By now you all know I’m a big fan of transferring graphics to furniture and decor. I’ve tried a few different methods for transferring images onto fabric, but was always pretty underwhelmed with the results. I recently tried a new method for transferring images onto fabric and it’s by far the best method I’ve used yet.
This project is part of the Monthly DIY Challenge. Each month I get together with some of my blogging friends and create a unique project based on the same product or theme. This month’s challenge item is a white pillow case. I decided to create a custom throw pillow using a super easy image transfer technique.
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Supplies used: (some affiliate links are provided for convenience)
- fabric transfer paper
- iron
- inkjet printer
- scissors
- pillow case (I used the IKEA Vigdis for this project. I’ve also used the IKEA Gurli with success. If you don’t have an IKEA nearby, you can find a similar pillow cover here.
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This project literally took me 5 minutes start to finish. It was so easy and I was pleasantly surprised at how well the fabric transfer paper worked. I’m not sure if I’ve just been living under a rock but I’ve never heard of it before. Why didn’t you guys tell me about this stuff?
The image I used is this cute dictionary bee image from Angie at Knick Of Time. (Click here for the free bee image and to access Angie’s entire library of free vintage images.)
I downloaded the image to my computer, then added it to a Microsoft Word document and stretched the image to cover as much of an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper as possible. (Technically, you don’t have to upload the image to a Word doc before printing it onto the fabric transfer paper. It was just the easiest way I found to get the photo to print at the size I wanted.)
Instructions to do this: Download the image to your computer. Open a new Microsoft Word Doc. Change the document orientation to Landscape. In the top right section of the menu bar, click the icon that says “picture”. Choose “picture from file”. A box will pop up and you’ll need to find the image you just saved in your computer files. When you open the image it will appear in your Word document. Grab a corner of the image and drag it to enlarge it and fill as much of the sheet of paper as possible (you may need to adjust your borders).
You’ll need to reverse the image (also called mirror image) so it prints backward on the paper. Instructions to do this (I’m using a Mac, so your computer may be different): Right click on the image in your Word doc. When the box pops up click “format picture”. Choose “3D Rotation”. There will be 3 boxes marked X, Y, and Z. In box X, change the 0 to 180 and click ok. At this point, your image should be reversed. You may have to adjust your borders again before printing.
Still with me? Good. Now you just need to load the fabric transfer paper into your printer and print it out. It should look like this printed.
Use a pair of scissors to trim off the excess paper around the edge of the image. You’ll also want to preheat your iron and give the pillow cover a quick iron to remove any wrinkles.
Use a ruler to carefully center your image on the pillow cover. Make sure it’s straight and even from both side edges of the pillow. I chose to adhere my image slightly higher (about an inch or two) from the actual center of the pillow. Carefully follow the instructions on the fabric transfer paper package to adhere the image to your pillow cover. Use firm pressure with a hot iron and do not attempt to peel the paper back to check your image. Once you’re finished and the paper has had a few minutes to cool, it will easily peel away from the image.
When you’re done the image is permanent and washable according to the package. (I haven’t washed mine yet but the image looks really well adhered. It honestly looks and feels as if the image is part of the fabric.
One thing I learned doing this project: Do not choose an image with a large amount of blank space. The blank spaces will not be perfectly invisible on the fabric. The original image I chose was a wreath, and when I did the transfer the blank spaces had a slightly shiny, yellowish tint. Also, because I couldn’t cut the image exactly at the edge there was a weird yellowish halo around the whole thing. It just didn’t look good. So lesson learned..choose an image with a solid background.
Throw pillows can be expensive and I really like that I can use this method to create custom pillow covers that I can put over my existing pillows for holidays and different seasons. The image transfer paper linked above is for white or light colored fabrics. You can also find transfer paper for darker colored fabrics here.
Want to save this for later? Click the red Pinterest icon in the top left corner of the photo.
Interested in more unique pillow projects? Check out the photos below to see what the other bloggers came up with. If you’d like to see the full tutorial for any of their projects just click the picture.
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I absolutely LOVE this Amy! I can’t wait to try making my own!
Thanks Kristi! It was a fun project :).
I love your blogs. You always explain techniques so easily and the projects are so workable. Look forward to your blogs. Incidentally transfering on to fabric is my next project. I purchased the pillows, had some old thin feedsacks. Even did some research but am going to use your techniques. Going to try birds.
