Help ironing on the DISign - water leaking?

[Princess Roo]

I just ruined two shirts

I am ironing with dark transfer paper on to a red shirt. For some reason, I am getting little circles from the holes in the iron that are printing on the design.

I have it on the hottest setting, with steam turned off and the excess water dumped out of the iron, but it seems like water is leaking through somehow. There is no steam "puffing" out, but the shirt does seem damp when I'm done. The first shirt I did was worse (before I dumped the water out), but I let the iron dry out overnight after dumping it AND did a bunch of other ironing (the 12 shirts I have left to do) to make sure (I thought) all the water was gone.

Has anyone had this happen before? Is my ancient iron just defective? I don't know where the water could be coming from, but maybe I should just let it dry out for a few more days? My husband is going to kill me if I keep messing up shirts (I'll try a scrap fabric next!) AND have to buy a new iron for this inexpensive little t-shirt idea I persuaded him to go along with.

Any suggestions are appreciated!

 

[princessdisneybelle]

You need to iron on a hard surface and not the ironing board. And you won't get those circles. At least this is what helped me.

 

[Princess Roo]

Oh - thanks for the suggestion, but I was
A wood table with a pillowcase on top (suggested in the instructions - you don't think that was the problem, do you?).

 

[princessdisneybelle]

Thats odd. I would think you would be ok. Maybe you aren't pressing hard enough? Sorry I can't help more. I used a hardback book undermine when I realized the problem and didnt have the problem anymore.

 

[KristineN]

I would go out and buy a new iron...don't have to buy a real expensive one. You may have an issue with the water reservoir in your current one. If you add up the cost of: t-shirts, paper, ink, time & frustration....a new iron would be cheaper!

 

[Princess Roo]

Just an update for those that are interested. I borrowed an iron from my neighbor and it looks like the iron isn't the problem. My light t-shirt transfers worked beautifully, so I think it is the transfers I bought. I got the June Tailor kind (from Michael's). The directions said to put constant pressure on each area for a while, while the instructions with my Avery light ones said to keep moving. When I switched to "keep moving" it did turn out a little better, but not as bright - doesn't have the circles now, but looks like it has already been washed a bunch of times.
So, I'm not 100% sure it was the brand of transfers, but I definitely won't buy that brand again.