My Word Book

My Word Book

Drewzel suggested that this page from a school workbook would make a good sampler. What a good idea!

What is an easy way to transfer a design to fabric ready for embroidery?

By the way, I'm a very bad tracer so anything that doesn't involve taping to a window would be welcomed.

*Edited to add: Any experience with transfer pencils?

12 comments:

Unknown said...

I haven't used transfer pencils yet but I have used that coloured 'carbon' paper that you can find in Spotlight. I had a go at laying the carbon paper on the fabric and then laid the design on top and traced it off and it was really crap. The last few embroideries I've done lately I've part traced and part freehanded the design using one of those pens that washes away with a spray of water.

Ali said...

Transfer pencils work really well, but beware as they do not come off, so you have to make sure the embroidery covers the pencil line.

Donna said...

I use simplicity transfer (carbon)sheets (vintage pack) I don't know if you can buy them now but they are a great way to transfer patterns. Have you tried printing the image straight from your printer onto those cotton printer sheets. I bought mine on eBay from the US for a quilt project I'm doing at the moment using kids drawings.

Other than that the window and telly are my fave's.

Jodie said...

You're right, that would make a great sampler!!!
I'm with ali... I like to use transfer pencils. The one I have I bought from my local craft shop for $2.50. All you do is trace the picture and then iron the drawing onto your fabric of choice. The outline is very faint but if you have a good light to stitch under this shouldn't be a problem. The pencil I use does fade in the wash but is that faint anyway that you can't see it once you have finished stitching... I hope this helps... :)
BTW... I don't know if you can remember but a fair while back you joined in on a PIF I had going on my blog, well.... I've finally finished your handmade gift and it's ready to be posted out to you. All I need is your address and I'll be able to pop it in the post...

Jodie

Victoria said...

I do the most low tech thing - photocopy or take a photo of the design and print it out, (I usually embroider from photos of real people, etc), then masking tape it to the fabric, masking tape paper to the other side, pin prick holes through it so I know where to embroider, sew the design, then remove all the little pieces of paper with tweezers! Hmm, I'm sure that made no sense and will be of no help, but that's my method.

Levin said...

hmmmm i can't really help you but isn't it lovely and cool!!!
l
x

Cosy said...

I like the idea of printing on printer sheets. But I like the idea of tracing on the TV even better! My kind of method!

I think I'll give the transfer pencil a whirl and keep it line and thin.

Thanks for everyone's comments!

Cosy said...

line = light

brain not working!

Drewzel said...

Sorry for not commenting sooner, just found this post. I use a red transfer pencil that I bought at spotlight, and trace on some (non-waxed) baking paper. Then iron it onto your fabric. Of course you'll have to flip the design in Photoshop first so the words are backwards. I've found if you soak the embroidery in cold water after you've finished, the pencil comes out.

Linnea said...

It is really cute! I am trying to figure out some good transfer tips. Thanks, I learned a couple of new things! Be sure to post a picture if you do a sampler!

petrafanella said...

Well I have only embroidered one thing and wasn't sure how to get the image on to the fabric but what I did worked really well and I am going to use the method all the time now.

I traced the design onto thin tear-away interfacing/stabiliser (so easy to see through) with a pen, pinned the interfacing to the right side of the fabric, stitched over the top and then tore away the interfacing, leaving just the stitching on the fabric. (My embroidery was just chain stitch. If the design is more dense stitching, not sure how this would work.)

Similar to Victoria's method but no little bitty bits of paper.

Cosy said...

Peta, I like that suggestion! I probably could do with the stabilising because the linen is quite an open weave and I'm not terribly happy at the moment. But this is a first run... will keep trying!