Hello everyone, I have been asked about lettering a dozen or so 'throwaway' t-shirts for a small event. I have noticed that there is iron-on vinyl available for fabric.
Can someone point me to some beginner learning on this stuff as to whats available (types of vinyl), whats needed to transfer and place the graphic on fabric, and what equip. & procedures are needed to transfer the graphic (ironing). I have a Graphtec cutter already so unless I need a special blade for it I should be set in that department.
The shirts are pretty much going to be freebie throwaways, so a cheaper material would be best at the moment.
I also have thought about screenprinting, and at this time I am not ready to try that fiasco again. At least not without learning how to use cut vinyl as my template. That photo-resist stuff requires a little more patience than I can give it..
BTW I enjoyed talking to everyone last night, even if I did miss the SignGold chat. Did anyone record a transcript?
Posted by David Harding (Member # 108) on :
There is some inkjet media that is designed for T shirt graphics. You print your image in reverse and iron it on the T shirt. It will last a few washings.
I did a google search for "iron on transfers" and this is the first thing that came up.
You're refering to a plastisol material. I wouldn't call it cheap, it's one of the more durable products you can iron on a shirt or other fabric. Excellent product for doing names & numbers on team sweaters. its limitations are somewhat like vinyl, for the most part you'll be dealing with 1 spot color and weeding is a factor so design must be fairly simple. Get it from www.stahls.com product is called thermofilm or gorilla grip. Any T-shirt press would work temp is about 325f
Posted by John Milleker (Member # 4572) on :
Thank you David for the link, i've used printables before with limited success (as much as you would expect). For this job I just need quick one-color lettering which I was hoping I could just cut.
Mike, great link. Looks like they have everything there including better descriptions than i've been able to find, application information, etc.. While still a bit more expensive I should be able to do with just 15"x5yards of the econo stuff.
Thanks for the information! -John
quote:Originally posted by John Milleker: Hello everyone, I have been asked about lettering a dozen or so 'throwaway' t-shirts for a small event. I have noticed that there is iron-on vinyl available for fabric.
Posted by Jim Hansen (Member # 1927) on :
Joe, Check out our website @ www.tsgracingdecals.com, we are having a big sale on screen printed tee's.
Thanks Jim
Posted by Nevman (Member # 332) on :
I'll throw this one out...
How about cutting vinyl masks, weed out the lettering, apply those to the shirts and the dust on a few light coats of spray paint. If you do the coats lightly enough, bleeding shouldn't be a problem.
Good Luck...
Posted by Ron Costa (Member # 3366) on :
Good one Pat, I've done the same and hand cut the vinyl mask before I had a plotter, the lighter the spray, the softer the finished product.
Posted by Larry Presnell (Member # 265) on :
Better watch the econo-print. You can't cut very small stuff using it. I like Thermoflex 2 from JSI. Larry
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
ive had some goodstuff work with the CANNON injet sheets....you print it on you printer, then iron it on a tshirt....you print a mirror image. also i cut away the rest of the material outside the design , if not it will also adhear to the t shirt.
Posted by John Milleker (Member # 4572) on :
Thank you all for the great info. I really like the spray paint idea Pat!
I called Beacon and they agreed that Cad-Cut Econo is mainly for larger graphics. They said it was do-able to around and larger than 1" lettering. This stuff would not apply without the high-heat of a heat press - no irons.
So i'll try the stencil/spraypaint idea or just bite the bullet and learn this screenprinting using vinyl as a mask stuff.
Thanks again! -John
quote:Originally posted by John Milleker: Hello everyone, I have been asked about lettering a dozen or so 'throwaway' t-shirts for a small event. I have noticed that there is iron-on vinyl available for fabric.
Posted by Robert Richards (Member # 3244) on :
You can order vinly T shirt material from signwarehouse as well as some others.
Posted by DianeBalch (Member # 1301) on :
I have used the econprint, from Stahls, for several years. i Have a graphtec 2100 and have no problem cutting/weeding letters as small as .3 inches. For the small stuff, on hats, I have used an iron- no water in it- set on highest setting and used some kraft paper or freezer paper between the iron and the econoprint, press for 15 seconds. If the area of the lettering is larger than the center of the iron, every 8 seconds pick up the iron and move it to another spot. cool peel the backing.
Diane Balch
Posted by DianeBalch (Member # 1301) on :
If you use vinyl for a mask, make sure you use premium, and squeegee it down well. It sticks better and you have less problem with paint bleeding underneath. If you have an air brush, createx fabric paints and Deka fabric paints work well- use the vinyl mask.
Cut and press, nice and easy. Ideally, these should be done at 325 degrees for about 10 - 12 seconds, but since these are throwaways, you can probably get away with using a household iron.
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