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

[heartbeeps]

anyone looking for these instructions lately?

bump

 

[goofytetreault]

Yes thank you they really helped

 

[weHEARTmickey]

anyone looking for these instructions lately?

bump

I certainly was! They were WAaay back on page 3!!! Any chance of a Sticky??? Thanks! Angela

 

[weHEARTmickey]

Okay, I JUST now finished 15 shirts (one was, unfortunately, a casualty) I'm uploading pics now & I'll post later. Anyway, I don't know if this has been mentioned.....

After you've ironed over the tissue paper, you need to LEAVE IT ALONE & let it cool for about 1-2 minutes. I'm sure everyone (but me) knows this already. I was just getting so impatient, that I kept trying to peel the tissue paper off the hot design, & the transfer would kind of "roll up" under itself. Then, it's impossible to flatten it out after it's done that.

Thanks for this thread, though. It's certainly helpful to those of us who've never made shirts before! Angela

 

[heartbeeps]

... After you've ironed over the tissue paper, you need to LEAVE IT ALONE & let it cool for about 1-2 minutes. I'm sure everyone (but me) knows this already. I was just getting so impatient, that I kept trying to peel the tissue paper off the hot design, & the transfer would kind of "roll up" under itself. Then, it's impossible to flatten it out after it's done that....: Angela

Thanks for mentioning this point, Angela. I updated step #17 to remind folks not to lift the tissue paper up before the transfer cools. Can't wait to see your pix!

 

[heartbeeps]

I know there's a lot of sticky's at the top of this board so I don't think we need to make this it's own sticky; however, I wonder if there's anyway to take the contents of post #1 in this thread and put it in one of the sticky's at the top of this board? Mods? anyone?

 

[lgiltmier]

Can I add a tip? Of course discovered by mistake...

I went to print my transfers (dark) today, and when I was changing my printer to "High" quality, I noticed that one of my paper options (instead of plain paper) was "T-shirt Transfers." Seems like the thing to do, right? Well guess what - my "smart" printer (it's a Canon) mirrored the transfer for me! AGH...now I have to go buy more...

 

[heartbeeps]

Can I add a tip? Of course discovered by mistake...

I went to print my transfers (dark) today, and when I was changing my printer to "High" quality, I noticed that one of my paper options (instead of plain paper) was "T-shirt Transfers." Seems like the thing to do, right? Well guess what - my "smart" printer (it's a Canon) mirrored the transfer for me! AGH...now I have to go buy more...

ugh. I had one jam in the printer (and thought, well, there goes $1.12 down the drain... not including the ink).

I believe the tip is already covered under the guise of #7 - print out on white paper first before printing on transfers; however, I added a few more words of encouragement.

 

[lgiltmier]

Well, I printed it one white paper on the plain paper setting! It just seemed SO logical to pick "TShirt Transfer" as the paper type when I went to do the real thing! =)

 

[heartbeeps]

Well, I printed it one white paper on the plain paper setting! It just seemed SO logical to pick "TShirt Transfer" as the paper type when I went to do the real thing! =)

ouch! I hate it when my logic takes over and it doesn't work out so I can relate.... sorry.

 

[kowalchicky]

WOW! Glad I found this thread....I thought all I had to do was find a design,print,and iron....I didnt know anything about the tissue paper,a waiting for everything to cool down etc...thank you!

Tissue paper as in the type you put in gift bag? or a special type of "tissue paper?"

 

[M_I_C_K_E_Y]

WOW! Glad I found this thread....I thought all I had to do was find a design,print,and iron....I didnt know anything about the tissue paper,a waiting for everything to cool down etc...thank you!

Tissue paper as in the type you put in gift bag? or a special type of "tissue paper?"

No, not tissue paper. Either use the paper that comes with your transfers or if you need extra use "parchment paper". You can find that in the baking aisle of the grocery store or by the foil.

