Tracing
If your fabric is fairly thin, you can transfer the designs directly onto the fabric using a light source such as a light box or window, marking the lines with a chalk-based marking pencil or water-soluble transfer pen or pencil. In a pinch, a finely sharpened standard pencil will also work.
To transfer a design using a light source such as a window, tape the pattern to the glass and cover the pattern with the fabric. You should be able to see the design clearly through the fabric and trace the lines with your marking pencil or pen.
n. Do not iron by moving your iron back and forth along the paper, as this distorts the image.
Water-Soluble Stabilizer
When you are working on dark fabrics or if you have a detailed pattern, the water-soluble stabilizer method is a good option. With this material, you can print the pattern directly onto the stabilizer, then place that on your embroidery fabric.
After stitching through the fabric and stabilizer, soak the embroidery in warm water and the stabilizer dissolves away.
Because this method requires soaking, you will need to make sure that your fabric can be washed and that your embroidery floss is colorfast.
Transferring patterns with light
Another option, and my preferred method of transferring an embroidery pattern, is to use light. I feel that this allows me to trace each line and get to know the pattern well, prior to stitching. This technique requires making use of daylight or investing in a light box. A water-soluble pen works well for transferring patterns using light.
To use daylight, find a bright window that receives a good amount of sunlight. Tape the pattern to the window, and tape the fabric over that. The light will shine through and you can trace over each pattern line in order to transfer to fabric.
Using a light box works similarly to taping to a window, but is not constricted by time (i.e., sunset). I recommend taping the pattern to the light box, taping the pattern over that and then using a water-soluble pen for transferring each pattern line.
Tracing Paper
Another method that works well on fabrics that are difficult to trace onto, but that you don’t want to soak, is the tracing paper method.
To use this technique, trace your pattern onto lightweight tracing paper. Baste the paper onto your fabric and then stitch through the paper and fabric. When you’re finished, carefully tear away the tracing paper.
Hot Iron Transfers
Hot iron transfers are patterns that come ready-to-use and feature a wide range of subjects. They are normally printed in black, blue, or gray ink. Transfer these designs to the fabric using a hot iron in the same manner as transfer pens and pencils.
Pouncing
Before the advent of transfer paper and iron-on inks, pouncing was a common way to transfer embroidery designs to fabric.
Using this method, a paper pattern is pricked with a pin at regular intervals. The pattern is then secured to the fabric and a powdered pigment is worked through the holes in a pouncing motion using a soft fabric pad. Pouncing supplies can still be found in specialty needlework shops.
New and notable: Sulky Sticky Fabric-Solvy pattern transfer paper
I have seen quite a few embroiderers take to using Sulky Sticky Fabri-Solvy. It can go through a computer printer, adheres to the fabric and dissolves away when submerged in water. This is a super easy and fun technique that provides a completed transfer of each pattern line. However, using this paper for all your embroidery projects can get a little pricey.
