Making a Gnome with Heat Transfer Vinyl

Have you thought about making a Gnome with Heat Transfer Vinyl? Gnomes are SO cute!

This post takes you through ALL the steps of finding and downloading the file and unzipping it. Then on to uploading it into Canvas Workspace and how to use the Layers Panel and finally making your Gnome with Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV)

Table Of Contents

What materials do you need?
Video tutorial for Canvas Workspace and Layers
Cutting your Heat Transfer Vinyl
Video tutorial making the Gnome with Heat Transfer Vinyl
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Would you like to learn the Scan N Cut Basics?

What materials do you need?

Heat Transfer Vinyl
Cutting Machine – I used my Scan N Cut, you could use a Cricut
T-shirt or maybe a Tote Bag to place your Gnome onto
Weeding tool, you can use your nails if you need to
An iron or heat press
The FREE Gnome SVG file from Maggie Rose Design Co website

Video tutorial for Canvas Workspace and Layers

Cutting your Heat Transfer Vinyl

Step 1 – cutting the vinyl

Send each layer to your cutting machine and cut it out. Make sure the shiny side of your Heat Transfer Vinyl is mat side down.

Remember to mirror your HTV.

Set your blade to only ‘kiss cut’ the HTV or on the DX models a half-cut.

Beige heat transfer vinyl showing the test cut and other tests.

Red heat transfer vinyl showing the shiny side that needs to go against the cutting mat.

The beige vinyl has the shiny side as the beige side which makes it really quite easy to distinguish which side to place on the mat. You can also see the test cut it did prior to sending it through to the Scan N Cut.

I also tested the depth of the cut after cutting, PRIOR to unloading the mat from the machine. This is a little harder to do with HTV however if the blade hasn’t cut through the vinyl properly then you still have an opportunity to send it through the cutter again.

I only did these checks on the first piece of vinyl that I cut as the settings and vinyl thickness were the same for the following pieces.

Black heat transfer vinyl showing the shiny side and the shape of the lettering cut out.

White heat transfer vinyl showing the shiny side.

The black is still fairly easy to work out which side is the shiny side however the white Heat Transfer Vinyl is starting to be harder to tell. This does vary between brands.

For more information on working with vinyl check out my post beginner’s guide to working with vinyl for a complete run down.

Step 2 – weed the Heat Transfer Vinyl

The next step is to weed all the unwanted pieces of Heat Transfer Vinyl away from the cut shapes for the Gnome. HTV is usually fairly easy to weed BUT can be hard to get started. Once you grab a corner and separate the shiny backing (built-in transfer sheet) from the vinyl you are off and running.

If you need a bit more information on weeding, check out this post

Step 3 – sorting out the different layers of your Gnome

Now that you have all your Gnome pieces weeded you need to think about how they will layer. This little Gnome is holding a gorgeous heart so his hands need to be on top of the heart actually holding it when the design is completed. Of course, there is also the obvious pieces like the hearts on the hat and the mouth.

You can have a practice run on your T-shirt as the Heat Transfer Vinyl is much friendlier to work with than adhesive vinyl in this stage.

Step 4 – iron the Gnome Heat Transfer Vinyl onto the t-shirt

We are organized!! You have all the pieces weeded and sorted into the correct order. It is now time to place the pieces on your t-shirt starting with the hat.

I cut the heart out in the same layer as the hat however when I went to place the layers I realized that they needed to be ironed on separately so I simply cut the backing sheet into two so that they were separated pieces.

Check the heat and time settings recommended for the HTV that you have purchased. If you have no instructions (like my HTV) then start with about 15 seconds and then check. You can always place the iron or heat press on again for a few more seconds if required.

I used a Teflon heat protection sheet to protect your vinyl design from the additional heat, however, you could use baking paper or even a smooth tea towel if you don’t have anything else.

Make sure your iron or heat press does NOT come in contact with the actual vinyl as it will stick to your heating device and wreck your project.