DIY Trend Iron-On Transfers - a Way Against Fast Fashion

DIY Trend Iron-On Transfers

Iron-on transfers will continue to be the DIY trend in 2023! And rightly so! Some are consciously moving against the fast fashion industry towards slow fashion and handmade as well as upcycling!

According to a study by the Ministry of the Environment, around 221,800 tons of textiles end up in the trash every year in Austria! The number really shocked me! And only 17% are recycled.

The fact that our throwaway society is thereby further fuelling the climate crisis should already have reached even the furthest corners of Austria.

From Old to New

When my kids were very small, I sewed every piece of clothing - but now they are growing so quickly that I can't keep up with sewing new things.

Even though I would really like to buy from fair fashion labels for my kids, it often seems relatively expensive to me and so I occasionally buy second-hand items at exchanges, second-hand sewn items on Facebook or underwear from well-known fashion chains.

Often one or the other used item is not without a stain or small hole - and this is where these colorful iron-on patches really come into play!

Are iron-on transfers and iron ons the same thing?

There are now a number of names circulating online for these colorful images. However, "Iron Ons", "Images Thermocollantes" and iron-on transfers all mean the same thing.

These are images that are printed on transfer foil using a high-resolution CMYK + white printing process. When pressed on, the colors fuse with the adhesive directly on the textile. This makes these prints particularly durable, stretchable and washable up to 60°C. These images can even withstand the dryer - although I recommend washing and drying printed clothing or accessories inside out.

I also mistakenly read about iron patches - however, these are not printed iron-on transfers, but woven or embroidered iron-on patches.

Enhance textiles of all kinds with Iron Ons

Iron Ons are a great way to freshen up old, faded shirts, make stains invisible and also cover small holes.

Big plus? The kids are happy about the colorful motif of their choice and are now wearing the old/new shirt up and down! Mission accomplished, I'd say.

Which materials are iron-on transfers suitable for?

Basically, you can apply iron-on transfers to almost any material. Suitable materials include cotton, wool-silk, mixed fabrics, synthetic fabrics, softshell, outdoor fabrics and many more. When pressing delicate fabrics, it is important to cover the fabric with baking paper and possibly reduce the temperature of the iron a little.

When using synthetic fabrics such as softshell, you should make sure to use plain colors, as the high synthetic content can cause patterns to resublimate through the iron-on image.

The iron-on transfers are suitable for light as well as dark fabrics as long as they have a white color coating on the back.

Examples from the lovely testers of my sets "Insect Love" and "Moths and Flies"

Applying iron-on motifs is child's play!

Applying the iron-on transfers is really no work of art and takes less than 5 minutes. Important: It is best to press your iron-on transfer onto a table or floor. Do not use an ironing board to avoid accidents!

Pre-wash your textile without fabric softener.
Heat your iron to 130° - 150° degrees (level 2) and press your textile in the place where you want the pretty thing to go.
Now position your iron-on image. The transfer film is designed for pressing and does not require any additional covering, but it has proven useful to cover the iron-on image with baking paper to protect the textile and the image.
Now press for 10-12 seconds and then iron the image on all places.
Let your iron-on image cool down.
Now peel off the transfer film.
Cover the picture again with the baking paper and press for a few seconds.
COMPLETE!

Now you can slip into your old/new favorite item and enjoy your individual creation. Please wait 24 hours before putting it back in the washing machine!

Iron-on transfers for adults and teens

I do the same with the iron-on transfers as I do with my plotter files - the selection of cute motifs is large for small children, but quite small for adults and teens. For this reason, you will not only find hand-painted iron-on motifs for kids, but also really cool iron-on patches for men, women and cool teens. The new series "Deep Sea" and "Nature calling" are aimed at outdoor enthusiasts and travel enthusiasts alike, and their geometric, graphic style also appeals to men.

These sets also became my largest sets, as the motifs are designed to be quite large so that they fit adults well too. So you see - we can do something about fast fashion not only with children's clothing - but we can also take one or two old items out of the wardrobe and breathe new life into them as role models for our kids!