How to Fix a Cracked Iron-on Transfer

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Use an iron and wax paper to refresh a t-shirt decal.

Iron-on transfers dress up plain t-shirts, backpacks and other fabric items. Decals often peel with age, when applied improperly or if fabric shrinks or is exposed to excessive heat. A cracked decal should be repaired or replaced immediately to prevent further erosion. If a replacement decal is difficult to find, you can use some craft supplies and common household objects to improve its appearance and increase its longevity.

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Step 1

Lay the fabric item flat and decal-side-up on an ironing board. Replace torn and flaking pieces of the decal to their original spot in the design.

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Step 2

Lay a sheet of wax paper over the decal.

Step 3

Set the iron to the maximum heat setting and apply pressure as you iron over the decal.

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Step 4

Remove the wax paper and check if the decal is intact. If there are visible gaps and holes, fill in the missing areas with fabric crayons or another decal.

Step 5

Color in the gaps with fabric crayons that match the color of the decal. Alternately, you can cut a piece of another iron-on decal that matches the color and size of the missing piece and lay it over the damaged area.

Step 6

Place wax paper over the damaged area of the decal and iron it again on the maximum heat setting.

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