How To Make

Glitter HTV in embroidery

Glitter HTV in Embroidery Tutorial

This tutorial explains how to create designs using glitter heat transfer vinyl (HTV), either directly on an item or as a separate “patch” that can be attached later.

A finished chenille-style letter made with glitter HTV and a fuzzy inner fabric.

Recommended Materials

  • Glitter HTV (Heat Transfer Vinyl) or any other non-adhesive HTV.
  • For the inner letter, you can use minky fabric, terry cloth, or faux fur. Ensure that your chosen fabric can withstand the ironing temperature required for the HTV to adhere properly.

A roll of glitter heat transfer vinyl.

An example of minky fabric used for the inner letter.

Terry cloth fabric (left) or faux fur (right):

A comparison of terry cloth and faux fur fabrics.

Chapter 1: Embroidering Directly on a Garment

In the photo below, the letters on the shirt are sewn on directly, while the letters on the shorts are iron-on patches.

A child's outfit decorated with glitter HTV letters, some sewn on and some as patches.

There are many different ways to work with glitter HTV. I recommend stitching it directly to the garment to prevent accidental tearing, as it can be soft and thin. It is also possible to make patches to iron on later, but this requires special attention. Depending on the type of glitter vinyl you have, always do a test stitch first, as specialty fabrics can act differently.

Stitching Instructions

Hoop your item and thread the machine.

A garment hooped and ready for embroidery.

This design starts with an outline tack-down stitch. You can run this stitch first as a placement guide to indicate the position, and then step back in the design on your machine.

Take a piece of your HTV and remove the clear carrier sheet.

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

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

Continue stitching as you would for a typical appliqué design. The inner (fur) letter position run stitch will be next. Lay the fur fabric right inside the shape and tack it down with the next color, as shown in the photo below.

Faux fur fabric tacked down inside the letter.

Trim around the fur letter as close as possible to the seam.

The excess faux fur trimmed away from the letter.

Stitch the satin outline to finish the fur fabric edges.

The satin stitch outline completed around the inner fur letter.

Trim the outer glitter HTV along the stitch line before ironing.

Trimming the excess glitter HTV from around the design.The glitter HTV fully trimmed, ready for ironing.

Next, iron the design while it is still in the hoop. Press down on your iron and apply pressure to each part of the design for around 10-20 seconds. Some types of HTV will require more or less heat. Press and hold, then move to the next area. It is recommended to cover your garment with a cover sheet or craft paper to prevent burning.

Ironing the design directly in the embroidery hoop.

Chapter 2: Making an HTV Patch

Making a patch is a good option when it is not possible to stitch directly on an item, but remember that the item must be able to withstand the required temperature for the HTV to adhere properly.

A finished glitter HTV letter patch.

Stitching Instructions

The patch-making process is the same as described above. Hoop a light- or medium-weight tear-away stabilizer. A lighter stabilizer is better, as it will be easier to remove later.

A piece of tear-away stabilizer hooped for the patch.

Lay a scrap piece of HTV (with the carrier sheet already removed) onto the tear-away stabilizer.

Tack down the glitter sheet using a standard 75/11 needle and 40wt thread.

Glitter HTV tacked down onto the stabilizer.

After the placement stitch is complete, you can remove the hoop from the embroidery machine, but do not unhoop the fabric.

Continue stitching as you would for a typical appliqué design. The inner letter position run stitch will indicate where to place the fabric. Lay the fur fabric right inside the shape and tack it down with the next color.

Faux fur fabric tacked down onto the glitter HTV.

Trim around the fur letter as close as possible. Then, stitch the satin outline to complete the fur fabric edges. Use a water-soluble stabilizer (WSS) on top for a neat result and to keep the fur under control while stitching.

The finished patch with a layer of water-soluble stabilizer on top.

Gently tear away the stabilizer from the back.

Tearing away the stabilizer from the back of the patch.

Remove as many pieces of tear-away as possible to allow the patch to adhere better.

The back of the patch with the stabilizer fully removed.

I have not tried the FSL stabilizer option, but I guess it would work perfectly.

Cut out the patch shape. Here is how the back and front of the patch look:

A view of the front and back of the finished, cut-out patch.

Applying the Patch

Apply the patch to your garment. Press down on your iron and apply pressure to each part of the design for around 10-20 seconds. Some types of HTV will require more or less heat.

Press and hold, then move to the next area. It is recommended to cover your garment with a cover sheet or craft paper to prevent burning.

Ironing the finished patch onto a garment.

Turn your garment inside-out and iron it from the back side as well.

Ironing the garment from the inside to further secure the patch.

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