Stunning Sublimation Rope Trivets and Coasters

Take your clothesline trivets and bowls to the next level with sublimation!

We shared a couple of tutorials on how to stitch clothesline coasters and trivets as well as rope bowls and baskets. I recently found the Clothesline Rope Crafts group on Facebook and discovered the wonderful work of Kathy Hill.

Using a technique called sublimation, Kathy’s coasters and trivets look like something you would buy in a specialty store. She graciously permitted me to share a couple of stunning photos.

This was Kathy's first sublimation project. Love it!

Basically, you need a printer, paper, and ink specifically for sublimation as well as a heat press. Your project needs to be a blend of at least 65% polyester for it to work.

What is Sublimation?

Sublimation printing is done using a special printer that uses sublimation ink and sublimation paper.

Sublimation printers are just like a regular printer, but instead of cartridges, they have four tanks (CMYK: cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) that hold heat-activated sublimation ink.

The process is specifically created for heat transfer. The print is fused onto a polyester blend and becomes permanent and washable. Sublimation transfers on all-cotton items have a muted, blotchy appearance and will wash out.

Apparently, you can buy a regular eco-tank printer but fill the tanks with sublimation ink and then a ream of sublimation paper. It will, however, void your warranty.

Print any picture you like and fuse it to the project. Because of the high heat setting (485 degrees) required for sublimation print transfer, a heat press is recommended.

If you already have a heat press and don’t want to go the route of buying a new printer, ink, and paper specific to sublimation printing, Kathy purchased her artwork from Creative Fabrica.  A Google search provides several others.

Do any of you use sublimation printing in your projects?

Debbie Henry
Sew Inspired by Bonnie