Using HTV with a hair straightener to pimp up your sneakers or gym shoes!
Materials:
- Scrap HTV in your desired color(s)
- Hair straightener (preferably one you don’t use for your hair anymore)
- Craft weeding tool (or a safety pin)
- Scissors
- Squeegee (or credit card)
- Tweezers (optional)
- Shoes with a clean, flat surface (avoid areas with heavy stitching or texture)
- Baking paper / Butcher paper
- Design (optional, if you’re not adding a name) – You can find free designs online or create your own using design software.
Instructions:
- Prepare your design:
- If you’re adding a name, use your cutting machine program to create a mirrored image of the text. You can mirror the text using the “flip horizontal” function in most programs.
- If you’re using a pre-made design, make sure it’s mirrored for iron-on application.
- Cut your HTV:
- Place your HTV(text mirrored) on your cutting mat. ( shiny side down)
- Cut out the design with your cutting machine accordingly
- Weed the excess vinyl:
- Carefully peel off the excess vinyl around your design using the weeding tool or safety pin. Be sure to remove all the unnecessary vinyl pieces, leaving only the design itself.
- Heat up the hair straightener:
- Set the hair straightener on to warm up
Applying the HTV:
- Place the HTV on your shoes:
- Position the weeded HTV design on the desired area of your shoe. Make sure the shiny side (plastic carrier) is facing up. Cut our butcher paper at the right size
- Apply heat and pressure:
- Apply firm pressure and slowly iron the hair straightener over the HTV design for the recommended dwell time (usually around 5-10 seconds).
- Peel off the carrier sheet:
- Let the HTV cool down for a few seconds, then carefully peel off the plastic carrier sheet at a 45-degree angle. If the vinyl starts to lift, reapply heat and press again.
- Use tweezers (optional) to remove any tiny pieces of vinyl that didn’t adhere properly.
Tips:
- Practice on a scrap piece of fabric before applying the HTV to your shoes.
- If you’re unsure about the heat tolerance of your shoes, start with a lower temperature and gradually increase it as needed.
- Be careful not to overheat the HTV, as it can scorch or shrink.
- You can layer multiple colors of HTV to create more complex designs.
- Let your shoes cool completely before wearing them.
Additional things to keep in mind:
- The durability of the HTV on your shoes will depend on the quality of the vinyl, the heat application, and how often you wear the shoes.
- Shoes are constantly flexed, so there’s a chance the HTV may crack or peel over time. You can try applying a fabric sealer spray after the HTV has cooled to add an extra layer of protection.
- Always test the sealer on a small inconspicuous area of the shoe first to make sure it doesn’t cause any discoloration.
By following these steps, you can use scrap HTV and a hair straightener to pimp up your sneakers or gym shoes with a personal touch!