Terrific Transfer Printing
Transfer printing is a fabulous technique for achieving instant, bright colour onto synthetic fabric, relatively mess free. Although some quilters will only use cotton, incorporating a diverse range of fabrics into wall hangings can create interesting surfaces and textures.
This masterclass will explain how to use transfer paints, including a variety of paint effects; using masks such as leaves; and the differences that can occur due to the individual properties of some of the amazing array of synthetic fabrics available.
This knowledge will be put to practical use to make pages that can then be stitched into a fabric book.
Key Learnings:
- Properties of transfer paints
- A variety of techniques of mark making
- How to use masks with transfer printing
- How to exploit some of the properties of different synthetic fabrics

Materials You Will Need
Please note these materials are not included with purchase of this class, the following materials will need to be bought separately.
- Transfer dye (sometimes sold as disperse dye) in at least 3 colours
- Copier Paper
- Water pot and water
- Small pots to make up the transfer dye into paint, such as yoghurt tubs
- Spoons for mixing the dye
- Paint brushes or sponge brushes
- Apron and gloves whilst mixing and painting if necessary
- Paper to protect your table
- Scissors
- Synthetic Fabrics – a variety to try so you can see the different effects. These could include (but are not limited to): polycotton, polyorganza, acrylic felt, lutradur, evolon, zeelon, stitch-in interfacing – basically any fabric made from manmade fibres. A small piece of several different types would be good to try out (ie 15 x 20cm)
- Non-woven fabric for the book. Gillian used strips of lutradur cut to 12cm by the width of fabric, plus a piece of heavy weight stitch-in Vilene (S80) 15 x 30cm for the cover. The sizes don’t need to be exact
- Leaves and seed heads to use as masks – the seed heads don’t need to be flat
- Iron
- Ironing board
- Baking parchment or silicone sheet
- Needle and thick thread, such as a cotton perle for stitching the book
- Ruler (to neaten off pages of book)
- Optional – hole punch - basic or fancy shape
Gillian is offering a kit of 3 transfer dyes, a sponge brush and a selection of synthetic fabrics to try, including sufficient to make two books on her website for £23 plus postage. Buy the pack.

Gillian Cooper teaches City and Guilds courses in patchwork, quilting and sketchbooks in her studio in Balfron, Stirlingshire. Since lockdown, she is offering courses online, using a mixture of video, pdfs, zoom and Facebook groups. Gillian also delivers short workshops and talks to groups across the country, when travel is permitted.
Art-wise, Gillian is working towards two exhibitions: Presence: A Sense of Time and Place at the Dundas Street Gallery, Edinburgh (30 Jan -7 Feb 2021) with Samantha Townsend and Julie Pywell and a solo outdoor exhibition at the Woodland Gallery, Tir-na-nOg, near Drymen from April 2021.
Find out more about Gillian Cooper:
Website: gilliancooperstudio.co.uk
Instagram: @gilliantextiles
Facebook: Gillian Cooper Artist
5 reviews for Terrific Transfer Printing
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Judith T (verified owner – )
Being able to do this online, and on-demand gives me lots of possibilities, without the cost of travelling: airfare, hotels. And I can fit it in with professional and family commitments, thank you.
Karen H (verified owner – )
I was gripped by this cheerful informative presentation.
Susanne M (verified owner – )
I enjoyed watching it’s an excellent way to explore a new technique without having a big spend.
Robert C (verified owner – )
A lot of information given so looking forward to watching again. Excellent value.
Janet W (verified owner – )
Very engaging speaker, entertaining, new technique well explained. Thank you.