How To Use Cricut Iron-On Vinyl: Newbie’s Information

Have you ever ever ever wanted to utilize Cricut Iron-On Vinyl nonetheless didn’t know learn how to get started? If that is the case, this textual content is for you.

On this whole weblog submit, I’ll current you the simple steps to cut and apply Iron-On vinyl collectively together with your Cricut machine. I’ll moreover give you my best concepts and strategies so that you just get good outcomes every time. 

Iron-on vinyl is probably going one of many hottest provides for crafting with a Cricut machine. You’ll want to use iron-on vinyl to make every kind of duties, like custom-made vinyl shirts, hats, canvas tote baggage, and loads further.

Nonetheless, when you’re new to Cricut, iron-on vinyl usually is somewhat intimidating. Should you want to be taught further about using your Cricut to create Iron-On vinyl duties nonetheless aren’t sure the place to start out, this weblog submit is for you.

On this tutorial, we’re going to go over learn how to work with iron-on vinyl.

• First, I’ll make clear the assorted sorts of vinyl and go over what provides you need for iron-on duties.
• Then, I’ll current you step-by-step learn how to design, decrease, and weed your vinyl decal.
• Lastly, I’ll give you concepts and strategies for making use of iron-on vinyl for the simplest outcomes.

I’ll be making a simple library-themed canvas tote bag for this enterprise. Be comfortable to adjust to alongside. Nonetheless within the occasion you’d pretty make a vinyl shirt with Cricut, it is potential you may favor this submit: How one can Make Shirts with Cricut Iron-On Vinyl

Mannequin new to Cricut? It is potential you may want to study this Info to Cricut for Novices, or start with this textual content about which Cricut is greatest for you.

What’s Iron-On Vinyl?

Let’s start on the very beginning with somewhat little bit of particulars about iron-on vinyl itself.

Iron-on vinyl is a selected form of vinyl supplies with a heat-activated adhesive. It’s sometimes known as heat-transfer vinyl or HTV, for transient.

You’ll want to use iron-on vinyl on numerous base provides, along with fabric, metallic, paper, and even wood. To make use of iron-on to your enterprise, you’ll press it with a heat provide, like a household iron or a Cricut EasyPress.

Iron-on vinyl is a thin, versatile supplies that’s obtainable in pre-cut sheets or rolls. When you look intently, you’ll see that iron-on vinyl is manufactured from two layers: the colorful vinyl layer and a clear plastic backing (sometimes known as a plastic supplier sheet or clear plastic liner).

To tell these two layers apart, check out the sheen of each facet. You’ll see a boring facet and a shiny facet. The boring facet is the vinyl, and the shiny facet is the clear plastic supplier sheet.

Phrase: There are two important sorts of vinyl – adhesive vinyl and iron-on vinyl. This submit is about iron-on vinyl. For a whole tutorial on adhesive vinyl, click on on proper right here.)

Is Cricut Iron-On Vinyl the equivalent as Heat Change Vinyl?

In case you’re new to the work of craft vinyl, it is potential you may be questioning: What is the distinction between iron-on and heat-transfer vinyl? 

The reply is easy: nothing! “Iron-on vinyl” and “heat swap vinyl” (or HTV for transient) are merely utterly completely different names for the same issue.

Cricut makes use of the determine “Iron-on,” whereas most completely different producers use the time interval “HTV.” Each method, it’s the equivalent form of material.

A lot much less usually, you may also see iron-on generally known as heat swap supplies and iron-on transfers.

Kinds of Iron-On Vinyl

Iron-on vinyl is out there in every kind of colors and finishes. You can purchase iron-on vinyl in a rainbow of colors, patterns, and finishes – even metallic foil and glitter. It’s accessible to purchase in sheets, rolls, and packs.

Listed under are a variety of of the assorted sorts of iron-on vinyl:

• Sportflex Iron-On: skinny, lightweight, and designed to stretch and flex on activewear supplies like polyester and nylon.
• Foil Iron-On: has a shiny, reflective finish in numerous metallic colors.
• Glitter Iron-On: has a shimmery, glittery affect in numerous utterly completely different colors.
• Patterned Iron-On: is out there in an infinite variety of trendy and primary patterns
• Holographic Iron-On: has an eye fixed catching multi-color finish that modifications throughout the gentle.
• Good Iron-on: will likely be decrease with out a mat on the Cricut Maker 3, Cricut Uncover 3, and Cricut Pleasure fashions.

Multi-Layered Vinyl Designs: You probably can apply a variety of layers of vinyl on prime of each other to create multi-layer designs. Nonetheless, it’s important to make use of the layers inside the precise order to avoid bubbles or ripples. As an illustration, you could apply frequent iron-on on prime of normal iron-on. And you should use frequent iron-on as the underside layer with numerous sorts of specialty iron-on on prime. Nonetheless you could’t use frequent iron-on on prime of glitter iron-on, as an example.

