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​HOW TO APPLY HTV ON ONESIES

Posted by Denn on 28th Oct 2022

​HOW TO APPLY HTV ON ONESIES

Hurray! Someone's having a baby!

And you know what this means? MORE BABY STUFF!

Oh, and who wouldn't love picking and buying all the cute stuff for such adorable little munchkins? From crib to wipes and diapers to milk bottles and, of course, baby's clothes!!!

Preparing a comfortable life for the cute angel is a testament to the parent's joy and excitement, but adding a sprinkle of personal touch on the baby's things and apparel? Now that's a better expression of the love consuming not just the happy couple but also the thrilled friends and relatives.

Indeed, customizing and reimagining infant products make the occasion more memorable. But be ready for a little stumble! Hunting for gifts can be a bit of a fun buster, and getting drowned by an ocean of selection is an unnecessary burden we don't wish upon you. That's why we're here to help. There's no need to eenie-meenie your way through as we're about to give you a recommendation you surely can't resist.

Presenting... Heat Transfer Vinyl on ONESIES!

What better way to celebrate such a milestone than with a collection of warm and personalized Onesies?

Now, imagine it, a giggling baby basking in the glow of your love while sporting that comfy onesie. That is such a beautiful view!

But HTV? on Onesie?

Many of you might be raising an eyebrow now and wondering whether or not this combination is a thriving possibility. So, let's quash this query once and for all.

Can I use HTV on Onesie?

The answer is 100% Yes!

Onesie is a suitable substrate for Heat Transfer Vinyl.

These jumpsuit-like garments are made of materials ranging from 100% cotton to 100% polyester and Polycotton blends. We all know these three fabric types are completely HTV-compatible, so you won't have any trouble dealing with onesies as far as fabrics are concerned!

But onesies have two minor drawbacks you may want to know as early as now. Though these aren't impactful hindrances, they could impose a little bit of limitation on how and where you can apply your design.

Well, I'm talking about its bulky seams on the upper part from the sleeves connecting to the collar and its overlapping parts. Its small press area, too, is another thing that bothers other crafters. However, there's no need to worry, as we will teach you later how to overcome these minor obstacles.

Now that it's clear that HTV on the onesie is a compatible pairing, let's get moving and learn the accurate temperature setting when heat-pressing onesies.

What temperature do you heat press onesie?

A common cause of HTV mishaps is the application of incorrect temperature, time, and pressure settings. And because we're doing this for our charming and captivating client, I'd like to ensure you're hitting the bullseye with the helpful guide below.

Remember that temperature settings depend primarily on the fabric of your onesie and the type of HTV material you're using. The good thing is this information is readily available. All HTV manufacturers provide these vital details to their customers, usually in the instructions manual and on their websites. For instance, you can check this comprehensive guide based on Siser's Material Reference Chart:

HTV Temperature Pressure Time (Seconds) Peel Carrier
EasyWeed 305°F/150°C medium 10-15 Hot or Cold
Glitter 320°F/160°C firm 15-20 Warm
Holographic 320°F/160°C medium 10-15 Cold
Metal 305°F/150°C medium 10-15 Cold
StripFlock 311°F/155°C medium 15 Warm
EasyPatterns 305°F/150°C medium 10-15 Hot or Cold

This recommended heat guide is intended for onesies made of 100% cotton, 100% Polyester, and Polycotton blends.

Important Reminder: One common ground where crafters often make mistakes is failing to realize that there's no universal setting for HTV. So, always check the label to prevent any application problems.

How do you make a onesie with HTV?

Before heading to the battle, let's prepare all the essential supplies we'll need for this session.

  • Heat Transfer Vinyl of your choice
  • Onesie made of compatible fabric
  • Computer and Design Software
  • Vinyl Cutting Machine
  • Weeding Tool
  • Heat Press
  • Teflon Sheet
  • Heat Press Pillow

Let's get down to business and learn how to create beautiful personalized onesies!

1. Create your Cut File

Creating your cut file or digital design is an important starting point for any HTV project. This process is where your ideas are breathed into life. You can either make a graphic from scratch or choose to buy ready-made designs from all corners of the internet.

When preparing your cut file, you must scale the design, especially with onesies having a small area to cover. For the accurate size of your decal, best if you manually measure the area, you're covering. This way, you can make the necessary adjustments before cutting your design on the vinyl.

