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Transferring a Design to Fabric

Four ways to get a drawing onto fabric, and which to use for light, dark or thick fabric.

Beginner10 min

Choose a method

Method	Works on	How
Tracing against light	Light, thin fabric	Tape the design to a window or tablet screen, tape fabric over it, trace with a water-soluble pen
Dressmaker's carbon paper	Dark or thick fabric	Fabric on a hard surface, carbon paper colour side down, design on top, trace firmly with a ballpoint
Water-soluble stabilizer	Dark, textured or stretchy fabric	Draw or print the design on the stabilizer, stick or baste it to the fabric, stitch through both, rinse it away
Iron-on transfer pen or pencil	Smooth cotton	Trace the design in reverse on paper, then iron it onto the fabric. The line is permanent, so stitch must cover it

Print or draw the design at the finished size. Simple shapes with few lines are best for a first piece.
Press the fabric so it is flat.
Tape the design to a bright window. Tape the fabric over it with the design centred and the weave straight.
Trace with light, continuous lines using a water-soluble pen. Draw only what you will stitch over.
Mount the fabric in the hoop with the drawing centred.

Safety and fabric care

Test any marking pen on a scrap of the same fabric and check it comes out before you use it on the real piece.
Do not iron over water-soluble or air-erasable pen marks. Heat can make them permanent. Rinse first.