How To Make A Fabric Wall Art With HTVRONT Easy Heat Press!

There is that plain fabric in your house such as a T-shirt or a hoodie or a pillowcase that you’ve grown tired of and want to turn it into a rug or throw it away, right? Well don’t throw it just yet, you can transform it into a piece of art and decorate your walls with it. Using fabric for wall art with Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV) is an easy, fun and cheap way to customize your living space with literally any design you have in mind. 

In this guide, I will take you through the process of transforming your old plain fabrics into amazing wall arts with HTV. I’ve done it before and I kid you not, it’s super amazing and a rewarding activity. By the end of this tutorial you’ll see how my project turned out to be great for my son's bedroom. Let's get right into it!

In any project no matter how easy and simple, preparation is very important. You need to assemble all the materials you will need in your Fabric Wall Art project for it to be a success. I have provided a list of the materials I used in my project. Use it as a reference when gathering your supplies.

These are easily available and affordable supplies that you can find in your local print shop or at the supermarket. Once you have a HTVRONT Heat Press Machine, you only need less than $10 to make fabric wall arts like a pro. Let’s now go through the steps involved.

Start by creating a design using a design software such as LOKLiK IdeaStudios, Cricut Design Space, Silhouette Studio, Photoshop, Canva, or even MS Word. Alternatively, you can pick your favourite picture or silhouettes of the picture if you cannot create one. I decided to use a silhouette of a deer, famously known as Buck, with the writing “ Fear The Deer ”, the popular words in the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks team. 

Silhouettes are super easy to work with, especially if you’re a beginner. Upload the photo or design to your computer and set the size of the file according to the frames you’re working with. For my project, I used a square measurement of 15” x 15” inches.

Now mirror your image or photo before cutting because the vinyl will be applied in reverse form. Cut your HTV vinyl and peel away the unwanted part so that the only vinyl remaining on the carrier sheet is your design. Now use a weeding tool to trim the cut parts into perfect shape. Removing the minor unwanted parts of your cut vinyl ensures your transfers are perfect as intended.

Once your design is ready, prepare your fabric for the transfer. Choose high-quality cotton or linen fabric for your transfers to be durable. The fabric has to be very clean and dry. Use a lint roller to remove any particles or lint that might interfere with the quality of your transfers. Cut the fabric a bit larger than the dimensions of your frames so that you have enough area to either pin or attach with the nano tape.

Preheat the fabric at a low temperature of about 210°F for 5-10 seconds to remove any wrinkles and moisture so that the application surface is very smooth.

Now use a ruler or a measuring tape to position the design accurately on top of the fabric. 

Then cover the entire design with a parchment paper or a teflon sheet.

Note: If you want a custom background, you can paint or dye the fabric and let it dry before applying the HTV design.

Now set your HTVRONT Heat Press Machine temperature to about 320°F and let it heat up until the “R” like symbol lights green. This means the heat press machine has heat up to the set temperature and is ready to be used.

Now set the press time to 15-30 seconds and press firmly on the parchment paper or teflon sheet. If the design is bigger than the surface of the heat press, work on one part then move to the next. Avoid moving the heat press machine while pressing.

NOTE: Confirm the application temperature of the HTV you’re using before pressing because different manufacturers recommend different temperatures. However, the typical HTV application temperature is normally between 305°F and 320°F.

Once the Heat Press timer alarm goes off, lift the heat press and remove the parchment paper or Teflon sheet. Let the vinyl cool slightly then carefully peel the carrier sheet from one end while it's still warm. Most HTVs are hot peels but confirm if yours is hot or cold peel. For cold peels, wait until the vinyl completely cools then peel.

Cover the design with parchment paper again and press for 5-10 seconds to strengthen the adhesive of the HTV.

