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Fabric and (Glitter) HTV: Silhouette Tutorial

If you haven't tried combining fabric and glitter HTV into one design yet, you're in for a treat! 

Silhouette tutorial, fabric, glitter HTV, glitter heat transfer vinyl, Silhouette Studio

If you're not a glitter girl then you can use regular smooth HTV...either way the tutorial works exactly the same.
In Silhouette Studio open up or create your design.  It's easiest to work with a design that isn't too intricate.  I found this owl - which is a dingbat font - and modified it slightly (right click > release the compound path > ungroup > delete) to remove the details on the breast, ears, wings and feet.  The left is the original and the right is the modified version that I cut.

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Once you have the fabric design ready, you need to create the HTV outline.  What you want to do is create a frame by using the offset tool...twice! To do this you want to make both an external and internal offset.

I started my making an internal offset (icon highlighted in blue below) of the owl.  You can pick any distance, but I did .075.  Then I clicked back on the original border  (NOT THE INTERNAL OFFSET!!) and made an offset (this time an external offset).  Again, you decide on the distance of the offset - mine is again .075.

I have changed the line color on the offsets to blue so you can more easily see. The red line is the original cut line of the owl.

Silhouette tutorial, fabric, glitter HTV, glitter heat transfer vinyl, Silhouette Studio

By making both offsets you are creating a frame that will cover the edge of the fabric just slightly on both the inside and the outside.  That's easiest to demonstrate by filling in the design and the border.

Select the original design and pull it away from the two offsets you created.  Select both offsets at the same time > right click > make compound path.   This will keep them together and allow you to fill the frame while keeping the middle hollow/transparent (only necessary for designing purposes here).


Silhouette tutorial, fabric, glitter HTV, glitter heat transfer vinyl, Silhouette Studio

Mirror the HTV design, but keep the fabric design correctly oriented.

Now you can get ready to cut the fabric design.  Iron or heat press (2 seconds) a piece of interfacing onto the back of the fabric. Trim the fabric down to the size of the interfacing.  Peel off the white paper backing of the interfacing.    Lay the fabric piece onto the mat and put in your fabric blade.

Silhouette tutorial, fabric, glitter HTV, glitter heat transfer vinyl, Silhouette Studio

In Silhouette Studio, move the HTV border design off the virtual mat, and from the Cut Style window select "fabric". Adjust the blade according to the recommended settings (usually a 9 for thin cotton fabric).

After your fabric piece has cut, weed it and place it directly onto the shirt.

Silhouette tutorial, fabric, glitter HTV, glitter heat transfer vinyl, Silhouette Studio

I used Silhouette Sewable Fabric Interfacing since that's what I had on hand which meant I had to sew around the very edge of the design to ensure it didn't move. If you're like me, use the iron or heat press to temporarily adhere the fabric piece to the shirt. Then sew a straight stitch as close to the edge as possible to ensure the HTV border you created will cover the stitching.
TIP: Use Heat and Bond Ultra Bond, instead of the Sil brand interfacing, and you won't even have to sew the edges. The stick is so great it promises not to lift while washing! 

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Cut the HTV border on either glitter HTV or smooth.   Weed the HTV design and then place it directly onto the fabric being careful to cover the edges (and stitching).

Silhouette tutorial, fabric, glitter HTV, glitter heat transfer vinyl, Silhouette Studio

Use the heat press or iron to adhere it. Peel off the clear backing and you're all set!

Silhouette tutorial, fabric, glitter HTV, glitter heat transfer vinyl, Silhouette Studio
 
Note: This post may contain affiliate links. By clicking on them and purchasing products through my links, I receive a small commission. That's what helps fund Silhouette School so I can keep buying new Silhouette-related products to show you how to get the most out of your machine!


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8 comments

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. What a cute idea! I had to try it out this weekend; had success and had to do more! My initial error was rounding the edges, when I clicked on the corner icon, it matched right up. Thanks for the tutorial! 😃

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  3. Thank you for taking your time to share this tut:)!! I love it!!!

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  4. Mine won't cut the fabric all the way through...

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  5. Melissa, have you thought about putting a pdf button on your tutorials so we can save them? I don't know how complicated that would be.

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    Replies
    1. I bookmark them & I have a bookmark folder just for Silhouette School! :)

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  6. Hey! The other new sew tutorial says to NOT cut the interfacing after heating it together cause it'll gum up the blade... Did i read that wrong?

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  7. I am trying to do different turkey feathers out of material and then outline with vinyl. I was wondering if you have anything to teach an easy way to do that. It is my second fabric project and I pam trying to line up one feather and press and one feather and press and keep it lined up. Any help would be appreciated!!
    Thanks

    ReplyDelete

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