T-shirt making technical questions

[Dustmouse]

So, I'm officially T-shirt crazy! I made my first one about a week ago with the intention of only making one design for the whole family and now I can't stop!

I'm having a few problems though with technique.

1. How do you peel the backing off of the dark transfers without mangling the corners?

2. I keep getting little circles showing up on my transfers where the steam holes on the iron are. Is my iron too hot?

3. I had a rectagular transfer that stuck around the edges, so now the edges are kinda raggidy. Poor quality transfer paper, didn't heat long enough, heated too long?

Thanks for any advice!

 

[jtanddolly]

Unfortunately every transfer paper is different...some require extreme heat, some require heavy pressure, some low heat or light pressure so it is hard to tell you what went wrong with yours...but the one that I see the most positive feedback on is Amy Mickey's transfer paper. It is for dark transfers and other than a few red shirts that bled through because my iron was too hot they have lasted through multiple washes and look just as good as the day I made them...straight corners and all with no cracks!

www.amymickey.com

You can only get them from her online that I know of but they are worth it.

 

[Dustmouse]

Unfortunately every transfer paper is different...some require extreme heat, some require heavy pressure, some low heat or light pressure so it is hard to tell you what went wrong with yours...but the one that I see the most positive feedback on is Amy Mickey's transfer paper. It is for dark transfers and other than a few red shirts that bled through because my iron was too hot they have lasted through multiple washes and look just as good as the day I made them...straight corners and all with no cracks!

www.amymickey.com

You can only get them from her online that I know of but they are worth it.

Thanks for the feedback! I enjoyed your pics on the "What are you making" thread.

 

[rhondamccollough@hot]

So, I'm officially T-shirt crazy! I made my first one about a week ago with the intention of only making one design for the whole family and now I can't stop!

I'm having a few problems though with technique.

1. How do you peel the backing off of the dark transfers without mangling the corners? AMY's tip : Peel off the backing a little past the printed edge of your design BEFORE cutting out the design! This works GREAT

2. I keep getting little circles showing up on my transfers where the steam holes on the iron are. Is my iron too hot?

3. I had a rectagular transfer that stuck around the edges, so now the edges are kinda raggidy. Poor quality transfer paper, didn't heat long enough, heated too long?

Thanks for any advice!

HTH's! I recommend Amy's transfers also!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

with the intention of only making one design for the whole family and now I can't stop!

WELCOME to the DISign Board! That was MY intention too...now I have tons of shirts!

It sounds like you were using too hot of an iron and the steam should be turned off. I haven't had any of those issues though, so I can't say for sure. I use AmyMickey's transfers too and haven't ever had that problem. (I swear I'm not trying to sound like an infomercial here, but her transfers really are great)

Those corners are little buggers, aren't they?? Amy suggests on her directions that you peel back a corner BEFORE cutting out your design (peel it all the way into the actual design so that a corner of the design is loose) and that is what I do. This way, I don't ruin the design by cutting it out and then trying to peel it.