I have hand embroidered since I was 8 so I don't need help in the embroidery department it is with transfers. I have vintage iron on transfers and since I wanted to copy them (for my own use) I bought the Aunt Martha's tracing paper that you trace the transfer on to. I have the special red pencil too that you use to trace the transfer then iron onto the fabric. It is NOT working. I have used unwashed100% white cotton fabric you could barely see the lines and not well enough to even make out what the pic is let alone embroider it. I washed the fabric, ironed it on again and still can't see the pic. I then tried a cottom blend wash and unwashed. Still no picture just a little pink so it isn't as if I made a mistake and ironed the wrong side. I re traced the picture so that the pencil was thicker and still nothing. The instructions say to wash the fabric and then use a dry iron on the highest setting. NOTHING is working. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!! I just bought all these things and the transfer were pretty costly since they were vintage I would hate it if I couldn't use them. :cry: :cry: :cry:

Try steam, or you could trace them in the window.

But it says not to steam it I think the steam will melt the pencile and it will be a big mess. If it has to be ironed on to fabric how could it be traced in the window?

If you have a window or a light box you can just trace them with a pencil. I think your transfer pencil is the culprit. Try another brand or two. Or a thin marker that washes out.

On tv, they ironed the fabric first to get it hot, and then applied the transfer to the heated fabric :D:D:D


Also, she said sometimes you may have to let the ink dry, and then go over it again before transferring it.

I would try it on a scrap. I like to had embroider, too! Have not done much lately. I would like to see yours when it is done!

i had that happen to me once also, whit i did was copy the transfer with a pencil press down hard to get it dark then i laid down my fabric on top then i traced with the red transfer pencil i did not have to use the window the dark pencil you can see thru the fabric and make sure it is a iron on transfer pencil and not a marking pencil
it could have been in the right spot but wrong pencil on the shelf

I used my red pencil for the first time last week and it worked like a charm. I drew on cheap printer paper and used my iron on the hottest setting and steam. It only took one little press. Try a different paper maybe? Or sharpen your pencil? Maybe part of the lead was a dud.

What I want to know is do the red marks launder out?

Good luck to you. I'm sure you'll figure it out. I bet those vintage transfers are adorable. Can't wait to see what you embroider.

The one lady is right. Use different paper. I use paper that is used on an exam table and it works like a charm. But also try sharpening the pencil if that fails try this little trick... get a lighter or a match and melt the end of the pencil a little like you do eyeliner. That always works for me. But I usually just trace it directly onto the fabric with a fabric pencil.

And yes the red washes out of the cloth.

Can you trace with a water soluble pen? When you are done with the embroidery just rinse it, just like the real transfers.