Step-by-Step Instructions on How To Use Cricut Iron On Vinyl
I love all things Cricut. I’m not going to lie, I’m a massive fan of Cricut! I love the Cricut Cutting Machines and I’m a massive fan of their products, especially the Cricut Iron On Vinyl.
Honestly, you can take any garment or product and change it from drab to fab by simply adding some iron on Cricut vinyl to it.
Wondering how to use Cricut Iron On? To be honest, there is a slight learning curve when it comes to working with iron on and you might even mess up a few products whilst trying to get the hang of it. But don’t worry, that is what this whole entire post is for.
So let’s make a start with the Cricut Iron On Vinyl tutorial.
Ultimate Guide to Cricut Iron On HTV
1. What is Cricut Iron On Vinyl & What is it Used For?
Before we dive into how to use iron-on vinyl, it is really important to understand exactly what Cricut Vinyl Iron On is (and what it is not).
Cricut designed special HTV (heat transfer vinyl) which is also known as iron on vinyl. They made their own brand iron on vinyl for Cricut machines, but of course, you can indeed use the Cricut Iron On for other brand machines as well.
Basically, it is a type of vinyl that adheres to surfaces with the application of heat. So you will either need an iron (not ideal), a Cricut EasyPress (for hobby-users) or a decent heat press (for advanced users) in order to adhere the vinyl to a fabric surface.
It is typically used to add beautiful vinyl designs to products such as canvas bags, t-shirts, cushion, umbrellas, curtains & more.
But you can get even more creative by applying it to wood, metal, and more!
2. Different Types of Cricut Iron On Transfer Vinyl
The next thing that you should know before we dive into the Cricut iron on instructions, is that there are currently 7 different types of iron-on vinyl.
Some are easier to work with than others. We will outline which we recommend you should start off with, and which type would be more suitable for advanced users.
a) Cricut Iron On Everyday
The Everyday Iron-On by Cricut is probably your go-to iron on when you aren’t sure which type of iron-on to use. This vinyl is so easy to use that you can use it on the widest range of surfaces – even wood!
Cricut Iron On Everyday is a standard heat transfer vinyl that comes in 12 x 24″ pieces. It is currently available in 17 different solid colors.
b) Cricut Iron On Lite
The easiest type of Iron On to work with is the Cricut Iron On Lite. It is also the one that you will probably find that you use most often. It is ideal for T-shirts, team or club wear, bags, aprons, home decor, and more!
Cricut Iron On Lite is the standard heat transfer vinyl that you can use. It comes in 12 x 19″ pieces and is available in 13 different solid colors.
c) Cricut Iron On Foil
Once you are ready to step up your heat transfer game, why not invest a bit more money and grab some foil iron-on. Ideal for custom fashion and accessories, bags, pillows, party and home décor, and more!
It comes in 12 x 24″ pieces and is available in 12 different shiny colors.
d) Cricut Holographic Iron On
After something that will add some sparkle and shine to your custom item? We love playing with the Cricut Holographic range.
It comes in 12 x 24″ pieces and is available in 5 different sparkly colors.
e) Cricut Glitter Iron On
Now, how you can you not be excited by anything glittery! We love this range of glitter iron-on, so once you get the hang of working with the Everday and Lite range, do make sure you try these out.
It comes in 12 x 19″ pieces (from Cricut.com) and is available in 19 different glittery colors.
As a tip, if you really find that you are LOVING these glittery iron-on, we highly recommend that you buy them in bulk on Amazon. You can grab rolls of 12 inches by 120 inches from there.
f) Cricut Patterned Iron On
We LOVE LOVE patterned iron-on vinyl. I really feel that a pattern just takes your item to the next level of ‘custom-made’. These beautiful Cricut Patterned Iron On’s comes in sets with 3 sheets 12″ x 17″ (30.5 cm x 43 cm). Loads of different combinations to pick from though.
g) Cricut Sportflex Iron On
As suggested in the name, this iron-on is brilliant for custom sportswear. The vinyl is thin and lightweight and has the ability to stretch and flex on activewear. Made for tech fabrics like polyester and nylon.
It comes in 11.8″ x 24″ pieces and is available in 8 different colors.
3. Where to Buy your Cricut Iron On Vinyl
Find below the most popular shops to buy your Cricut vinyl at.
a) Cricut Website
Of course, it only makes sense for Cricut to sell their own range. Look out as they often have sales and deals on their tools and accessories.
