Photo Transfer Fabric Gifts

I'm the proud mom of five sons, but that means I'm also in charge of loads of laundry, soccer balls, and Sunday ties, among other things. Just recently I came up with a possible solution to the Scout handbooks that seem to get misplaced on a weekly basis. I found plain canvas bags at my local craft store, right next to a display of photo transfer paper, and decided to try a new technique: Photo Transferring.

Transferring a digital image to fabric is really quite easy, as it turns out. I was a little nervous about it at first, but when I actually started the process, I was able to finish two bags in about an hour from start to finish. I could have made five bags in about the same amount of time.

Create a Digital Image

The first step was to create a digital image. I wanted something that would represent Scouting, so I rounded up belt loops, pins, badges, and award cards. Some were from Cubs, some from Boy Scouts. I laid the items on top of my flat-bed scanner. I did several preview scans, moving things around and adding others (including a Cub Scout shirt and a Boy Scout shirt to made the background more interesting) until I was happy with the results. I scanned the image and saved it as a jpg file.

You could use any collection of items that mean something to you. Once you have chosen a theme, gather items that are related to your theme. The items do not have to be flat, but make sure that they do not damage the lid of your scanner. If the lid cannot be closed, the scan will have a dark background. That may be the effect you wanted anyway, but if not, you can use a box over the items on your scanner or a cloth over the lid. If you have items that might roll around, try propping them against other items in your collage to keep them in place.

Print the Image

When you purchase your photo transfer paper, make sure you read carefully to see what type of machine it is intended for. I purchased two kinds initially, one for inkjet printers and another for photocopiers. I had planned on trying out both methods to see which I preferred, but I was unable to use the photocopier paper. I tried Kinko's, OfficeMax and Office Depot, and all of them said they would not make the copies because the transfer paper would jam their machines. My recommendation would be if you have a small personal copier you can give it a try, but otherwise, purchase the inkjet paper and use an inkjet printer. One more thing to note is that an all-in-one machine, while it does do photocopies, is usually just an inkjet printer, so be sure to check that before you try photocopier transfer paper in it.

You can use any program that will allow you to print digital images. Decide what size you want the image to be, and print the image in reverse. In my case, since the bags were not large, I was able to put two copies of the image on one sheet of transfer paper.

To print in reverse, select "Print Setup" and then "Properties" for your printer. You may have an option for "Mirror Image" which would work. If not, look for the drop-down dialog box called Media Type or Paper Type. "T-Shirt Transfers" or "Iron-On Transfers" should be listed. (I prefer this option, as it automatically reversed the image as it printed.) If not, you will need to reverse the image in a graphic program such as PhotoShop. Just to make sure you have selected the right option, print it out on plain paper first, as plain paper is much cheaper than transfer paper. This also gives you one more chance to make sure you are happy with the image as it is.

Be sure to correctly feed the transfer paper into your printer. The package instructions should describe the difference between the two sides of the paper, and in the case of the two different papers I bought, both had a noticeable colored line on the wrong side of the paper. Once you have the paper fed correctly into the printer, use your software to print the reversed image on to the transfer paper. Print your image just before you plan on transferring it, because the image can fade if it's left sitting for any length of time. Be sure to allow the ink to dry completely before continuing on.

Transfer the Image

When you choose the fabric there are a few things to keep in mind. Lighter-colored fabrics work better, because the fabric color becomes the background color to your image. You do not have to wash the fabric beforehand, because stiffer fabric takes the transfer better. (However, too much sizing may cause the fabric to scorch, so pay attention when you start iron.) Iron out any wrinkles, and allow the fabric to cool completely.

Before doing the transfer, you need to empty the iron of all water, because you do not want to use steam. Heat the iron to the hottest setting, which can take several minutes. If the iron is not hot enough, the transfer will not work well.

While you wait for the iron to heat, cut out the image. The instructions on my package said to leave ¼" to ½" margin around the image, but I was disappointed to have a visible clear margin around the finished image as well. If you have an image without straight edges, the margin is probably a good idea, but otherwise, trim close to the edge. Also, the package instructions recommended rounding the corners of the image to avoid having them peel off in the future. I used my scissors, but for future projects I will use my corner rounder.

Place the image, printed side down, on the fabric. You will want to have a hard surface under the fabric. I used my kitchen table without trouble. The canvas bag was thick enough that I didn't worry about my table. If I had been applying the image to a thinner fabric, such as a t-shirt, I would have used a pillow case underneath. Using the already-heated iron, iron the image to the fabric. Make sure you cover the surface evenly but don't let the iron rest for more than a few seconds in any one spot.

Once you feel you have ironed the entire image down, peel off the paper with the fabric grain, not on a diagonal. Do not wait for the transfer to cool. If the paper doesn't come off, stop peeling and use the iron again for 10-20 seconds and then try peeling again. When you remove the paper, your photo is transferred. The fabric is washable, although you should only dry it on the cool setting on your dryer. Do not ever use an iron directly on the image, or it will melt onto your iron.

My boys were pleased with their new bags, which hold their Scout handbooks as well as a notebook and pencil. Hopefully it will minimize handbook misplacement! My next project is to make an apron for my mother featuring photos of all twenty of her grandchildren, and after that I have a request from my oldest son to make him a personalized mouse pad. I'm pleased to have discovered a way to create gifts that are personal and meaningful, but not difficult!

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