Sublimation on Baby Onesies in 7 Easy Steps
Sublimation on Baby Onesies is a great way to add personalization to your baby’s clothing, especially onesies and other one-piece garments. The process can be intimidating at first, but it’s really not that difficult once you get the hang of it! Here are 7 easy steps to follow to successfully sublimate custom designs onto your baby’s clothing.
Sublimation on Baby Onesies in 7 Easy Steps
1) Create a Design
Your first design can be anything you want, but it’s often a good idea to start with something simple like text or an image. Anything that makes it easier for your customer to see what they’re getting is ideal.
If you have a design in mind already, create a rough draft of it and play around with different colors to make sure you like what you see before starting any sort of long-term project. Avoid reusing pictures from other companies or individuals, as copyright infringement can come back to haunt you later if someone else decides they want credit for your creation.
2) Choose an Appropriate Onesie
Choosing a baby onesie is just as important as choosing a T-shirt to print on. The first step is to pick the kind of shirt your printing will go on. If you’re sublimating, select an organic cotton baby onesie that has no dyes or chemicals. When selecting a blank baby onesie, there are two options: organic/natural cotton and bamboo.
Both will work fine for sublimation printing, but please note that bamboo baby onesies are slightly stretchier than their cotton counterparts. Consider looking at our color options when selecting a blank onesie, so you can find one that compliments your design the best!
3) Print the Design
To get started, you’ll need to print your design onto special transfer paper. This is usually done via a desktop printer. Most transfer papers are made of polyurethane and can’t be touched until they’ve been baked, which means you’ll have to set aside an afternoon (or, if you’re impatient like me, an entire day).
When your file has printed and cooled, peel off its protective layer (usually Saran Wrap), position it under your shirt, and carefully start transferring. The quality of paper used is important—choose something with a decent weight (100 lb or above). Using a high-quality heat press can ensure that everything goes smoothly and that you don’t risk overheating any part of your garment.
4) Transfer the Image Onto the Garment
Now that you’ve decided what you want to print and have a plan for transferring it onto your baby onesie, there are a few things to consider. Most transfer papers will have directions for use written right on them. In case yours doesn’t, however, here are some basic guidelines to follow.
First, lay out your garment with something light-colored underneath—you don’t want any dark fabric getting into the image during transfer. Next, place your transfer paper face down directly over your fabric so that the black lines of ink run parallel with one another.
5) Heat Press the Transfer Paper Onto The Garment
Heat-pressing transfers onto baby onesies is a fast, easy, and affordable way to brand your business. Heat press machines are available at craft stores, and most offer presets for common transfer types.
As a result, you can get started right away without any knowledge of heat transfer techniques! For best results when heat-pressing baby onesies, preheat your press before putting on your transfer paper.
Then place both over an even layer of polyester batting (available at fabric stores) or other thick cloth material designed to prevent scorching. Following these steps will help ensure that you never ruin another onesie with a scorched imprint. Additionally, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s directions closely—and always use safety precautions!
6) Peel Off Transfer Paper Layer
If you’re applying a transfer that contains clear areas, like an image of an animal or character, it’s important to apply a layer of transfer paper before you begin sublimating. This will protect your base layer (the baby onesie) from becoming discolored by later steps.
To add transfer paper, align it with your design and iron it down over all exposed areas. The heat will help to melt down any adhesive so that it adheres well when you flip your garment over and peel off the backing sheet after it has cooled.
7) Enjoy Your Customized Item!
As a whole, sublimation printing can be time-consuming. However, if you take your time and follow these steps carefully, you’ll be able to add a personalized touch to all sorts of garments and other items with ease.
Keep these steps in mind, whether you’re printing on a baby onesie or adding some flair to T-shirts for an upcoming family reunion. The results will speak for themselves!
Last Updated on October 3, 2022
