Making Shirts With Cricut: A Guide to Get Started

Undoubtedly, using the Cricut machine is fun. But what about making shirts with Cricut? Obviously, it is easy. I am a professional crafter, and I own a mid-level crafting business. I love to experiment with several DIY projects, and shirts are one of them. If you are a great fan of handmade crafts and want to create shirts of your choice, I can help you with the right steps.

In the post right here, I will share with you all the crafters how to make shirts that everyone will praise. Yes, you get it right. By reading through this blog, you will get to know everything that revolves around creating shirts while using a Cricut machine. Dive deep into it and find the steps to design and make shirts with Cricut iron-on vinyl.

Why Make Shirts With a Cricut Machine?

Once you get to your Cricut machine, the first thing that comes into your mind is why make shirts when you have a Cricut. A beginner as well as an experienced crafter can find it easy and fun to create a design, iron the design onto the shirts, and more. There are other reasons, too. Find them below.

• Cricut shirt-making machine helps create the shirts exactly the way you want.
• Shirt-making is a cool crafting project that even a person without crafting experience can do.
• When you choose to create designs with your Cricut, the design will last longer than expected.
• These are ideal for clubs, holidays, and parties.
• You can start a side business.

Materials You Will Need for Making Shirts With Cricut

Did you make up your mind to make shirts with a Cricut machine? Well, first gather these materials and then enter into the tutorial.

• Plain shirt. You can use cotton or cotton blends
• Cricut everyday iron-on vinyl
• StandardGrip Cricut mat
• Cricut machine. You can use Cricut Maker Setup, Cricut Explore Air 2, or Joy.
• Cricut Design Space software
• Iron

How to Make Shirts With Cricut: 7 Easy-to-Follow Steps

There are three basic steps involved in the process of creating eye-catching shirts. In this section, I will explain all the steps thoroughly. Understand them and then follow them carefully and properly.

Step 1: Designing a Shirt

The first part of getting started with creating a shirt is making a design of your choice. Follow the below-mentioned steps to create an excellent design.

1. The first thing to do is open the Cricut Design Space app.
2. Once you are there, tap on the Start a New Project option.
3. After that, move to the left-hand menu.
4. Now, select the Template option that is present there.
5. Alternatively, you can skip the template option.
6. Then, select the Image option and add your predesigned image.
7. Insert the design you want properly.
8. Next, add the shape or text you want to include in the project.

This way, you can finalize the design you want to have in your shirt project. One thing you need to note is that if you want to get printed iron-on vinyl elements in similar colors, move to the layer menu and make changes.

Step 2: Resizing Your Shirt Design

The next step in making shirts with Cricut is to use the right size for the design. Look at the step-by-step instructions below to determine the appropriate size for the design.

1. In this step, you will need to determine the placement of the iron-on elements.
2. If you are satisfied, look at all the elements.
3. After that, select all the elements available.
4. Finally, resize the design based on your choice.

Step 3: Cutting Out the Design

After the design is resized, the following step you need to move on is cutting out your design. To do this, here are step-by-step instructions.

1. If you find that the design is nice, tap on Select All.
2. After that, hit the Attach option.
3. Next, you will need to click Make It. You can find it at the top-right of the app.
4. When the next screen appears, make sure to choose Mirror.
5. On the following screen, press Continue.
6. Move to your Cricut machine and set the Dial to Custom.
7. Following this, enter the Cricut Design Space screen.
8. Now, select the right material in the app.
9. Then, choose the iron-on type from the given options.
10. Move close to your Cricut machine.
11. Find the Open button and click the power button.
12. Later, load the mat along with the iron-on vinyl.
13. Lastly, look for the flashing button and press it.

With these steps, your machine will start cutting out the design. Have some patience, and then go to the next step.

Step 4: Remove the Excess Vinyl & Weeding Design

When your machine is done cutting, unload the mat and remove the excess vinyl from your design. Here are the steps to guide you through weeding.

