Patterned Vinyl and HTV: Everything Silhouette Crafters Need to Know

I get questions all.the.time about where to find patterned vinyl and patterned heat transfer vinyl.  Until recently I was kinda left fumbling like..there's some polka dot vinyl here and chevron htv there...but if you want something more (that's legal to sell, unique, high quality, won't fade, bleed or get you in copyright trouble) the options are few and far between.  Then I found Sparkle Berry Ink and I swear it was like Mandy - the owner - was there singing to me "A Whole New World."

This is a sponsored post, but all opinions are my own

Okay so here's the deal...the Sparkle Berry Ink patterned vinyl and heat transfer vinyl are one of my new favorite things - and there's gotta be something for everyone!
The pretty colorful patterns range from floral vinyl prints to aztec inspired patterned to paisleys and more.

I've shared a few of my favorites on Facebook and Instagram and the questions have now turned from "Where to buy patterned htv and vinyl?" to "What do I make with patterned vinyl?" Honestly the possibilities are endless!  Here are some ideas for patterned vinyl and htv projects to get your creative juices flowing....

One thing I like to do is pair a patterned vinyl or heat transfer vinyl with a coordinating solid. I think that really makes both pop. It also helps define the shape of the decal.  For example with this design, you can see I cut the Sparkle Berry HTV, but then I used a series of offsets in Silhouette Studio to create a border with a coordinating solid htv. This is similar to the popular fabric and htv method...only easier.

Another thing I like to do is pull the patterned designs into Silhouette Studio. This lets me make mock ups so I can see how my design will look on a patterned vinyl before I cut it.

After you get your patterned vinyl or heat transfer vinyl in hand, take a picture of it.  Email the picture to yourself and download onto your computer.

Then open up Silhouette Studio. If you have Silhouette Studio Designer Edition you're able to import your own custom patterns into the My Patterns folder. You can simply drag and drop the pictures of your patterned vinyl and HTV directly into the My Patterns folder. (If you can't 'drop' into the folder directly, try dropping into the open window. This process has changed depending on which version of Silhouette Studio you are using.)

I like to re-name the patterns in Studio so I can remember which are HTV and which are vinyl patterns.

Now create your mock up in Silhouette Studio- a process I've talked about extensively on Silhouette School. For example, here's a baby onesie. I added the design first.

Then from the My Patterns folder, I can pick the Sparkle Berry pattern to fill the shape.  I am able to easily see which direction I prefer the pattern - in this case vertical or horizontal.  Once I know what my design will look like, I'm ready to cut!

Would you believe all of these are mock ups?! I just love that I can use the actual pattern of the vinyl in the mock up so I really know what it's going to look like before committing.

By the way - when you cut the Sparkle Berry heat transfer vinyl, you do not have to mirror and you want to cut with the patterned side up. Then...use the clear transfer sheet that's included with all Sparkle Berry HTV orders to remove the HTV from the backing and transfer the design onto the surface before applying with heat.

Personally I think patterned vinyl and HTV always pop more when they have a solid color outline...but that's just a personal preference!

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. By clicking on them and purchasing products through my links, I receive a small commission. That's what helps fund Silhouette School so I can keep buying new Silhouette-related products to show you how to get the most out of your machine!

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