How to Cut Heat Transfer Vinyl on a Cricut Machine

by Jane Melcher
Updated on

Find out how to cut heat transfer vinyl on a Cricut machine by following these simple steps. You’ll be able to create professional looking designs for your t-shirts, bags, and more in no time!

How to Cut Heat Transfer Vinyl on a Cricut MachineCheckout this video:

Introduction

This is a guide on how to cut heat transfer vinyl (HTV) on a Cricut cutting machine. HTV is a type of vinyl that can be used to create designs and logos that can be applied to clothing and other fabric items.

To cut HTV with a Cricut machine, you will need the following supplies:

-HTV vinyl
-Cricut cutting machine
-Cricut cutting mat
-Scissors or razor blade

What You Need

To cut heat transfer vinyl, you will need the following supplies:
-a cutting machine like a Cricut
-heat transfer vinyl
-weeding tool
-scissors or rotary cutter and mat
-tape measure or ruler
-silhouette hook or weeding tweezers (optional)

Preparing the Vinyl

Now that you have your vinyl and shirt, it’s time to get started. The first thing you need to do is weed the excess vinyl from your design. This is the process of removing the parts of the vinyl design that you don’t want on your shirt.

Next, you need to cut your design out of the vinyl. To do this, open Cricut Design Space and upload your design. Then, select “make it” in the top right-hand corner.

On the next screen, select “browse all materials” and then scroll down until you find “heat transfer vinyl”. Select this option and then click “continue” in the bottom right-hand corner.

Now it’s time to cut your design! Load your vinyl into your Cricut machine and press “ cutting begins now” in the bottom right-hand corner. Then let your machine do its thing!

Cutting the Vinyl

Now that you have your Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV) design ready, it’s time to cut it! If you’re using a Cricut machine, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to cut heat transfer vinyl.

1. Start by prepping your design in Design Space. If you need help with that, check out this post.

2. Load your HTV onto your mat using the setting recommended by Cricut (usually between Blade Type 2 and 3). If you’re unsure, err on the side of a higher number – you can always adjust it down if your vinyl isn’t cutting well.

3. Press “Go” in Design Space and watch your Cricut do its thing!

4. Once your design is cut, unload it from the mat and weed away any excess vinyl. You can use weeding tools for this or just go at it with your fingers – whichever works best for you.

5. Now it’s time to apply your design to your chosen fabric! With the glossy/shiny side of the HTV down, lay your fabric on top and press according to the instructions that came with your HTV. I like to use a flat iron for this step, but an ironing board will work just as well.

6. Once you’ve pressedyour design onto the fabric, let it cool for a few moments before peeling away the carrier sheet. If any parts of your design seem loose or are not sticking to the fabric properly, press them again for a few more seconds.

7. All that’s left to do now is enjoy your new custom-made shirt/tote bag/hat/etc!

Applying the Vinyl

Cutting heat transfer vinyl with a Cricut machine is easy, but there are a few things you need to know before you get started. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you cut and apply your vinyl like a pro!

1. Start by designing your project in Cricut Design Space. If you need help, check out our tutorial on how to use Design Space.
2. Once your design is complete, connect your Cricut machine to your computer and load your heat transfer vinyl into the cutting machine. Make sure that the shiny side of the vinyl is facing down so that the design will be cut in reverse.
3. Adjust the settings on your cutting machine so that it knows you are cutting heat transfer vinyl. The recommended setting for Cricut machines is “heat transfer vinyl” with a blade depth of 3 and pressure set to 3.
4. Cut out your design and weed away the excess vinyl so that only your design remains on the clear backing sheet.
5. Place your weeded design onto your shirt (or other fabric item) with the clear backing sheet still attached. Use a towel or ironing board to protect your work surface from heat damage.
6. Preheat your iron to the hottest setting and press down onto the design for 30 seconds. Apply firm pressure evenly over the entire design. You can also use a Heat Press Machine if you have one available.
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Conclusion

Now that you know how to cut heat transfer vinyl on a Cricut Machine, you can make custom T-shirts, bags, and more! With a little practice, you’ll be a pro in no time.

About the author

Jane Melcher

Jane is a stay-at-home small business mom. She makes more than her husband selling her creations on Etsy.

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