Here are two money saving tips!
>>> Click here to see the Cricut Iron-On range and to check prices
b) Amazon
Amazon is brilliant if you know that you will only be purchasing a small selection of vinyl goodies because you can easily fill your basket with other non-crafty products as well. You will find any and all types of vinyl available at Amazon.
I find it a bit trickier to find exactly what I want at Amazon, so I personally prefer shopping directly from Cricut themselves.
Here is a money saving tip!
>>>Click here to see the Cricut Iron-On range and to check prices
4. Additional Items You Will Need to Work with Iron-On Vinyl
Now, together with your product that you would like to adhere the vinyl to, you will of course also need some iron-on vinyl, as well as a tool that can be used to apply heat. You won’t be able to work successfully with iron-on vinyl without this!
You could use a normal iron, but I think that it makes life a lot harder than it should be, as a lot of the heat application is left to guesswork.
You can read our full post on why we prefer a heat press over an iron here.
In saying that, if you are unsure about whether you will be doing more than one iron-on project, then we highly recommend you stick to an iron, rather than investing in a new heat press machine.
If you plan on doing a lot of HTV projects, we do highly recommend that you invest in a heat press machine. A heat press machine takes all the guesswork out of the heat application, as you can set the machine to the temperature that is required (according to the packet instructions).
If you prefer, you could start off with a smaller and more affordable heat press, such as the Cricut EasyPress 2.
Read our post about which size EasyPress to purchase here.
But if you are more serious about vinyl crafts, we do suggest that you invest in a more professional heat press machine.
They are great as they have some really nifty settings and they do a fabulous job of applying heat evenly.
Click here to see our full guide that will help you find the best heat press machine.
You will also need your Cricut machine, your Cricut cutting mat, a computer/laptop and a weeding tool.
5. How to use Cricut Iron On Vinyl Instructions
Okay and finally, now that you understand what iron-on vinyl is and you know what you need in order to apply it, let’s have a look at the steps involved of how to actually use it.
If you have been browsing Cricut.com store whilst following along on this post, you would have probably realized that Cricut vinyl isn’t really that cheap. Which is probably why you are here – to find steps on how to use the product – because you don’t want to waste money whilst trying to figure it out by yourself.
1. Create Your Design
The first step – create your design. You can either find a design that has already been created or whip one up yourself.
Here is a great post about why you should grab a Cricut Design Space Membership.
So head on over to Cricut Design Space and pick your design.
This video will help you with the creation of your design.
3. Prepping and Cutting the Design
Size: Next step is to make sure that you resize the design to suit your apparel. So go and measure the space that you want to iron the vinyl onto and make sure that your image suits the space that is available.
Mirror-Image: Next, click the GO button and in the preview screen on the left, tick the Mirror Image box. Click GO again
Select your Material:
Load Iron-On: Trim down your iron-on (to reduce wastage) and place it on the cutting mat with the plastic backing down and the vinyl size up. Load the mat into the machine, press the up-down arrow button on the left to secure the mat and then press the flashing button to start the cutting process.
Here is a video to show you how to do all of this:
4. Weeding the Design
Press the up-down arrow button to release the cutting mat.
Carefully remove the excess vinyl from the design. Then use a weeder tool to carefully remove all the smaller pieces from your design.
5. Applying the Iron-On
Have a look at the reference card that comes with your iron-on to figure out the temperature and time that you will need to adhere to in order to set your iron-on correctly.
Preheat your item by applying heat for around 10-15 seconds.
Place your design iron-on on the shirt (with the plastic facing up) and place your iron or heat press on the design.
Using firm pressure, hold it in place for the required length of time.
Flip over your fabric and repeat on the other side.
6. Peel Away Plastic Backing
Let your item cool down.
Carefully test if the vinyl has stuck fully by lifting the corner carefully. If the plastic comes off and the vinyl stays stuck to the fabric, then you are done.
If you find that the vinyl is lifting up, don’t worry. Simply lay the plastic back down and apply more heat.
Here is a video to show you how to do the last two steps:
And before long you will have a brand new custom made apparel item! So cool isn’t it!
Please leave us a comment below and let us know what you made.
via The Best Vinyl Cutters | DIY Crafts & Machine Reviews https://www.thebestvinylcutters.com/how-to-use-cricut-iron-on-vinyl-instructions/