1. Go back to your cut design.
2. Make sure to remove the vinyl sheet from your Standard Grip mat.
3. Then, peel away the excess vinyl you find in your cut design.
4. After that, grab your weeding tool.
5. Use it to remove the remaining vinyl from your design.
6. Finally, ensure to remove all the tiny and extra bits from your project.

Step 5: Preheating Your Blank Shirt

It is one of the most careful steps, and thus, you need to follow it with extra care. You can preheat your shirt either with an iron or with an EasyPress.

Option 1: Using an Iron

Are you using an iron to preheat your shirt? Then, follow these super helpful instructions.

1. Go to your iron and plug it into the power source.
2. Be sure to set your iron to the cotton setting without any steam.
3. After some, you will find that your iron has warmed up.
4. Press your shirt for approximately 15 seconds.

Option 2: With Cricut EasyPress

Cricut users who are using EasyPress to iron their shirts can follow these instructions.

1. The first thing to do is set up your EasyPress machine on a flat surface that is heat-resistant.
2. Now, go to the machine’s manual and set the correct temperature.
3. Also, make the correct time settings,
4. When you see that your machine’s light has tured green, you can use it.
5. Run the machine over the materials.

These are the two efficient and time-saving ways you can preheat your shirt and make it ready for the next steps. But the process of making shirts with Cricut is not over yet. You will need to move to the next step which is applying the design.

Step 6: Applying the Design to Your Shirt

After you have preheated the shirt, now comes the steps to apply the design to the shirt. Go with these steps.

1. First, take a ruler or tape measure in your hand.
2. Then, keep your design on the shirt.
3. At last, make sure that the vinyl is against the shirt.

Step 7: Apply Heat on the Shirt and Design

You can use either iron or EasyPress to apply heat. Let’s know how you can use them in this section.

1. First, place your iron on the top of the design on your shirt.
2. The next thing you need to do is press the design for approximately 30 seconds.
3. Then, take your iron and position it differently.
4. Try pressing the design and the shirt
5. Keep repeating the steps and press the complete design.
6. After that, turn the shirt side down.
7. Repeat the complete ironing process.
8. In the case of EasyPress, follow these steps.
9. Set your EasyPress on the design’s top.
10. Click on the green button available.
11. Once the machine starts to beep, remember to remove it.
12. Set the machine on the base.
13. Lastly, flip the material and repeat the process.

Step 8: Remove the Iron-On Vinyl Carrier Sheet From Design

It is the last step that involves removing the iron-on vinyl carrier sheet right from the design. But, before you carry these steps, make your design cool first. Wait for some minutes till the design cools, and then begin removing the sheet.

Conclusion

With the guide above, you can feel pretty confident in making shirts with Cricut. Get heat transfer vinyl first, as it is an easy-to-use material, and crafters can find it as an ideal material to create their shirt projects. Moreover, you can experiment with several designs and come up with the designs you have thought to include in the design. So, go and start creating shirts of your dreams right away.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Sell Shirts After Designing Them From Cricut?

Yes, you can sell shirts you have made from the Cricut machine. But, if you are designing for selling purposes, make sure that the designs are professional-looking and eye-catching too. Follow the steps of making shirts with Cricut precisely and carefully. Only then will you become able to come up with shirts that sell and attract people?

Do I Need to Take Extra Care of My New Custom Shirt Made From Cricut?

Even though the shirt from Cricut is permanent you will need to keep extra care to make the design last long. Wait for a minimum of around 24 hours before you wash your shirt. Once you wash the shirt, hang it to dry. Alternatively, you can go with a cool dryer setting. All these make the design last for a long time.

What Are the Steps to Making Shirts With a Cricut Machine?

Want to know how to make shirts with Cricut? If you have planned to make shirts with Cricut, then you need to follow some instructions. The below steps can help you.

1. Designing shirt in the Cricut Design Space
2. Cutting out design
3. Removing access vinyl and weeding design
4. Preheating shirt
5. Applying design
6. Pressing the design
7. Removing the carrier sheet

For more information visit: www.cricut.com/setup login

Cricut setup on computer

Source: Making Shirts With Cricut