What Is Flocked Iron On?

If you’ve been searching for vinyl crafting ideas online, you’ve probably seen a few that have used flocked iron on vinyl.

In this article, we’ll go over what it is, how to use it, and what projects it can be used on. Keep reading if you’re looking for a fun way to spruce up your next crafting project.

What Is Flocked Iron On?

Flocked iron on vinyl is a type of heat transfer vinyl (also known as HTV) that has a soft, fuzzy texture, kind of like suede. This material is cut into designs using a vinyl cutter machine such as a Cricut or Silhouette Cameo and is then applied to t-shirts and other fabric items as decoration. Like standard heat transfer vinyl, flocked iron on can be applied to materials with an iron or heat press machine.

How To Cut Flocked Heat Transfer Vinyl

Flocked heat transfer vinyl can be cut in just about the same way as standard heat transfer vinyl or sometimes called smooth heat transfer vinyl. If you’re needing in-depth instructions on how to cut smooth vinyl, learn all about that here.

But to keep things simple for this article, the basic steps of cutting any heat transfer vinyl are:

  1. Set up your design in the cutting machine software.
  2. Mirror or flip your design.
  3. Load your HTV into the vinyl cutter machine.
  4. Send it to cut.
  5. Weed the vinyl and remove any excess pieces.

However, when cutting flocked vinyl, there are just a few things to keep in mind:

  • Because it is a thicker vinyl, flocked HTV needs to be cut with a deeper blade depth or pressure. Make sure to check with your particular machine’s recommended cut settings for flocked vinyl.
  • Make sure you’re using a sharp blade when cutting your design on flocked HTV. A dull blade can create problems such as your design not having clean cut lines or not cutting the vinyl at all in some places.
  • Because of the texture, after you’ve cut flocked vinyl, it can sometimes be hard to see the cut lines so make sure of the pieces that you are weeding out from the design.

Once these steps have been completed successfully, you are ready to apply your design.

How To Apply Flocked HTV

Just like with cutting flocked HTV, applying flocked HTV is also much like applying standard HTV. Here are the steps you’ll need to follow:

The first step is to apply your heat source, either an iron or heat press machine, to the item you will be decorating. Pre-pressing removes moisture and also smooths out any wrinkles the in the fabric.

If applying with an iron, place the item that you would like to decorate onto a flat, hard surface such as a table. You could also use an ironing board as long as it is sturdy. If applying with a heat press machine, go ahead and lay your item flat on the heat press.

Position your flocked HTV design where you want it on the item you are decorating. Make sure you are placing the vinyl on the correct side so that the heat source will be applied directly to the carrier sheet and not the actual heat transfer vinyl. It should be applied fuzzy side up.

Follow your heat source’s instructions for what temperature and time to use with flocked vinyl. Since it is a thicker vinyl, it almost always will require more time and/or pressure when applying than standard regular vinyl.

If using an iron, to protect the vinyl, you may want to place a piece of cotton fabric like a shirt or pillowcase between your iron and the vinyl. Sometimes depending on the temperature, without the cotton barrier, the heat could melt the plastic carrier sheet that is on top of your heat transfer vinyl. Some fabrics could be damaged too so watch for that also. If using a heat press, a Teflon sheet would be great to use.

Also, make sure to give extra attention to pressing the edges of the vinyl, especially when pressing with an iron, making sure all edges of your design are stuck down firmly. The good thing about a heat press is the heat is evenly distributed so you don’t have to really worry about that with a heat press.

Some flocked vinyl requires a cold peel, while for some, it is OK to peel warm so it is best to check the instructions of the flocked vinyl you are using before removing the top carrier sheet.

When you go to peel off the carrier sheet, if you find there is a part of the vinyl that hasn’t adhered to the surface, just place the carrier sheet back on top of the vinyl and apply heat again.

Once these steps are completed, congratulations! You have just completed your first flocked vinyl project!

What Materials Can I Apply Flocked Vinyl To?

Flocked vinyl is a versatile product that can be ironed or heat pressed onto several different fabric materials and surfaces.

Most flocked heat transfer vinyl products can be applied to both cotton fabric or polyester-based fabric (and any blends of the two materials). But not just fabric, some flocked vinyl can be applied to leather and I’ve even seen someone put flocked vinyl on cardstock!

Different brands will have different material requirements and instructions, so make sure you look up what materials work for your flocked HTV of choice.

What Items Can I Decorate With Flocked HTV?

Now that you know a little more about flocked HTV, you’re ready to get to the fun part: planning some vinyl crafts! Below are just a few of the many items that you can decorate with flocked heat transfer vinyl.

  • Clothes: T-shirts, hoodies, tank tops, hats
  • Accessories: Makeup bags, tote bags
  • Home decor: Throw pillows, tea towels, blankets

As you can see, there are so many possibilities for what you can create so get creative and have some fun with it!

Best Flocked Heat Transfer Vinyl

There are several different manufacturers of flocked heat transfer vinyl.

Siser is probably the most well-known and rightfully so. The products they offer for crafting are always high-quality. Siser is my go-to brand for all heat transfer vinyl. Their flocked HTV is called Stripflock Pro.

Some other brands that make flocked HTV are Firefly, Craftables, and B-Flex. I’ve not personally used these brands, but I’ve heard good things about them. The nice thing is flocked vinyl can be purchased in individual sheets so if you’d like to test each brand, you could do so at a minimal cost.

You can purchase all of these online and some can even be found in craft stores and hobby shops like Michael’s and Hobby Lobby.

Wrap Up

Flocked vinyl is durable, versatile, and has a look that is sure to stand out. With its fuzzy texture and soft, suede like feel go ahead and skip the regular vinyl and use flocked heat transfer!

Now that you know more about flocked vinyl, what it is, what materials it can be applied to, and some project ideas, you’re ready to get started! It’s a bonus if you’re already familiar with using regular HTV because with flocked HTV there’s not much difference in how it’s used.

As with any new crafting material, I always recommend starting out with a small project so you can get the hang of how it works and be familiar with it.

Follow the tips in this article to make sure you’re getting the best results when you use flocked heat transfer vinyl, and then have fun creating a world of new crafts!

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