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It took me a little while to pull the trigger and purchase my first roll of heat transfer vinyl (HTV) or as Cricut calls it, “iron-on.” The price tag scared me and I didn’t feel confident using the material without ruining it! To my surprise, it wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. There are just a few things you need to remember to do. I’ll walk you through a beginner project so you feel confident tackling all of your HTV projects in the future. 

Here’s what we need to get this craft party started:

• Cutting Machine- I love the Cricut Maker
• StandardGrip Mat
• Natalie Malan Patterned Iron-on
• Weeding Tool
• BrightPad (optional) or Light Box
• T-shirt
• EasyPress or Heat Press or Iron
• EasyPress Mat 

To access the design I used for this project click here!

If at any point during this tutorial you get lost or confused, click the image and it’ll take you to that exact moment in a full how-to video tutorial. The video will show you everything you need to know about cutting, weeding, and applying iron-on using Cricut Design Space.

Design and MIRROR your image

To keep this tutorial a manageable length, I skipped over choosing my design in Cricut Design Space! I am making a child’s shirt so I resized my image to be about 5″ wide and let the height resize proportionately. After you click “Make It” you will land on this screen. This is the “Mat Preview Screen” and this step is VERY important! There are a few things that can ruin an iron-on/ heat transfer vinyl (HTV) project and forgetting to mirror your image is one of them! To mirror your image, toggle on the mirror slider on the left hand side of your screen. If you are using a device or phone, you may have to turn your device horizontally so that you can see this option.  

Set your material in Design Space

If you are not using a Cricut material, I would recommend doing a small test cut before you cut your entire image. Since iron-on/ heat transfer vinyl (HTV) is expensive, cutting a small 1/4″ circle or square will save you from ruining an entire sheet. Since I am using a Cricut product, I am going to set my material using their recommended settings. On a Maker, click “Browse All Materials” to see the entire list of products Cricut offers. I did a quick search for “Pattern” to find the setting I needed- Patterned Iron-On. If you are using a Cricut Explore Air 2, turn your dial to “custom” and then you can browse all materials too!   

Load the Iron-On (HTV) on Your Mat

Loading iron-on/ heat transfer vinyl (HTV) onto your machine cutting mat can get a little confusing. I almost always use a StandardGrip Mat (the green one) when cutting HTV. Some iron-on/ heat transfer vinyls (HTV) are really slippery. If my iron-on doesn’t stick down, I will try using a StrongGrip Mat (the purple one) or use some masking tape to tape it down along the edges. For this project, the StandardGrip Mat works great. 

Place your iron-on/ heat transfer vinyl (HTV) shiny side down on the mat. The adhesive will be facing up. Once it’s loaded on your mat, load it into your machine, and cut it! Click the photo below if you want to check out the video for more guidance.  

Use a BrightPad or Light Pad to Weed Your Design

When I pulled my iron-on (HTV) off my mat, I was surprised how hard it was to see my cut lines. At first I didn’t even think it cut. So I grabbed my BrightPad to see if it would help. I powered it on to the highest setting and I could see lines perfectly. When your iron-on (HTV) comes out of your machine, it will not be ready to apply. You have to “weed” your image. Weeding is the process of pulling away the negative pieces (the pieces you don’t want) from your project. Then your left with a mirrored image of your design.     

Heat Up Your EasyPress, Heat Press, or Iron 

Since I am using an EasyPress, I am going to use the Cricut Heat Guide to determine the settings and application instructions I need to follow for this project. All you have to do is select the material you are using and the base material you are applying it to. The Heat Guide will then spit out all of the instructions you need to follow.  

Applying Your Design

After your heating device is hot, you are going to apply the design to your shirt. Follow the instructions found on the Cricut Heat Guide to ensure a flawless transfer!

Here are some extra tips:

• Don’t forget to preheat your material. Preheating will take out any moisture in your garment and will help the glue adhere better to your fibers.
• If you are using an EasyPress, press on an EasyPress Mat. It really makes a difference.
• Avoid using an ironing board under your EasyPress. I recommend pressing on a table that is heat resistant and about waist height.
• Avoid pressing on any seams. You want whatever heat plate you are using to come in direct contact with your surface. If the object you are pressing has a lot of seams or bulk, use a towel or mat inside to elevate the area you are pressing on.
• Don’t forget to heat up the back of your project.

Peel Away The Liner

Remember to follow the instructions recommended by the iron-on (HTV) company. For Cricut’s Patterned Iron-On, Cricut recommends a cold peel. After you press your design, left your design cool completely before peeling away the liner. 

Care Instructions

Please allow your iron-on (HTV) to cure for 24 hours before washing your project. Wash and tumble dry inside out and do not use bleach.

Additional Resources

lf you want to see the entire tutorial, check it out below! 

Here are the links to the products used in this tutorial!

• • Cutting Machine- I love the Cricut Maker
  • StandardGrip Mat
  • Natalie Malan Patterned Iron-on
  • Weeding Tool
  • BrightPad (optional) or Light Box
  • EasyPress or Heat Press or Iron
  • EasyPress Mat 

Looking for a discount code to use on Cricut’s shop? Since my code changes each quarter, make sure you join my Facebook Group to get the most up to date code! The code will save you 10% and give you free shipping on orders over $50! Not on Facebook? No problem, send me an email to Karley@karleyhall.com or leave a comment below!

Have Questions or want to connect!?

Karley