Working with just one type of HTV means you won’t have to keep track of different settings for each brand, which saves me a lot of mental space! Make sure the dyes don’t bleed from your fabric I don’t recommend switching between different brands for different looks, so find one that has enough versatility for every occasion. In short, you want an HTV that has a strong adhesive, is durable enough to withstand being worn and washed, and which comes in a variety of finishes. The easiest HTVs to work with unfortunately aren’t the cheapest, but I wrote up a great guide on finding the right heat transfer vinyl for each project. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is trying to work with a low-quality vinyl. This way for each fabric you know the limitations, and you’ll quickly notice if something is different with a new batch! Choose the right heat transfer vinyl You can even test before you decide which vinyl to use, just apply a heat press or iron at different temperatures to your polyester and see if it discolors or not. Cut off a small swatch of polyester, heat press your iron on to the polyester, and run it through the washing machine a few times to see if it adheres. If you’re working with a large batch of shirts or material, try to do a small test before committing to a larger project. It is better to get it right the first time, so make sure you have a good bond before throwing anything into your washing machine. There isn’t really a downside in pressing for a shorter amount of time, checking, and then repressing if it’s not adhering correctly. The way to make sure you don’t damage your material is instead of using a higher temperature, just increase how long you press the fabric for. The activation temperature of the adhesive in your HTV is much lower than in polyester fabric. Instead of higher heat, try a longer press time, which takes us to… Increase how long you press it for If you’re working with a mix of synthetic and natural materials, it’s always better to start cooler and work your way up. It’s also possible you’re using a cotton-poly blend and not 100% polyester. It’s possible that what you thought was polyester is actually another material completely, and it doesn’t help that a lot of tags provide erroneous information. Working with a dry, smooth surface is essential for getting HTV that sticks once and doesn’t peel. Unlike cotton fabrics, it’s preheating polyester won’t open up the fibers for your adhesive, but it does evaporate any water and smooth out the surface. Preheat your polyester Consider using an iron to heat up your polyester before pressing. If you check the heat application settings for most HTV, you’ll see that it’s actually a pretty low temperature, around 285☏. HTV not sticking you can fix, but a scorched and discolored shirt you can’t fix. It’s better to start with a lower temperature and increase it later if you’re having trouble.
So if you’re on your 4th shirt and all of a sudden things get difficult, the HTV isn’t sticking, don’t fret! Take a look at the other tips and it’s likely one of them will fix your issue. Make sure to check your tag, and if you had success working with one kind of polyester shirt but not another, it could be that you’re working with a different material. Unlike cotton, polyesters can vary from garment to garment. If you want to save time, material, and some potential heartbreak, follow these tips: Not all polyester is the same If you’re wondering if you can use iron-on with polyester, the answer is yes! Absolutely! Make sure the dyes don’t bleed from your fabric.