How to Decorate Dog Bandanas
with Siser® Heat Transfer Vinyl
A wagging tail is often the first thing I see when I walk through the door at the end of the day. As soon as I bend down to give it a scratch, my dog welcomes the opportunity to return the affection with plenty of sloppy wet kisses. Although he may look like a fighter, my german shepherd/boxer mix is definitely a lover. Since he loves so freely, I thought he deserves a gift on the holiday of love: Valentine’s Day!
In less than an afternoon, I sewed up a bandana from contrasting Valentine’s Day fabric using this simple pattern from Lia Griffith. The pattern can be adjusted for dogs ranging in size from small to large, so there’s no puppy left behind!
While the blank bandana is cute plain, I wanted to add some custom flair with HTV.
Supplies to Decorate a Dog Bandana
- Siser Heat Transfer Vinyl*
- Craft Cutter (like the Brother ScanNCut CM3650W)
- Scissors
- Siser Weeder
- Iron
- Heat transfer cover sheet
*This project was originally made with StripFlock® HTV. Since then, Siser released an improved version of the product: StripFlock Pro.
Step 1: Create & Cut Artwork
The Ani Typewriter font is one of my favorites, and reminds me of vintage love letters, so I knew I wanted to use it to create a cute message on the bandana. After typing everything out in the ScanNCut Type Converter (tutorial here) I uploaded the .svg file that was created to adjust the text into the perfect size and alignment.
When the artwork was mirrored and ready to go, I wirelessly transferred the .fcm file to the ScanNCut. Before cutting, I placed black StripFlock on the cutting mat. The shiny side with the carrier is face down, so the dull adhesive side is exposed to the blade. Since this is a thicker HTV and my Brother mat is not as sticky as it once was, I used a bit of tape on the edges to keep the material from shifting. When the HTV is secure, select the button that looks like a cutting mat (top right) and the rollers will grip and feed the mat into the ScanNCut.
StripFlock cut settings can be found here, but you could use other types of heat transfer vinyl for your bandana! How adorable would Glitter, Holographic, or even EasyPatterns® look? Just remember that thicker HTVs will need higher cut settings, but your ideal settings really depend on the condition of your blade, cutting mat, and cutting strip. You may have to increase your cut settings when working with well-worn tools, or decrease your cut settings when using brand new accessories. A test cut can also help guide you.
Step 2: Weeding
Once the artwork is cut, weed out the excess StripFlock with a Siser Weeder.
StripFlock has a fuzzy texture, so the little bits of lint left behind on the pressure sensitive carrier is normal.
Step 4: Iron On
Work on a hard, flat surface and set your iron to “Cotton.” While it heats up, fold and crease the bandana as well as the transfer to find the centers and align them. With the carrier face up, place a heat transfer cover sheet on top and press the iron firmly for 15 seconds. If the transfer is bigger than the iron, lift the iron and press the section that hasn’t received heat for 15 seconds. You want to act like a heat press and resist the urge to slide the iron for best results.
Step 5: Peel Carrier
StripFlock is a cold peel, so you want to wait until the carrier no longer feels warm. To speed this process up, you can rub the area on a table or glass window to disperse the heat quicker. New StripFlock Pro is a hot peel though, so if you’re worker with the newer version then there’s no need to wait!
The lingering lint remains on the carrier and will not transfer to your fabric.
Step 6: Slip on Collar & Clip on Cutie!
After decorating, slip your dog’s collar through the sewn pocket. Clip the collar on like you would normally, and sit back to see how dapper your doggo looks now!
Bentley was a good sport for the photos even though he really would’ve rather been running through the snow. I can’t help but think my good boy looks extra handsome! Plus, I love how quickly this craft came together. I foresee many more of these bandanas in Bentley’s future! Just imagine shamrocks for St.Paddy’s or stars and stripes for July 4th… the ideas go on and on!
Have you decorated anything for your pets with Siser® heat transfer vinyl? Tag us with #SiserNA so we can see your furry valentine!
How would you recommend washing these? I did some bandanas with Siser Stretch, my home iron, and washed them with a regular load of clothes (cold water). The lettering looks like it lifted/crinkled some. I want to sell these, but I’m afraid about the washing process making the product unusable for buyers. I have a request to make some aprons for staff at a dog daycare, and am anxious for the same reason.
Hi Pam! If you’re using cotton fabric, make sure to pre-iron them which will shrink the fabric a bit. You could even pre-wash and dry them if you want to shrink them more, but avoid liquid fabric softeners. Additionally, a low to regular dryer setting is recommended (HTV goes on with heat and is more likely to peel with a high heat dryer setting.) Since EasyWeed® Stretch is such a thin material it requires firm pressure which is hard to regulate with a home iron. Make sure you’re working on a firm, low surface and you may want to consider a heat press for your business since it would give you the longest lasting results. If a heat press isn’t in your budget right now, you may want to consider using standard EasyWeed which is a little thicker and applies with medium pressure. After making some minor adjustments I think you’re bandanas and aprons will be good to go :)