Most interesting Producers of Iron-On Vinyl

Many people start out with the Cricut mannequin Frequently Iron-On Vinyl. Cricut vinyl might be quite simple to work with, and I’ve had good outcomes with it. Yow will uncover it on-line and in most craft outlets.

One different widespread mannequin of iron-on vinyl is Siser Easyweed Vinyl, which is obtainable in extra than 50 colors at Expressions Vinyl.

How one can Use Cricut Iron-On

Within the the rest of this textual content, I’ll current you step-by-step learn how to decrease and apply iron-on vinyl with a Cricut machine. I’ll go over what provides you need, and give you step-by-step instructions for learn how to design, decrease, and weed your vinyl decal.

You’ll want to use the following instructions as a tenet for every kind of iron-on duties. For t-shirt-specific concepts and instructions, strive: How one can Make Shirts with Cricut Iron-On Vinyl.

Provides You’ll Need 

Listed under are the gives and devices you’ll should make a enterprise with iron-on vinyl. Should you occur to’d want to adjust to along with me, you’ll need some black iron-on vinyl and a cotton canvas tote bag.

• Cricut Iron-On Vinyl
• Enterprise base supplies, like a t-shirt or cotton canvas tote bag.
• Cricut machine (I make the most of every the Cricut Maker and the Cricut Pleasure)
• Excellent Degree Blade
• Cricut Design Home
• LightGrip or StandardGrip Slicing Mat
• Weeding devices
• Cricut EasyPress, frequent household iron, or heat press
• Cricut EasyPress mat or a folded towel to protect your work flooring

For further particulars in regards to the Cricut devices you really need, study my Remaining Info to Cricut Devices and Tools.

Phrase: Inside the images that adjust to, I’ll be using the blue LightGrip mat. You possibly can too use a inexperienced StandardGrip mat, which has a bit further stickiness to grip the iron-on.

Preparation

For the simplest outcomes, prewash your fabric base provides with out fabric softener. Prewashing will pre-shrink the fabric and take away any oils or chemical substances which can intrude with right adhesion.

How one can Reduce Iron-On Vinyl

The subsequent step-by-step instructions will current you learn how to decrease iron-on vinyl collectively together with your Cricut machine.

Create the Enterprise in Design Home

Open Design Home and create a model new enterprise. You probably can browse the Cricut Image library for a pre-made design, create your particular person design using the Design Home devices, or add your particular person SVG decrease file.

For my library-themed tote bag, I created a typography-based design using the textual content material instrument in Cricut Design Home. I didn’t like the scale of the interval characters, so I added my very personal circle shapes as a substitute. Then, I linked each factor collectively so it would preserve within the equivalent place after I despatched it to the mat.

After you create your image, you could resize it using the Resize take care of or the Width and High containers throughout the Prime Toolbar.

When your design is full, click on on the Make it Button to ship it to the mat.

Mirror the Design

On the next show display, you’ll see the mat preview. Make sure that to activate the Mirror toggle so that your design is mirrored on the slicing mat. It will seem to be the design is flipped upside-down, like a mirror image.

Why do you mirror iron-on vinyl? It’s important to flip the design on the mat on account of we decrease vinyl “upside-down.” To confirm the design appears correct when utilized to the last word enterprise, now we have to reflect the design sooner than slicing.

Choose the Supplies Settings

On the next show display, you’ll select your specific supplies from the itemizing of provides. You’ll see that there are barely utterly completely different pressure settings for numerous sorts of vinyl, so it is best to undoubtedly select the correct one.

In case you’re using Cricut Frequently Iron-On like I am, choose Frequently Iron-On from the provides itemizing.

Subsequent, simply make certain you may have the Excellent-Degree blade loaded into your machine. After that, you are capable of load your slicing mat into the machine and start the decrease.

Tip: When using a new-to-you supplies, it’s always a very good suggestion to start with a check out decrease. Make a small check out decrease with a small major kind to verify you’ve got acquired the correct decrease settings sooner than you resolve to slicing the complete enterprise.

Place Vinyl on the Slicing Mat

Place the iron-on vinyl onto the slicing mat “shiny facet down.” In several phrases, with the plastic supplier sheet coping with down.

You’ll needless to say iron-on vinyl is made up of two layers: the boring vinyl layer and the shiny plastic supplier sheet. Since we solely want the Cricut to cut by means of the boring and go away the shiny plastic supplier sheet intact, we place the vinyl onto the mat with the supplier sheet coping with down. 

Subsequent, use a brayer to make sure the vinyl has firmly adhered to the mat. Should you occur to don’t have a brayer, you should use a scraper to do the equivalent issue – merely use gentle pressure so that you simply don’t unintentionally scrape the vinyl.