2. Mirror the Design

After you've made or downloaded your cut file, the next step is to mirror it, meaning you need to flip the image horizontally. This step is necessary to ensure that the image will appear correctly on the substrate when transferred.

3. Cut the HTV

Before cutting your vinyl, one should know there's a right way to load HTV on the vinyl cutter. Commonly, the vinyl or dull side is loaded facing up, so the design will be cut on the actual vinyl, not on the carrier or the shiny side.

If you're someone who always takes extra caution, you could perform some test cuts first to see if everything's perfectly set. You need to adjust the machine's blade settings if the vinyl is not properly cut or the cutter is overly cutting through the carrier sheet. Your blade might be in the wrong mode or is already worn out.

4. Weeding Time!

Weeding comes next after cutting HTV. In this process, you carefully weed out or remove all the unneeded bits and pieces so that the only vinyl left are just the components of the design.

5. Press the HTV on the Onesie

There are several options to consider when applying vinyl. Depending on your preference and available heat press, you can choose regular home iron, MiniPress, Cap Press, EasyPress, or Clam Shell Heat Press.

If you're planning to use a handheld heat sources such as regular home iron, MiniPress, and Easy Press, here are the steps that you need to follow:

1. Find a solid and flat working space. Some places can withstand a forceful impact since you'll be manually applying pressure.

2. Remember to preheat the garment to smooth out wrinkles and to release moisture retained on the onesie. These things might affect the transfer result, so better take extra action now than cry about it later.

3. Avoid pressing over the bulky seams on the shoulder and neck as they affect the even distribution of pressure, which happens to be a key element to the success of the process. As a remedy, use a heat press pillow to lift the application area above these bulky areas.

4. Apply a protective sheet layer to avoid melting or scorching caused by high temperatures. Best to rely on a Teflon sheet, but a less expensive alternative like parchment paper will also serve the purpose.

5. Manually encode the heat setting, then start heat pressing the HTV. Be consistent when applying pressure; the last thing you want is a portion of the decal lifting or peeling off. Also, do not slide any of these handheld heating sources when applying. Just make a steady press depending on the time required for each HTV.

6. Apply cold or hot peel. Cold peel is when you wait for the material to cool off before removing the carrier sheet, and hot peel is when it's recommended to remove the sheet while it's still warm.

7. Finally, check if design areas are lifting or edge peeling. If you've spotted one, carefully reapply the plastic sheet, then the Teflon sheet, and press again for a few more seconds.

These steps are similar to Clam Shell Heat Press. The only key differences are the mechanical application of pressure and that you don't need to find a solid area because its top and bottom platens already provide a perfect place for pressing.

Meanwhile, using a Cap Press offers a different version of convenience compared to other heat presses. Cap Press is specifically designed to mimic the curvy structure of hats, and this unique design is proven helpful in applying HTV on Onesies.

Since it has a small and curve platen, you can easily avoid all the bulky seams and parts as they are left off the pressing area. You can precisely target a spot even without the help of a heat press pillow to raise it.

And that's it! That is how you make a onesie using different heat presses.

Is HTV safe for baby wear?

Of course, we're all here for a personalized onesie's added value, but safety will always be our top priority.

So, are onesies adorned by HTV-safe garments for our precious babies?

Fortunately, many products feature already assure us what we all desire. If you're going to decorate a baby's wear or any other baby's stuff, ensure that you'll only apply CPSIA-certified vinyl. This CPSIA, or Consumer Product Safety Information Act, is a standard policy that safeguards children's welfare from hazardous elements.

Apart from this certification, you can also secure your baby's health by buying HTVs made from eco-friendly and non-toxic materials. Luckily, the number of CPSIA-certified HTVs is growing, so you can find one in the market.

Other Vinyl Crafting Articles

Please click the links below for more vinyl project ideas you might want to try for your following projects:

BEST VINYL PROJECT IDEAS FOR THE FALL SEASON

THE DO IT YOURSELF BACK-2-SCHOOL VINYL IDEAS

Indeed, the joy of having a baby is unparalleled! It's a remarkable moment worthy of being celebrated with premium personalized products. And with the pairing of HTV and onesies, you are indeed hitting the mark! So don't stop here! Let this project be your starting point for more vinyl projects for the cutest creature on the planet.

Remember to share these ideas with your family and friends. Also, share your crafting adventure with us on our pages.

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For your vinyl crafting needs, please check our website at xvinyl.com. We offer different Adhesive and Heat Transfer Vinyl, perfect for your next project.