Thank you so much for saying that, Rosemary! You made my day. I hope your pillows turn out well! Love your idea to repurpose feedsacks.
I’m so glad to hear those transfer papers work well! I bought a package for my project but then decided to use my Silhouette instead. But now I will use my transfers for something else! Your pillow turned out so cute and definitely does not look homemade!!
Thanks Bre! The transfer paper worked even better than I was expecting. Can’t wait to see what you make with yours!
Ooh, I’ve never used fabric transfer paper before – this opens up a whole new world of possibilities! Love that sweet little bee design – it’s the perfect touch of rustic charm!
Great little project idea! Thanks Amy 🙂 I love the bee image you chose.
Thank you, Annie!
Love this pillow, Amy! Can’t believe it only took 5 min to complete! I’d love to try my own!
Amy,
I have a silly question I am trying to find and answer to. When we were kids, we used to buy little blurry pictures on postage stamp size papers. We used to buy them, bring them home, soak them in water and paste them on our notebooks, or even our shirts. Sometimes we used to run a hot irons over them, and hey presto ! A perfectly clear picture of butterflies or flowers would be transferred. I know what we called them in our tongue. But I want to know if there is an English word for those thingies.
I don’t think I’ve never seen anything like what you’re describing but they sound really neat!
I will see if they still sell them here. They are really neat little things. I will try to send you video shots of them if I can find them. I have left my childhood behind 50 years ago.
You’re looking for “water-slide” transfer paper or stickers; I believe Avery makes it as well as others.
I tried this project this weekend and did not like the shiny plastic feel feel of the transfer to the fabric. I was using flour sack dish cloths. Does the fabric transfer you use have the same effect
The transfer I used has a slightly plastic feel. I don’t think it’s much though. It’s not shiny, but the image I used is a solid color. If you have blank areas on your image they do look a bit shiny which I wasn’t a fan of.
You may be my salvation! Heres what I need to do, and I will ask the question at the end… I plan to make the senior cheerleaders a throw pillow using a rag/shag quilt technique. In a few squares, I want to sew a transferred photo square onto one of the flannel squares, then quilt. Here’s my question- do I wash the fabric I’m transferring the photo onto first? The flannel quilt will need to be washed/dried after sewn together to achieve the shaggy look…I’m worried if I can’t wash photo fabric first, it will shrink after and cause it to buckle on the flannel. Geez, I hope I explained this right!! Thanks so much. I’m a total newbie.
Hi Dawn! That sounds like such a cute idea! I would probably wash it first, however I don’t think the photos would buckle if you did wash it after, just based on how my own pillow turned out. But just to be safe I’d wash it first. Good luck with your project!! I bet they’re going to love the pillows.
Thanks! I have 7 months to learn how to sew, then photo transfer, then quilt! I can do this!
Yes! You’ve totally got this!! 😊
Use Leslie’s TAP paper and you won’t get that plastic feel or residue.
Great tip, Dawn! Thank you!!
Hi Dawn, I tried to buy this TAP Transfer paper and it is no longer available.
Do you know of anything that comes even close to the TAP from Leslie Riley?
Everything I’ve tried comes out a bit shiny.
Thanks!
Darla
Can you use a laser printer for this project? Super cute, thank you!
Hi Lisa!! The fabric transfer paper I used can only be used with an inkjet printer. I’m not aware of any transfer paper on the market that works with a laser printer.
I also own a laser printer and ended up using a friends inkjet to print off the image. Hopefully you can do the same if you’re making a project!
Can u still transfer an image if it is A3 but the transfer paper is A4? Thanks heaps!
Hi Alexa! I’m not sure what you’re asking. Can you explain what you mean by A3 and A4?
I did this for a tablecloth for my mother in law. She says if she gets Alzheimer’s she can use it to see all of fer relatives and will have many good conversations with it. She is a retired nurse with a sense of humor.
I love that idea, Judy! Both of my SIL’s are nurses and I think having a sense of humor must be a requirement of the job :).
I used a transfer recently but it had too much of a “plastic” feel on the fabric, and the edges peeled too easily. What is the best transfer paper to use? Nice tutorial by the way.
I am looking for a lavender transfer that I can transfer onto fabric to make lavender bags. Any suggestions where I may find one? Your pillow is beautiful and I would love the save this to Pinterest so that I can refer back to it but I do not see an icon for it.
Thanks .
I love this! I can’t wait to try it!