DIY Modal T-Shirt with Rainbow White Glitter
& New Rainbow Holographic
Rainbows follow rain and smiles follow rainbows! There’s something about those bright beams that make me grin before I even realize it. Same goes for babies! So you can bet I was all smiles while decorating this modal t-shirt with gorgeous Rainbow White Glitter and our latest dazzling Holographic HTV: Rainbow!
Before jumping in to this tutorial, I feel I need to make it clear that this is not an announcement of any kind! I’m very happy with my current Aunt status. This t-shirt design was inspired by the friends and family I know who’ve experienced the loss of a child followed by a new little miracle. A rainbow baby is truly treasured, and this t-shirt would be a wonderful announcement or gift!
Step 1: Design Artwork
I started this project by creating the cut file in Adobe Illustrator. AI files aren’t compatible with Cricut Design space though, so I saved it as an .svg before uploading to the cutter software. Remember that Design Space will sort each color onto a separate cutting mat, so be sure that your design elements are colored accordingly. If your word is welded together like “Rainbow” is then it’s ready to cut, but if you have separated pieces that you want to stay lined up, like “hello” and “little” then you need to select those pieces and Attach them. Otherwise, when you select Make It the pieces will still be on their coordinating color mat, but they’ll be all jumbled up and not in the order you have in the Design Space.
Step 2: Cutting Heat Transfer Vinyl
Now that the design is ready to cut, I can place the heat transfer vinyl on the cutting mat with the carrier side down. Holographic HTV always goes color side down so you should be looking at the silver back.
Slide the Cricut mat under the guides on either side and push the arrow button to load the mat. Our recommended settings (located at the bottom of each product page of our website) typically do the trick, but everyone’s blade is different and a test cut should be performed to ensure you’ll have the best cut. This blog post goes into more detail about test cutting.
Step 3: Weeding Heat Transfer Vinyl
After cutting, unload the mat and use scissors to trim the cut pieces away from the rest of the heat transfer vinyl sheet. Grip your Siser Weeder and use the sharp hook to peel up a corner of the vinyl and remove the outside excess. Afterwards you can pick out the inners or “cavities” as we call them.
Notice that Rainbow Holographic’s effect changes depending on how you place it on your cutting mat. You can either have horizontal or vertical color striping. It was a hard decision since I think both are striking, but I settled on the horizontal ombre effect.
Step 4: Heat Apply the Modal T-Shirt
With everything weeded, I’m ready to decorate my modal t-shirt! I did a 10 second test press at 320°F (the suggested temperature for both Glitter and Holographic HTV) to show that this fabric is similar to rayon since it’s also heat sensitive and gets a shiny, discolored mark when exposed to high heat.
To avoid this heat mark there are a few things you can do…
3 Tips for Heat Applying Modal Fabric
1. Lower the heat press temperature to 270°F & increase your pressing time by 5-10 seconds.
2. Use as few presses as possible.
3. In extremely sensitive cases, use parchment paper instead of teflon as a cover sheet.
To achieve #2 I’m cutting the plastic carriers as close to the HTV as possible so I can press the Glitter and Holographic at the same time. If any HTV overlaps a carrier instead of fabric, it will adhere to the plastic instead of the shirt, so be sure to take a close look before pressing!
Lay your t-shirt on the heat press and make sure that all neck and sleeve seams are off the lower platen before arranging the HTV pieces. If it’s impossible to get all the seams off the platen, then you can use a heat transfer pillow to create even pressure. Top the HTV with a heat transfer cover sheet or parchment paper which doesn’t hold as much heat as teflon sheets do.
Lower the heat press handle until the top platen locks into place. You know it’s locked down, because the timer will automatically start for you on the Siser Digital Clam Press. Since I can apply both colors in a single press, I set my timer to 20 seconds. A 10-15 second press is typically recommended for Glitter and Holographic, but since I’m using a lower temperature, a longer press of 20-25 seconds is required. When time’s up, the press will beep and you can lift the handle on the upper platen.
Take the modal shirt off the press and let it rest for a moment before removing the carrier from the Glitter HTV.
Siser Glitter heat transfer vinyl is a warm peel, but Holographic is a cold peel. Peeling the carrier from Holographic too early could results in pieces lifting away from the fabric. I know it’s hard to be patient, but it pays off with Holographic!
Soft modal t-shirt, sparkly HTV – just how I like! It’s hard to capture the rainbow sparkles in the Glitter HTV, but in person you can see how being near the Rainbow Holographic makes the sparkle colors pop.
This shirt was a lot of fun to make, but I think it would be even more fun to give! I love heat transfer vinyl because it allows you create unique and special gifts that make people smile in the present and are often treasured far into the future.
If you liked this post, you can pin the image below!
or this one!
Do you mind sharing your heat press brand?
Latrice, that is the Siser Digital Clam press.
Wow, I need to find some of this rainbow HTV vinyl – my daughter would absolutely love a t-shirt made with this. I just purchased the new Cricut Easy Press 2 and can’t wait to make a new shirt with it for her!
Lily,
Love this shirt! Could you share what font the word “rainbow” is?
Thanks!
Thanks Jen! The Word “Rainbow” is in Kite Script.
Hello! I’m looking to apply easy weed to 50% cotton/50% shirt. Can I use a cricuit easy press or would you suggest issuing a heat press like the one you used in this post. Also what temp and time should I use?
