What shirts does everyone use for heat transfers?

[ginadv]

Hi!

I'm looking on the jiffyshirts website--tons of stuff, great prices, btw--and I'm wondering which shirts to order.

What do most folks do? 100% cotton? 50/50? What about weight? The ones I'm considering are 5.6 oz 100% cotton (which I think I prefer over the 50/50). But what takes the heat transfers the best?

Also, do people wash their shirts before ironing on the transfer? I'm planning to use Amy's dark transfers. I read on one of the reviews on the shirt website that not washing the shirt prior to ironing on the design lead to the transfer wrinkling up after the first washing (though I bet she used lesser-quality transfers ).

And one other question. What size to folks print their disigns for a kids' size small/med t-shirt? Let's take a mickey head, for example. I was thinking of printing them approximately 8" x 8" though I'm not certain if that would be too big, too small or just right!

Any and all advice and tips are welcome!

Many thanks,
Gina

 

[chaoscent]

We are not permitted to do links on the Dis. I will PM you. Penny
Sorry, I re read this and realized you asked for shirts not transfers (still not allowed to post links, )
So if anyone has any shirt recommendations, please pm her the link. thanks, Penny

 

[scooffer]

I used the Rabbit ones from that same website. Super fast shipping, and wasked them before. Follow Amy's directions when she sends you the transfers, they work great and are so awesome!

 

[chaoscent]

What Shirts do people use? I tend to use the ones from AC Moore (I think they are Haines?) and use the 50/50 ones. Though I have used the 100% cotton if I found them on sale. I follow the tips in the FAQ section
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2430262
SO I do NOT use fabric softener & I DO wash the shirts first. I don't do the Vinegar wash, but haven't had a problem
Penny

 

[ginadv]

thanks for your replies! Penny, I read through the FAQ page and found this thread as well:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1772213

which is "20 steps to making custom shirts using dark transfers."

GREAT info in both places. Answered all of my questions including regarding shirt weight.

My one question now is regarding whether or not to do the post-ironing vinegar wash. Most people were using HP brand dark transfers at the time of the post (2009) and mentioned that they could bleed (the transfer image) in the rain if they weren't washed once in vinegar after ironing.

Thanks again. I'm still nervous to give it a go, but at least I'm now armed with all the necessary info!

 

[scooffer]

Oh wow, bleeding the rain never even crossed my mind? Has anyone had that problem recently?

 

[chaoscent]

Mine did bleed in the rain, but that was when I used the transfers from AC Moore. I didn't have the problem with Amy's transfers. But it won't hurt you to do it? Penny