How to Apply Tri-Blends + Brother ScanNCut Tutorial
January 2026 Update: Please note that this blog was originally written in 2016 and includes instructions for an outdated cutter: the Brother ScanNCut2. While much of the information in this blog is still relevant, certain features on newer Brother ScanNCut machines may have changed and you may need to find workarounds not mentioned here. Thanks for reading!
Cotton, polyester, cotton/poly blends, and leather are the typical fabrics listed under most Siser® heat transfer vinyl application instructions. But I’m going to let you in on a secret: Siser HTV can go on much more than those fabrics! However, if we listed every. single. material. that Siser HTV can be applied to you’d be hard pressed to find application instructions amidst a sea of material types. Included on that secret list of Siser HTV safe materials are tri-blends
Tri-blends are the ultimate combination of cotton, polyester, and rayon (AKA viscose.) This triple threat t-shirt is breathable, soft, and has a flattering finish. An easy way to spot a tri-blend is by the variegated shades. While not quite thin enough to be a burn out t-shirt, tri-blends aren’t one solid color.
Despite the fabric difference, Siser HTV application instructions are business as usual for Tri-Blends. The recommended application instructions for any Siser HTV will give you the best application on tri-blends. No changes necessary! Some other fabrics Siser HTV is safe to be applied to, but are unlisted are: denim, bamboo, hemp, velour, fleece, and burlap
So can you apply Siser HTV to tri-blends? Yes! Keep reading to see how we apply EasyWeed® to a tri-blend. Plus learn how to create a cut file from scanned text with the Brother ScanNCut2!
How to Scan and Cut Text with the Brother ScanNCut
While the Brother ScanNCut2 has convenient pre-loaded fonts, I’m a font junkie and I like to be able to change it up often. So, to be able to use a font that’s not saved on the ScanNCut, you can create a text document with your desired font and scan a copy of it with the Brother ScanNCut to create a cut file!
When creating your text document, it’s important to choose a font that’s not too skinny. The lines need to be thick so 1: the scanner will detect them and 2: the cut lines won’t be too skinny for your cutter. I’m using the font Book Antiqua which usually would be too thin, but choosing the “Bold” option thickened the lines enough for scanning. I placed my document on the ScanNCut Medium Tack mat. If you have the Low Tack mat that would be even better to use, however the Scanning Mat is the best for cases like these. But any of the listed mats will work, so once you have it stuck on, load the mat into the cutter.
Select "Scan"
Select "Scan to Cut Data"
Make sure there is enough space in front and behind the ScanNCut for the mat to go all the way through and back out.
Select the highlighted option to recognize cut lines inside and outside the shapes.
From here you can fine tune your scanned image. If you have varying shades of color in your image you may need to select the gradient bar option to adjust the range of colors the ScanNCut recognizes and converts to cut paths. My font is black, so I had no problems with colors, however I did need to use the “Ignore Object Size” function. This function tells the ScanNCut that everything below a certain object size is not considered a cut path.
Select “Ignore Object Size” to adjust the object size that is recognized and converted to cut lines.
Use the plus and minus options to adjust the object size that will be recognized. Use the zoom option to inspect your cut file.
I lowered the size until I could see the dots of the “I’s” and the insides of the “e’s” were recognized.
Before lowering "Ignore Object Size".
After lowering "Ignore Object Size".
This file is ready to go! What once started as a piece of paper is now a complete cut file. So let’s turn that cut file into an EasyWeed t-shirt!
Place EasyWeed on the Standard Mat with the carrier side face down. Cut settings for EasyWeed on the Brother Scan N Cut are Blade: 2, Cut Speed: 1, Cut pressure: 2. Load the mat into the Brother ScanNCut2 and select the “Start/Stop” button. When the machine is finished cutting, unload the mat, and weed away the extra vinyl to reveal your words!
Like I mentioned earlier, application instructions don’t vary when it comes to applying on tri-blends. Set your heat press to 305°F with medium pressure. Pre-press your garment for 2-3 seconds. Then set up your EasyWeed transfers, cover with a heat transfer cover sheet, and press for 15 seconds. Peel the carrier hot or cold.
Peeling EasyWeed’s carrier hot.
Peeling EasyWeed’s carrier cold.
Heat applying on tri-blends is easy peasy! Plus I can’t wait to use the Brother ScanNCut2’s Scan to Cut Data feature for more projects! If you have any questions about this post please leave them in the comments :)