Make the Reduce

Load the slicing mat into the machine. Should you occur to’re using Good Iron-On with the model new Maker 3, Uncover 3, or Pleasure, you could load it into the slicing machine with out a mat.

Press the flashing Go button to cut your design. When the decrease is full, press the Load/Unload button to unload the mat. Now it’s time to weed the design.

How one can Weed Iron-On Vinyl

The next step is to weed the design. Weeding is the strategy of eradicating any further vinyl that’s not part of the design. You’ll take away the extra vinyl throughout the outside of your design and small objects contained within the design – identical to the insides of certain letters.

To weed, press the sharp tip of the weeding instrument into an house of vinyl you want to take away. Seize it with the weeding instrument, and gently pull up and peel it away.

You’ll want to use the hook-shaping weeding instrument, tweezers, an X-Acto blade, your fingers, or irrespective of works. I sometimes use a variety of weeding devices, counting on the intricacy of the design and the scale of the objects I’m attempting to remove.

Weeding Vinyl Step-by-Step

1. Start by weeding the vinyl throughout the outside of your design.
2. Then, take away the objects on the within of the design.
3. Preserve weeding until you’ve eradicated all the excess vinyl, and all that’s left on the plastic supplier sheet is your design.
4. Then, flip the sheet over and see how your final design will look as quickly because it’s right-side up. It’s a good likelihood to double-check your work and be sure you have weeded each factor you don’t want in your final enterprise. 

Can’t see the traces?

Should you occur to’re having trouble seeing the traces of your design, try bending the sheet barely to catch the sunshine. Or, preserve up the piece of vinyl to a vibrant window that can enable you see the traces.

Cricut even makes a lightbox instrument known as a Brightpad, which is designed that can enable you see decrease traces to make weeding easier.

Put collectively to Apply Iron-On Vinyl

Now it’s time to make use of the vinyl to the enterprise. For this step, you’ll need a company pressing flooring, a pressing mat to protect your flooring, and a provide of heat. On this half, I’ll current you learn how to prep your provides for the simplest outcomes and apply the vinyl.

First, organize your workspace. Choose a company, flat pressing flooring. You’ll need a secure flooring that gained’t wiggle or shake when you apply pressure – so avoid flimsy ironing boards.

Subsequent, protect your work flooring with an EasyPress mat or a transparent, folded towel. (I favor using a pressing mat on account of folded towels have lumps and bumps which will intrude collectively together with your swap.

Then, preheat your EasyPress or iron. Use the Cricut Heat data, which is ready to let you understand the exact temperature and pressing time you need in keeping with the form of vinyl and base supplies you’ve got acquired.

In case you’re using a household iron, modify the temperature to the simplest of your capability. Often, you’ll choose the Cotton/Linen setting, which is usually the easiest temperature. Make sure that to indicate the steam setting to OFF. 

Subsequent, prep your base supplies. Lay it out flat on the clear EasyPress mat, and clear out any wrinkles. Use the EasyPress to preheat the fabric for 5 seconds. (This will even help take away any wrinkles.)

How one can Apply Iron-On Vinyl

Now that each factor is prepped and capable of go, we’ll really apply the vinyl.

First, coronary heart the vinyl design on the underside supplies. You’ll want to use a ruler to go looking out the center of the underside supplies. Or, you could fold it in half and make a crease to mark the centerline. 

Then, place the vinyl design on the underside supplies with the shiny facet up. (Be mindful, which implies the plastic supplier sheet is up, and the boring vinyl facet is down, with the heat-sensitive adhesive touching the fabric.)  

Subsequent, apply heat to the vinyl design as instructed by the Cricut Heat Info. The Cricut Heat Info will let you understand exactly what time and temperature to utilize in your specific form of vinyl and base supplies.

Then, flip the enterprise over and apply heat to the once more of the design as instructed by the Cricut Heat Info.

Occasion: For cotton canvas baggage, press with gentle pressure at 340°F for 30 seconds. Then flip and press for an additional 15 seconds.

After that, let the enterprise cool to the contact. Then fastidiously peel off the plastic swap sheet.

Tip: Should you occur to’re using new-to-you provides, I encourage you to do a small check out in an not noticeable house sooner than committing to your whole design. 

Warmth Peel vs. Cool Peel

Some sorts of vinyl are labeled “warmth peel.” Some are labeled “cool peel” or “chilly peel.”

These labels check with the temperature at which you should take away the plastic supplier sheet from the enterprise for best outcomes.

As an illustration, Cricut Frequently Iron-on is “Cool Peel.” Which suggests you’ll need to allow the shirt to relax to the contact sooner than eradicating the plastic liner. Should you occur to remove the liner whereas it’s nonetheless warmth, the iron-on vinyl may not adhere precisely.

