH cuts them and uses a razor and ruler. I always do border, so this works for us.

2) What size are most transfers on T-shirts? 8 x 10? 5 x 7? I am making shirts for adults and children (7,4 and 1 year old).
For the adults I use 8 1/2 x 11. When I make the for really small children I put 2 DISigns on one transfer sheet. Now for the in betweens, I normally use 8 1/2 x 11. However, some people reommend you cut out a piece of paper with the DISign on it and put it against the shirt (on the child) to see how it looks. Since the kids I make them for don't live with me (I have no children) I print them on 8 1/1 x 11 unless they are toddlers or younger.

3) Can you print two 5 x 7 on designs on one piece of transfer paper?
Most transfer paper is 8 1/2 x 11 so 2 5x7 wouldn't work as you would need a 10x14 transfer.

Thank so much!!

Have fun, there is also a thread on the FAQ on how to make a shirt, much of it copied from this thread but it is all in one place.
Penny

 

[egjlsmommy]

This is great thread. Glad I found it!

 

[tree320]

I finished our 7 shirts for our trip next week, and I just wanted to say these were the easiest, fastest iron ons I have ever used. We are a group of 24 and I printed my design out on AmyMickey's dark trasfer sheets. I peeled back the backing just past the design and put it back, just like Amy's directions said before trimming. Actually I forgot with the first 2 and they were much harder to separate. I trimmed each with my paper cutter, I made a square border for my design since I was doing so many. I divided them up by families with copies of Amy's directions for them to do their own shirts. If I had known how well they work I would have done them all. I have done 4 shirts each summer for VBS for the last 6 years and I HATE it. It would take all day, they never would stick. So even with all the great things I read about Amy's transfers, I was not looking forward to this. I was so surprised after the first shirt and I pulled away the parchment paper and there was my design perfectly adhered to the shirt, square corners and all!! The colors were even brighter! Now I want to make more shirts! Thank you so much AmyMickey!!

 

[M_I_C_K_E_Y]

I finished our 7 shirts for our trip next week, and I just wanted to say these were the easiest, fastest iron ons I have ever used. We are a group of 24 and I printed my design out on AmyMickey's dark trasfer sheets. I peeled back the backing just past the design and put it back, just like Amy's directions said before trimming. Actually I forgot with the first 2 and they were much harder to separate. I trimmed each with my paper cutter, I made a square border for my design since I was doing so many. I divided them up by families with copies of Amy's directions for them to do their own shirts. If I had known how well they work I would have done them all. I have done 4 shirts each summer for VBS for the last 6 years and I HATE it. It would take all day, they never would stick. So even with all the great things I read about Amy's transfers, I was not looking forward to this. I was so surprised after the first shirt and I pulled away the parchment paper and there was my design perfectly adhered to the shirt, square corners and all!! The colors were even brighter! Now I want to make more shirts! Thank you so much AmyMickey!!

This is SO what I love to hear! I am glad that you love them. You will love them even more when you wash them after your trip and they still look fabulous! Have a great trip!

 

[tiggergalttfn]

Amy -

got my transfers! Fast service!! So excited to start on my projects... welcome bags, pillowcases and t-shirts! 27 days to go I need to get busy

Question.... on your instructions it says after you print them you have to let them dry - approximately how long? Just like normal paper that dries within a few minutes or longer like 24 hours?

 

[M_I_C_K_E_Y]

Amy -

got my transfers! Fast service!! So excited to start on my projects... welcome bags, pillowcases and t-shirts! 27 days to go I need to get busy

Question.... on your instructions it says after you print them you have to let them dry - approximately how long? Just like normal paper that dries within a few minutes or longer like 24 hours?

If you have the 24 hours, then let them sit but just as long as the ink is dry, it is fine. I normally try to let mine sit for a half hour or so but even the few minutes should be fine. Again, as long as it is dry, you are good.

 

[sazzlynn]

You can do (2) 5x7 on one sheet if your image can be positioned with the 7 inch side going down the 8.5 side, allowing the 5 inch side to go down the 11 inch side of the transfer paper. Hope that makes sense. You'll need to make sure the margins are set to allow printing this far out too.

 

[courtney19615]

how do you reverse the design so the words transfer correct, and how do you know when to flip or reverse?
Thanks

 

[M_I_C_K_E_Y]

how do you reverse the design so the words transfer correct, and how do you know when to flip or reverse?
Thanks

Your iron on transfers should say whether or not the design needs to be flipped before printing. As a general rule, you flip the design when using a light transfer and do NOT flip when using a dark iron on transfer. This is just the norm and may not always be the case so read your paticular directions carefully.

Be careful when choosing your paper option in the printing menu. Some printers are 'smart' and flip the design automatically when you choose the transfer paper option. I just leave the paper option on the regular paper setting.

I am not sure what software you are printing from. I know in Paint (which I think comes on all computers) you can go to the Image drop down menu and choose Flip/Rotate. I think some programs have it in their print features as well.

 

[Diane71969]

Do you have a design that I could use for a t-shirt iron on that has the Pirate Ship as the front of the ship and the Disney Ship as the rear of the ship

I want it to say Disney Pirate Night and on the bottom Capturing the Caribbean and no date. That way it can be worn no matter what ship we are on or something else that you can come up with.

 

[chaoscent]

Do you have a design that I could use for a t-shirt iron on that has the Pirate Ship as the front of the ship and the Disney Ship as the rear of the ship

I want it to say Disney Pirate Night and on the bottom Capturing the Caribbean and no date. That way it can be worn no matter what ship we are on or something else that you can come up with.

This is the "How To" and your request will probably not be seen. Why not post it as a new post and that way more people will the request. Good luck, Penny

 

[Diane71969]

This is the "How To" and your request will probably not be seen. Why not post it as a new post and that way more people will the request. Good luck, Penny

Thanks for the info. I will definitely make a donation. How do I start a new thread?

 

[chaoscent]

Thanks for the info. I will definitely make a donation. How do I start a new thread?

Go here
http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=105
at the top of the page on the left hand side is a purple button that says,
"new thread". push that button, put in
Request for Pirate Ship Shirt, in the subject line (or something if you want something else)
and then post your request. If no one responds, bump it up as this is a very busy site and sometimes requests go to the 2nd page before someone can respond. You can also look through some of the great DISigners and see what they have and maybe your will see something in one of their threads that you can request. Lastly, hit the cruise line thread and post your request there
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=44808790#post44808790

Have fun.
If no one does your request, you can always post in my thread. I don't do fills, but will do custom requests. I just take foever to do them.
Penny

 

[CamiandCarson]

What size do you usually make the images for kids (ages 4 and 5 shirts) and for adults?

 

[chaoscent]

All the shirts I make are 8.5 x 11. However, when my nieces were younger we would put two DISigns on one shirt. What people do is take an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper and see if that's the right size for the shirt. if it isn't they size it down accordingly. My nieces are small, so 2 DISigns to one transfer worked fine. I am big and could use a bigger size than 8.5x11.

 

[doylehd]

I just read your thread and sadly a light bulb went off. When I bought my transfers I saw light and dark and I thought that meant the color of the shirt. :-(. After reading your post I now understand why my Mickey head came out so 'light'. ;-p

I'm a visual learner and this is my first time attempting to make shirts for our up coming cruise. I guess it's back to Jo Ann's I go.

Thank you for posting your steps. Now if I could just get the tie shirts to come out right we'd be all set. That's a whole other problem in and of itself.

Cheers,
Heather