Cricut Iron-On (Heat Transfer Vinyl / HTV) & EasyPress 2 Tutorial
Make This Easy, Cricut Iron-On Vinyl, AKA… HTV (Heat Transfer Vinyl)!
Watch the Tutorial HERE…
or…
View the Written Step-By-Step Tutorial Below!
Step 1
Upload Your Image Into Cricut Design Space
• Click the “Upload” Icon
The Upload Icon can be found to the left of the Cricut Design Space canvas (if on a laptop or desktop).
• Click “Upload Image”
• Click “Browse”
• Select The File That You Would Like To Use For This Project (SVG, PNG, or JPG)
Optional: If you would like to use the same image that I used, you can download that for FREE here:
• Click “Open” to use the file
• Click “Continue” at the bottom right hand side of the screen (if on a laptop or desktop).
Step 2
Select Image Type
When uploading an image other than an SVG file (such as a JPG or PNG) Cricut Design Space asks you for a little more help / information so that it can best process your image.
One of the ways in which Cricut Design Space asks for a little more help is by having you select your image type. They give you 3 options:
• Simple
• Moderately Complex
• Complex
You are welcome to select any option that you would like, but my rule of thumb is to always select “complex” despite how “simple” the image may be. I do this nearly every single time and it’s never failed me yet.
Once you make your selection, click “Continue” at the bottom right of the screen (if you’re on a laptop or desktop).
Step 3
Select & Erase
If the image you’re uploading has a background, this is where you can easily remove it with a click of a button.
Also, If you have any portion of the image you’re uploading that you do not want to be a part of your final image, this is your opportunity to remove it.
Once you’re finished editing your image, click “Continue” at the bottom right of the screen (if on a laptop or desktop computer).
Step 4
Save as Cut Image
Select the second option, on the right side of the screen, “Save as a Cut image.”
Hint: Look for the clip art image of a pair of scissors, and the phrase
Step 5
Insert Image on to Canvas
After saving the image as a cut image, browse under “recently uploaded images.” You should see the most recent image at the top left of the images. Select the image you want to use.
Step 6
Resize The Image In Cricut Design Space To Fit Your Surface
The tea towel will be folded into thirds, with the HTV displayed on the “middle” third of the towel. To size the image correctly, we will measure the entire width of the towel (18”), and then divide by three, which means each folded section is 6”.
In Cricut Design Space you should have the image open from step 5. Go to the top of the screen and for the width, enter “5” next to “W”.
Since our finished, displayed section of the towel will be 6″, we want to make sure there is enough space on each side of the HTV to have a clean fold, without the vinyl interfering with the crease.
Pro Tip—Cricut Design Space will automatically keep the height proportional to the width as you change the dimensions.
Now go to the top right hand corner of the screen and Click, “Make It.”
Step 7
Cricut Settings for Iron-On Vinyl / HTV / Heat Transfer Vinyl & Loading Your Mat
Cut the appropriate size of HTV and apply it to the mat, starting in the top left corner of the mat. Remember that the HTV should always be applied SHINY SIDE DOWN.
*VERY IMPORTANT* ———> Select “Mirror” on the top left of the screen.
Click “Continue”
Then set the type of material you are using. We are using “Everyday Iron-On” in this tutorial.
Load the prepared mat into your Cricut machine by inserting it until it stops.
Next, press the flashing arrow button on your Cricut. The mat should then feed into the machine.
Now you are ready to cut! Select the flashing “C” and your Cricut will begin cutting out your design.
After it finishes cutting, don’t forget to press the flashing arrow again before removing your mat from the machine.
Step 8
Hack for Removing Vinyl from the Cricut Mat
Flip your mat over, vinyl-side down, and slowly peel it away from the vinyl. This prevents your vinyl from becoming stretched, “rolled”, or damaged in the process.
Step 9
Cricut Vinyl Weeding Hack
My Vinyl Weeding Hack:
• Wrap a strip of painters tape around your hand (sticky side facing out) to create a loop / ring.
• Apply the tape to the surface of your crafting area directly in front of you.
• Repeat the process with a second strip of painters tape, except this time, place the tape about 8-12″ to the right of the first piece of tape if you’re right handed, or 8-12″ to the left of the first piece of tape if you’re left handed.
• Stick the HTV, shiny-side down, on to the center strip of painters tape.
• Using your weeding tool, pick at one of the corners of the vinyl until you are able to pull the vinyl off of and away from the clear (built-in) transfer tape underneath.
• Once the transfer tape is visible, be sure to apply pressure to it with your non-dominant hand to keep it pressed up against the surface of your workspace as you continue to slowly peel away the excess HTV.
• Continue to carefully weed out the excess HTV, being sure not to miss any pieces hidden in the middle of letters or in smaller areas in or around other objects.
• As you weed, you will notice that more often than not, the little bits of weeded vinyl will stick to the end of your weeding tool. When this happens, I like to swipe my weeding tool across the second piece of painters tape to quickly and easily get the vinyl off of my tool, but to also keep my crafting area super clean.
Step 10
The BEST Cricut EasyPress / Easy Press Settings for Iron On Vinyl
.Okay, I admit it, I’m totally cheating on this one, but Cricut has an amazing site that is the quickest and the most perfect HTV heat guide available.
• Visit: https://cricut.com/en_us/heatguide
• Select the type of Cricut EasyPress you’re using:
– Cricut EasyPress Mini
– Cricut EasyPress 2
or…
– Cricut EasyPress
• Select the type of Heat Transfer Material you will be using.
• Select your base material.
• Select if you’re using a Cricut EasyPress Mat or a rolled towel.
• Once you click “Apply,” Cricut will tell you:
– the temperature to set your EasyPress to.
– how long to preheat the surface prior to applying the iron on / heat transfer vinyl.
– how long to leave the Easy Press on your vinyl.
– the amount of pressure needed.
– whether to do a cold peel or warm peel with the transfer tape.
Side Note:
A Hot Peel or Warm Peel is where you safely remove the transfer tape from your surface / vinyl while it’s still warm.
A Cold Peel is where you remove the transfer tape from your surface / vinyl once it’s had a chance to fully cool off.
Step 11
Applying Your Cricut Iron-On Vinyl / HTV / Heat Transfer Vinyl
• Set your EasyPress with the settings you learned from Step #10.
• Preheat your material / surface.
• Apply parchment paper or a teflon sheet over your vinyl. This will help protect your surface from excess heat exposure.
• Apply your EasyPress over top of the parchment paper for the recommended time.
• Place your EasyPress back into its cradle.
• Peel your transfer tape off according to the directions stated in step #10 (Cold Peel or Hot Peel).
Step 12
Enjoy!
Remember that your tea towel should be used primarily for decorative purposes and should not be washed unless it accidentally becomes dirty.
If hand washing the towel does not work, try putting it in your washing machine on a light cycle in cold water.
Let it hang dry.