Printing & Transfer Guide

How to Print and Transfer Your Embroidery Pattern

Getting your digital pattern onto fabric is easy! Follow these methods to transfer your design and start stitching.

Printing Your Pattern

The easiest way, no crooked lines, but all the lines are permament. They will stay under your stitches.

Print Settings

• Use standard printer paper (if you want to trace) or fabric sticked onto the label paper (if you want to print directly on the fabric). Check the video for more guidance
• Print at 100% scale (do not resize)
• Use high-quality or best print settings
• Black and white printing works perfectly

You can also print on a water-soluble sticky stabilizer and then attach it to the fabric you're planning to stitch with. This way you benefit from easy printing and can remove stabilizer with water after stitching.

One of the stabilizer examples: Dmc Magic Paper. I use it mostly when I embroider on clothes or stretchy fabric/

Transfer Methods

These are mostly tracing every line techniques with the only change - the material you're tracing with.

There're removable and non-removable options.

Removable transfer devices:

• Pilot FriXion point heat erasable pen and alternatives
• water-soluble pens
• chalk pencils
• special carbon paper for fabric

Non-removable transfer devices:

• usual pen or pencil
• carbon paper
• iron-on pencil
• pounce powder

1. Tracing with a Light Source

Place your fabric over the printed pattern on a bright window or light box. Trace the design with a water-soluble fabric pen or pencil. Or with Pilot frixion heat erasable pen.

If you prefer a digital method, you can use an iPad/Tablet as a lightbox:

1. Open the design on your iPad, adjust the brightness to the max. 

2. To prevent accidental screen movement, enable Guided Access:

• • Go to Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access and turn it on.
  • Open the image, then triple-click the home or side button to activate Guided Access.
  • Tap Options, disable "Touch," and start the session.
  • To exit, triple-click the button again and enter your passcode

3. Place your stretched fabric over the screen and trace.

Once you're done stitching, you can remove the markings easily:

• Frixion pen marks disappear with heat - just run an iron over the fabric or blow on it with a hairdryer.
• Water-soluble pen lines vanish with a damp cloth or a light rinse.

This method works best on light-colored fabrics where the ink is easy to see. However, it’s not ideal for thick or dense fabrics, as the light won’t passthrough.

2. Carbon Paper

Use carbon or transfer paper between your pattern and fabric. Trace over the lines to transfer the design.

3. Iron-On Transfer Pencil

Trace your pattern with an iron-on transfer pencil, then iron onto your fabric following the pencil manufacturer's instructions.

4. Prick and Pounce Method

Poke holes along the pattern lines, place on fabric, and dab with chalk or pounce powder to mark the design.

Tips for Success

• Always test your transfer method on scrap fabric first
• Use light marks that will be covered by your stitching
• Keep your fabric taut in a hoop during transfer
• Work in good lighting for accurate tracing