 

[kowalchicky]

Well I'm glad you cleared that one up...I would of set the darn shirt on fire...My sister in law and I are going to attempt this for our upcoming trip when she is up for a 4th of July BBQ...wish us luck

 

[heartbeeps]

No, not tissue paper. Either use the paper that comes with your transfers or if you need extra use "parchment paper". You can find that in the baking aisle of the grocery store or by the foil.

that's my fault; I used bad terminology in post #1 (I said tissue - shows you how much an uncrafty person like me knows! ). Anyway, I updated the 1st post to change the reference from "tissue" paper, to "parchment" paper.

thanks for your help Amy (M_I_C_K_E_Y)

 

[MikiDisney]

I am sure this question has been asked a number of times but I am going to ask one more time. Why is it that you say that 100% cotton is the best to use. What would happen if you used 50-50? I haven't done anything yet and I am still going to get the 100% shirts but I am curious to what would happen. Anyone?

Where is the best place to buy the shirts without spending an arm and a leg for them. I would like to do 8 of them but don't want to spend 10 on each of them. Any ideas?

TIA

 

[EC0323]

I am sure this question has been asked a number of times but I am going to ask one more time. Why is it that you say that 100% cotton is the best to use. What would happen if you used 50-50? I haven't done anything yet and I am still going to get the 100% shirts but I am curious to what would happen. Anyone?

Where is the best place to buy the shirts without spending an arm and a leg for them. I would like to do 8 of them but don't want to spend 10 on each of them. Any ideas?

TIA

Not much help here. But I thought I would give it a shot. This week (unforunately ending today) Michael's has Jerzee's Tshirts on sale 2 for 5.00. I checked Walmart and they were $5.00 for Hane's. Not sure if Michael's is the cheapest but so far they are the cheapest. I have not tired online since I am all about instant gratification. I want to do now not next week. Anyway someone might be able to tell you about tshirts online places.

I do not know about the 50% tshirts. I am going to try putting a small design on a wicking t shirt (just one!) to see if it works. I found this wicking shirt (only 6.99) that looks more like a regular tshirt and is not 100% poly.

Good Luck with your shirts!!!

 

[RweTHEREyet]

I, too, was wondering about purchasing shirts. I would like to buy somethig other than just plain t-shirts. I am getting to the point that I wish for something a little more dressy, such as a henley or just not as masculine looking as a plain t-shirt. Anyone have an on-line site where I can find something a little different?

 

[MikiDisney]

I, too, was wondering about purchasing shirts. I would like to buy somethig other than just plain t-shirts. I am getting to the point that I wish for something a little more dressy, such as a henley or just not as masculine looking as a plain t-shirt. Anyone have an on-line site where I can find something a little different?

I originally bought 12 shirts from Hobby Lobby and they were 50% off originally priced 2.99 child and 3.99 adult. When I saw they were 50-50 I took them back. I looked at the ones at Michaels and they are 50-50 also although they told me they were 100% cotton. They have none that are 100% cotton! So after about 2 hours of running from store to store I just bought the ones at Walmart. They are Hanes and I got them for 4.00 each. Needless to say were are each only getting one hand made shirt this year instead of 3. We leave in 17 days and I just don't have time with work and the children to go all over looking for these shirts. We are going back in December/January maybe I can make more then.

Good Luck with finding and making your shirts!

 

[heartbeeps]

I am sure this question has been asked a number of times but I am going to ask one more time. Why is it that you say that 100% cotton is the best to use. What would happen if you used 50-50?

I HAVE used 50/50 (purchased Jerzee's brand from Michaels); they turned out fine. I added the 100% cotton because, when I started, that's what folks recommended be used. I could speculate that it might have to do with the fact that you need a hot iron and poly doesn't "take" as much of a hot iron as cotton would. Not sure, just speculation.

Where is the best place to buy the shirts without spending an arm and a leg for them

cheapest I've found:
jiffyshirts.com - don't like their return policy
shirtsupplier.com
Michael's 2 for $5 sale

 

[heartbeeps]

I, too, was wondering about purchasing shirts. I would like to buy somethig other than just plain t-shirts. I am getting to the point that I wish for something a little more dressy, such as a henley or just not as masculine looking as a plain t-shirt. Anyone have an on-line site where I can find something a little different?

try:
jiffyshirts.com
shirtsupplier.com (there's another thread I started with a discount code for this web site)
go to the Mens or Ladies section of your local Wal-Mart and select something from the varied choices