Using a Sulky Iron-On Transfer Pen involves drawing your design and then using heat to transfer the ink onto fabric with a specific ironing technique.
Sulky Iron-On Transfer Pens allow you to create designs on paper that can be transferred onto fabric using heat from an iron. The process after you've drawn your design is key to achieving a clean transfer.
Here’s how to perform the heat transfer step:
Transferring Your Design to Fabric
Once your design is drawn on paper using the Sulky transfer pen, follow these steps to transfer it to your desired fabric:
- Prepare: Ensure your fabric is smooth and wrinkle-free. Place it on a firm, heat-safe surface.
- Position: Place the paper with your design ink side down directly onto the fabric right side where you want the transfer to appear.
- Heat Application: Set your iron to a hot temperature (check pen instructions for specifics if available, otherwise a cotton setting is often suitable).
- Ironing Technique: Place the hot iron over a section of the paper covering your design. Do not slide the iron back and forth. Instead, pick the iron straight up and move it to another spot on the paper to cover the entire design area. Repeat this lifting and placing motion until the design is transferred.
Why the Right Ironing Technique is Crucial
The method of applying heat is vital for a sharp, clear transfer.
- Correct Method (Lift and Place): Picking the iron up and moving it ensures even heat and pressure are applied to each section without disturbing the paper's position relative to the fabric.
- Incorrect Method (Sliding): If you move the iron by sliding it over the fabric, you risk shifting the paper. This movement can cause the transferring ink to smudge or transfer multiple times slightly offset, resulting in a blurry transfer.
By following the lift-and-place method, you help secure the design in place during the heat application, leading to a crisp outline transferred onto your fabric.
