How To Make A Shirt With Cricut
Have you wondered how to make a shirt with your Cricut? I’ll show you how with this step by step tutorial how easy it is!
I kept it very simple for the beginners. For best results pre wash your shirt in case in shrinks, then you won’t wind up having a problem with cracking or peeling vinyl.
I am selling similar shirts on this site and in my Etsy shop. If you are an email subscriber, you will receive a 20% off coupon code, and if you’re not-what are you waiting for!?
This post contains affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at NO extra charge to you. It helps with keeping this blog running!
Which Vinyl To Use
You definitely want to make sure you use heat transfer vinyl (HTV) or iron on vinyl for this. They are both the exact same thing.
I also suggest if this is your first time using a Cricut to start with regular HTV and not glitter, the reason is glitter is harder to weed. If you will be using glitter, practice on some old clothes.
Best Shirts for Cricut
I do prefer brands like Next Level, Bella and Canvas, and American Apparel, their fabric is the softest and most comfortable to me.
How To Make Your Shirt
I chose to keep this very simple. You can use free fonts you find on Pinterest, Dafont.com or FontBundles, etc.
Open Design Space and click New Project. On the left hand side click add text. I chose to use the word grateful in Averde font. I then sized my word to be 8 inches long and 2 inches in height.
How to Install A Font in Design Space
Design Space comes with a lot of different fonts to choose from but I chose to use this one from FontBundles.net
Download the font that you want to use. It will usually come in a zipped folder. Tip: I move the folder onto my Desktop so I can find it easier.
Unzip the font file folder. Now double click on the individual font file. When the file is open right click and scroll down to Install.
Once the font is installed, open Cricut Design Space. (If Design Space is already open, you may need to close it and reopen it.)
Now to access your font in Design Space, you must go to System. You can see that in the image below.
Using Design Space
When sizing your word, you want to unlock the lock on top, you can see that in the image below. If you don’t unlock the lock, your image or words will get stretched out. Also depending on what font you choose, you might have to add height or length to the word for it to look right.
The average length for an image to go across is 10 inches on an adult shirt. Any longer and it might not fit or look right.
Once that’s done and your design looks good, click continue.
Now make sure you mirror your image. All HTV MUST be mirrored. See below. Click “Make It”.
On the next screen, select your base material. Choose Everyday Iron-On from the Popular materials list. I’m using a Cricut Explore Air 2 so I turned the wheel on the Cricut to Iron-On.
Prepping Your Vinyl
To prepare your vinyl, lay it shiny side down onto the cutting mat. Cricut should have an arrow blinking, press that button, then press Go.
Once it’s done cutting, unload your mat and start weeding the vinyl. I like to start with any letters that have holes inside first, make sure you get those out!
Using EasyPress
Lay a towel on a hard surface. I use my kitchen table for this! Set your Easy Press for the recommended settings. Cricut has a heat guide here.
Preheat your shirt for 5 seconds. Once the Easy Press is done heating up, you can press! My shirt was a cotton/poly blend, so the recommended heat was 315 degrees for 30 seconds, then turn the shirt inside out and heat the back of the vinyl for 15 seconds.
Lay Out Your Vinyl
I love this shirt ruler, it has saved me headaches making shirts for babies, toddlers and adults! For adult shirts you want to go down 2 inches from the neckline.
Put your vinyl down, sticky side on shirt and start pressing. You don’t have to press hard.
When the shirt is cool to the touch, peel off the plastic liner.
To make sure your vinyl lasts, wait 24 hours before washing your shirt. Turn your shirt inside out before washing and tumble dry on low heat.
I hope this was helpful make sure you pin it, you come back to it at a later time!
For more easy Cricut projects check out DIY Halloween Glass Cup, DIY Indoor Porch Sign, and DIY Christmas Reverse Canvas Sign.
Make sure you guys sign up for my emails so you never miss another great post! Don’t worry I won’t clutter your inbox with junk everyday, only twice a week!
As usual, if you guys have any questions or comments please feel free to email me or comment in the box below and I will get back to you as soon as possible! Happy Crafting!
Want lifetime access to my resource library?
Subscribe to get the latest deals, DIY Projects, Recipes and more! Bonus, when you subscribe you will have FREE access to my resource library filled with over 50 printables as my gift to you!
