How to Transfer Printable PDF Embroidery Designs to Fabric with an Iron-On Pencil

Transferring printable PDF embroidery patterns to fabric using an iron-on pencil is an important skill for any craftsperson to have. Using an iron-on pencil to transfer an embroidery design to fabric is not very difficult and opens up lots of possibilities when it comes to stitching.

A very wide variety of printable PDF embroidery patterns are available for purchase on the internet. Many of them are so beautiful and cute, a crafter just can't pass up buying them, but it can be daunting for a beginner to know how to get the picture from the computer to the fabric, so they can start stitching away.

Iron-on pencils are a great option for doing this. They can be purchased at many craft stores, including Hobby Lobby and the larger JoAnn stores. They are also available online at craft supply sites such as Mary Maxim and Joann.com. My favorite on is made by Dritz. It's a light pink color, bright enough to see easily, but easy to cover the markings with the embroidery. I've always been able to remove the markings afterward, by soaking and washing the item carefully, but you do want to bear in mind that on some fabrics, these pencils are permanent.

The first step in transferring a printable PDF embroidery design to fabric to prepare it for stitching is to download and print the pattern. After you've printed and trimmed your desired pattern, flip the paper over and go over all the lines with the iron-on pencil. This will produce an image on your fabric that is oriented the same way as the original print out.

Tracing the image is easier on a light colored background so the lines can be seen better. Use cheap paper for printing the image. Thinner paper will make tracing with the iron-on pencil easier. Make sure to put scrap paper under the paper you are tracing on. Sometimes the printer ink on the opposite side of the paper will transfer to the surface below it with the pressure of the pencil on top. A scrap paper that is white also makes a good light color to work on.

Use a firm pressure when marking with the iron-on pencil, but there is no need to grind into the paper too much. This will just make dust and crumbles that can transfer to the fabric and mark it up. It there is extra dust on the surface of the paper from the iron-on lead, be sure to brush or blow it away before transferring to ensure that it won't mark the project in the wrong places.

After you've traced your imaged from the backside using the iron-on pen, position it correctly on your pre-washed and pressed fabric with the pink iron-on pencil markings down, and iron it from the other side with a dry medium hot iron. I check to see if it's transferred after about 15 seconds, and check in increments of a few seconds after that until it's as dark as I'd like it to be. Make sure to carefully lift one corner of the paper when checking the transfer, making sure to hold the rest still. Before lifting the paper completely off the fabric, lift each corner in turn to be assured that the entire pattern has transferred successfully.

Hoop the pattern as usual and enjoy your stitching!