My post should have said 50% cotton: 50% modal
Hi Shere! I will always suggest a Heat Press over an EasyPress if you have the option available. If you use a heat press, I’d suggest 270°F for 15-20 seconds. If you use a EasyPress, I’d suggest 300°F for 15-20 seconds.
It turned out great! Thank you!
Did you end up using an Easy Press at 300 degree or 270?
I’ve been having issues with the modal and washing; it peels. Have you experienced this?
Hi Alvenia! I’m sorry you’re having trouble with modal. For the best assistance, please contact Support@siserna.com or 586.203.8171 with any pictures of the issue and how you applied the HTV. Our support team will do their best to troubleshoot the issue :)
I have a large project I’m working on and wanted to cut all my HTV, weed it, then press it all after finishing weeding all the colors.
I cut and weeded one sheet and the next day was hoping to press it, but overnight everything had peeled off the carrier sheet. So frustrating! Is there any way I can avoid this or do I have to cut-weed-press each individual sheet right away so it doesn’t have the time to peel?
I’ve never had this problem before, having always done small, 1-4 cut projects, but this is a huge time-consuming project.
Thanks for the help!
Hi Rachel! I’m sorry your HTV is lifting from the carrier after cutting! For this project, I’d suggest pressing the layers immediately after cutting. It sounds like you may have received material that experienced manufacturing issues. Please email me directly at lily.campau@siserna.com with your shipping information as well as the color, width, and length of the HTV, so we can get replacement material headed your way.
I have 73% polyester and 22% modal fabric what setting should I use so I don’t get the scorch marks?
Hi Andriana! I’d suggest using 270°F for 15-20 seconds. Please keep in mind, some modal and polyester may discolor even at a very low temperature so you may have to press the whole shirt to turn the “discolor” into the new color of the shirt.
What type of fabric can this be applied too? I recently used a cricut holographic vinyl to a cotton/spandex blend and it ripped. Does siser holographic work on all fabric blends?
Hi Roxane! Holographic can be applied to most fabrics, except for nylon. Although it can be applied to spandex, it will not stretch with the garment and may rip if overexerted. Using designs that are more broken up instead of one big shape can help avoid ripping the HTV once applied.
Great product
I recently bought the Holographic silver and applied it to my grosgrain ribbon to make a hair bow (completely covered on 1 side). I didn’t realize that it would be so stiff that I can’t bend to make the bow. Did I do something wrong? First time using HTV.
Hi Stephanie! Holographic is one of our more rigid heat transfer vinyl, so yes it should feel stiff when in one piece. Holographic can feel lightweight if it’s cut in multiple pieces for a design.
Hi Lily, I have a shirt that is 49% modal/48%cotton/3% spandex. I would like to put both electric and glitter HTV on it. Will it work with this shirt and what temperature and for how long.
Hi Pam! Yes, you can put EasyWeed® Electric and Glitter HTV on modal/cotton/spandex blend. I’d suggest using the lower temperature application method outlined in this post.
I am new to cricut and htv I have been reading all the comments and have found them to be very helpful.
thanks
Hello
I am looking for a similar heat transfer.
Please let me know wither you can help out.
Hi there! Please email Info@SiserNA.com with your location and our sales team can help you find an Authorized Distributor.
Hello, i want to apply glitter htv to a shirt that is a 51% cotton 49% modal blend, will this work? will the htv last? what temp should i press this?
Thank you so much
Hi Bridgette! Yes, it can be done and it will last longer if the HTV is evenly applied with a heat press. I’d suggest pressing at 270°F for 20-25 seconds.
Hi I’m apply a Buffalo plaid htv to a 70%modal 30% polyester shirt. What temp should I use on my easy press and how long would you recommend. Thanks!
Hi Teresa! I’d suggest 305°F for 20-25 seconds with your EasyPress.
Hi Lily, I’m looking to add Easy Weed to a shirt that is 50% polyester, 25% cotton and 25% Rayon. I have the Siser digital press what temp and time as well as cover sheet should I use? Thank you!
Hi Lori! You may need to use a lower temperature (270°F) and higher pressing time (15-20 seconds) with parchment paper as your cover sheet if your tri-blends are heat sensitive. If the shirt doesn’t dis-color from the heat, you can use the standard settings: 305°F, 10-15 seconds, medium pressure with a non-stick cover sheet or parchment paper.
Hello, what temp should I use to apply a Siser Glitter HTV on a 50% Modal & 50% Cotton tee? I have a Cricut Easy Press and swing arm heat press.
Would the glitter htv peel up from the tee since modal is stretchy and glitter htv is not?
Hi Serene! I would suggest using your Swing Arm Heat Press at 270°F for 15-20 seconds with medium pressure. If applied properly, it’s not likely that the Glitter will peel up. However, if the garment is form fitting and you’d like a little more stretch, I’d suggest using Sparkle™ instead of Glitter.
Thank you! I will give it a try.
Buena tarde!
Adonde puedo comprar este vinil, ya que los proveedores más cercanos nunca lo tienen en existencia.
Hola y gracias por tu interés en los productos Siser. Envíe un correo electrónico a Guillaume.Bouleau@SiserNA.com para obtener información sobre compras. ¡Gracias!