All Instructions

Glitter HTV Alphabets

Glitter HTV Alphabet Tutorial

A finished glitter HTV alphabet design stitched onto a garment.

Working with Glitter HTV

This technique uses Glitter HTV (Heat Transfer Vinyl) rolls designed for shirts and fabrics, but other types of non-adhesive HTV can also be used.

There are many different ways to work with glitter vinyl. I recommend stitching the glitter directly to the garment and then briefly ironing it right in the hoop after trimming but before completing the design. This helps prevent the glitter vinyl, which can be soft and thin, from accidentally tearing or puckering. However, since different types of glitter vinyl may act differently, you should always do a test stitch on a scrap piece of fabric first.

After the design is complete, it can be ironed again. Do not forget to cover your garment with a cover sheet or craft paper to prevent burning the HTV.

Stitching Instructions

Step 1: Placement Stitch

This design starts with the placement seam. Stitch this directly onto your hooped garment or fabric.

The placement outline for the letter stitched onto the base fabric.

Step 2: Apply the HTV

Remove the clear carrier sheet from your piece of HTV.

Peeling the clear carrier sheet off the back of the glitter HTV.

Lay the heat transfer vinyl piece directly on the fabric over the placement stitch. The adhesive side should be facing down. This will help it stay in place while you sew the tack-down stitch.

The piece of glitter HTV placed over the stitched outline.

Step 3: Tack-Down Stitch

Stitch the next color stop to tack down the glitter vinyl.

The tack-down stitch sewn around the edge of the glitter HTV.

Step 4: Trim and Iron (Important Note)

For thin and light alphabets, you may be able to complete all stitching and then trim and press the HTV at the very end of the process, as shown in the image below.

An example of a design where trimming is done after all stitching is complete.

IMPORTANT: If you are stitching dense Chenille-style fonts, it is required that you trim the excess HTV and iron it right in the hoop before the chenille steps begin. This will prevent accidental tearing or puckering of the glitter vinyl.

Trimming the excess HTV from around the tack-down stitch.

The HTV after trimming, ready for ironing in the hoop.

Ironing the trimmed HTV directly in the embroidery hoop.

Step 5: Complete the Design

Continue stitching the remaining steps of the design as usual.

The final decorative stitches being added to the design.

Step 6: Final Press

Once the design is complete, unhoop your project. For the final step, heat press or iron the design again. Press down firmly on your iron and apply pressure to each part of the design for around 10-20 seconds. Some types of HTV may require more or less heat. Press and hold, then move to the next area. Always cover your garment with a cover sheet or craft paper to prevent burning.

The finished glitter HTV embroidery design after the final pressing.

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