[coreyleibz]

I make shirts using a vinyl cutter, and a heat press. I mostly do shirts that just have words on them, and whenever I press them on the shirt, they come out crooked 99% of the time! Does anyone have any good tips on how to correct this? I've tried using a straightedge, and things like that but that also doesn't work very well because I can't tell if the shirt is laid out on the platen straight.

Let me know if you guys have any tips or tricks to fix this!
Thanks so much!

 

[maryellen1234]

I have never been able to align the vinyl or transfer on the platen. Here is what I do and it does take a bit longer, but for me it works.
1. I fold the shirt in half matching up the shoulders and the underarm. I then "press"with my hands so that I have the center.
2. I fold the transfer or vinyl on half making sure not to crease either one.
3. then I lay either one on the shirt and come down however much I need, matching the crease on the shirt with the crease on the trransfer.
4. Then I take a large scaled straight edge, quilters have great see thru rulers, and run it from under arm to under arm and make sure any lettering is straight. Then I use heat transfer tape and tape it down for pressing.
I set up all of them first and then the pressing is easy.
For me it takes a bit longer, but nothing bothers me more than to have to throw a shirt away because it looks horrible.
I hate walking behind someone with a t-shirt on and the design is crooked.
Good Luck

 

[taricp35]

Lay the shirt on a flat table, place the deign on the shirt and line it up using method posted above or similar. (Stand back and look at the shirt and you should be able to see better if the design is crooked or not centered) then move the shirt to the heat press and then press your shirt. Since you are using vinyl the sticky carrier sheet should stick just enough to keep the design from moving when moving the shirt over to the press. This is an extra step but will help you with lining up the design until you are able to eyeball it like most of us.

 

[binki]

we measure everything but at times the shirt itself may be sewn crooked, and they often are.

we have a large pad that we lay the shirt on and use a centerpoint ruler to find the center under the neck. We use the top of the shoulders where they hit the sleeve to give an idea of straight and go from there.