Now let your vinyl design cool down for 5-10 minutes before framing the fabric. For wooden frames, stretch the fabric over the wooden frame and staple or nail it at the back. See how I did mine:

Turn the fabric on the other side so that the design is facing downwards, then lay the frame over the design as shown. Fold the overlapping fabric over the frame and staple or nail or pin. Cut the excess with a scissor so that it looks neat. For extra strength, you can apply fabric glue between the fabric and the frame.

Alternatively you can use an embroidery hoop or a hanging rod if wooden frames don’t work for you.

And viola, you just made a fabric wall art to add to your home decor. Depending on your preference, you can hang it on any walls within your house. I hanged mine in my son’s bedroom because he’s a fan of the Milwaukee Bucks. Look how great it looks, he’s going to be so happy when he comes back from school.

So there you have it, transform those fabrics laying around your house into amazing art with HTVRONT Heat Press machine and Heat Transfer Vinyl. You now know everything from the materials you need to applying the design, as they say in basketball, the ball is in your court, play it!

After creating your fabric wall art and hanging it, you need to care for it so that it maintains its appearance and longevity. Here are some tips to keep your artwork looking fresh and vibrant for a long time:

• Dust Regularly: You need to keep the fabric dust free. Use a soft microfiber cloth, a lint roller or a feather duster to remove dust on a regular basis. You can also use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment for your textured fabrics. Dust can make your designs lose their color vibrancy over time.

• Avoid Direct Heat/Sunlight: Hang your fabric wall arts away from direct sunlight or the house warming system. This is because UV light and heat will make both the fabric and the HTV color to fade over time. Alternatively, you can use a UV-blocking window film if you must.

• Spot Cleaning Only: Only wash your fabric art when it is really necessary and use a gentle wash cycle with mild detergents. Otherwise, only wipe stains with a damp cloth. Do not use bleaches or harsh detergents because they weaken the adhesion of the vinyl design.

• Prevent Moisture Damage: Keep your fabric wall art in dry areas to prevent mold or mildew from forming because of moisture. If your storage is humid, consider using silica gel packs to keep the fabric dry. Avoid folding the designed fabric when storing because creases might damage the vinyl.

• Refresh The HTV: If any parts of the HTV starts to peel after hanging, cover with a parchment paper or a Teflon sheet and heat again with a Heat Press machine for 5-15 seconds to strengthen the adhesion.

   

If you’re having troubles with your fabric wall art, don’t worry, it’s common when working with HTV materials. Here are some common issues you might come across and how to fix them with ease:

This is caused by low-quality fabric,incompatible fabric or low heat and pressure. To fix this, ensure you’re using cotton, linen or canvas fabric materials before starting your project. Do some tests on a piece of the fabric you are using to confirm if it’s compatible with HTV or not. Also, preheat the fabric before applying the HTV design with the recommended temperature and pressure settings.

This happens when you fail to apply enough pressure when pressing or doing a cold peel instead of a warm peel. If your design peels, reheat with a parchment paper for 5-10 more seconds . Always check the HTV peel instructions before applying your designs.

This happens when you use poor quality heat transfer vinyl or overheating during application. Use the right temperature and press time on high-quality vinyl from trusted manufacturers like HTVRONT. Also, avoid stretching or folding the designed fabric. When cracks or wrinkles form, cover with parchment paper and reheat slightly with low temperature and pressure to reactivate the adhesion.

This is as a result of using too much heat and pressing without covering your fabric with a parchment or Teflon sheet. Always use a parchment paper that is in good condition and use the right pressing Temperature and pressure. If scorching or discoloration still persists, try lowering the heat press temperature by 5°F to 10°F and the press time by about 5-10 seconds .

Making fabric wall art with HTVRONT is a fun, creative and easy way to add personality to your home decor at minimal costs. This guide has provided you with the necessary materials, application steps and how to care for your fabric wall art. So challenge yourself like I did and surprise your family with a new piece of art or even your guests when they visit next.

Stay tuned as I will be showing you how to repair your denim attire with style in our next tutorial. Wishing you a Happy Crafting Time. Bye!