Totally different sorts of vinyl identify for a “Warmth Peel,” which suggests you’ll need to remove the plastic sheet whereas it’s nonetheless warmth. Make sure that to study the bundle deal to know what kind of vinyl you’ve got acquired!

How one can Deal with Cricut Iron-On Duties

After making your iron-on duties, you’ll want to wash them fastidiously to ensure they last as long as attainable.

Proper right here’s some advice for laundry iron-on duties:

• First, wait 24 hours after making use of the vinyl sooner than washing the enterprise. 
• Second, flip the enterprise inside out sooner than washing. You probably can wash and tumble dry your iron-on duties, nonetheless avoid the easiest heat settings.
• Don’t use bleach.
• If any areas of iron-on vinyl increase after washing, you can probably reapply it. Merely adjust to the distinctive Heat Info utility instructions to re-adhere the iron-on to the underside supplies.

Solutions and Strategies for Iron-On Vinyl

Listed under are a variety of concepts and strategies to recollect when working with iron-on vinyl.

• Place the iron-on onto the mat with the “shiny-side down”. That means supplier sheet down, boring vinyl coping with up.
• Be mindful to mirror the design! That is possible one of the important steps, and it’s easy to miss!
• Select the proper decrease settings, so that you just don’t decrease by means of the supplier sheet. The supplier sheet acts as your swap tape, so that you simply want to protect it in a single piece.
• Press on the proper temperature. An extreme quantity of heat can wrinkle or warp the design.
• Use a dry iron. When you may have a household iron, don’t use steam. Moisture will forestall the vinyl from sticking to the fabric.
• Preserve the iron nonetheless. Don’t switch the iron spherical whereas pressing, in any other case you risk shifting or wrinkling your vinyl design.
• Should you occur to’re undecided, do a check out decrease and a check out utility!

Troubleshooting Iron-On Points

Iron-on vinyl will likely be tough to get correct at first. Should you occur to’re having trouble collectively together with your shirts, listed under are some points you could try.

The Iron-on vinyl is not sticking down.

Listed under are a variety of of the most common the reason why your Iron-On vinyl isn’t sticking to your enterprise.

1. First, prewash your enterprise to remove any grime, oil, or completely different chemical substances on the fabric. These substances can intrude with right adhesion.
2. Subsequent, double-check that your Cricut EasyPress or household iron is able to the correct temperature in your specific form of vinyl and supplies. Reference the Cricut Heat data to see the useful settings.
3. Then, guarantee that the EasyPress or iron makes full contact together with your whole design. Bumpy work surfaces, seams, zippers, or folds can forestall the EasyPress from making full contact with the vinyl. To avoid this draw back, I wish to suggest using an EasyPress mat on a company, flat work flooring. Like I mentioned above, ironing boards can sometimes be too clean and versatile to supply right help.
4. Be mindful to make use of heat to every the doorway and the once more of the design. As soon as extra, you could confirm the Cricut Heat Info for the useful time frame.
5. If all else fails, you could try to reapply the vinyl. Line up the design, cowl with a Teflon defending sheet, or press material and press the front and back of the shirt with heat for an additional 10-15 seconds.

The vinyl is peeling or effervescent correct after making use of.

First, simply make certain you may have the correct heat settings. Vinyl can bubble or distort within the occasion you press it with an extreme quantity of heat for too prolonged.

Then, guarantee that to peel off the plastic supplier sheet on the correct time. Be mindful how we talked about that some sorts of iron-on vinyl are Warmth Peel, and some are Cool Peel? Vinyl can bubble or peel within the occasion you peel off the plastic supplier sheet on the wrong temperature. Make sure that to double-check the bundle deal instructions and peel the plastic sheet on the precise time.

The vinyl is lifting off after washing the shirt.

If the sides of the vinyl are lifting after washing, they did not adhere accurately. You probably can reapply the vinyl by repeating the preliminary utility steps. Since you don’t have the plastic supplier sheet anymore, you’ll want to cowl the design with a Teflon cowl sheet or a transparent pressing material.

Have questions? Be part of the Fb Group!

We hope this textual content was useful for you! When you may have any further questions, be at liberty to hitch my Fb Group. We created this group so as to share images, ask questions, and help each other out.

I hope this textual content was useful for you! When you may have any further questions, be at liberty to hitch my Fb Group for Cricut Crafts.

Be part of the group to share images, ask questions, and help each other out.

Further Cricut Tutorials and Duties

Should you occur to love to craft with Cricut, you’ll take pleasure in these related posts.

What’s Subsequent?

Pin this submit: Save this tutorial to your Pinterest boards in an effort to come back once more to it later.

Depart a comment: We like to take heed to your ideas. Inform me throughout the suggestions beneath!

Share on Instagram or Fb: When you make this enterprise, share it on social media and tag me @sarahmaker_. We wish to see what you make!