Creating custom home décor and gifts is one of my favorite things to do with a Cricut. Today I’m sharing how easy it is to make a custom kids shirt using Cricut Infusible Ink. Follow along for all the details and let me share why this new material is perfect for t-shirts.
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Custom shirts like this cute state sweatshirt are so fun to make and wear. As a crafter I almost always prefer to make instead of buy, it satisfies my crafting need and I get something usable out of the deal.
My daughter wanted a shirt that summed up her personality so of course I obliged. We’ve made holiday shirts together before, like this iron on St. Patrick’s Day creation. But this time she wanted something she could wear year round.
There are a number of ways to make a shirt with Cricut. you can use traditional iron, or you can use infusible in transfer sheets or pens. In this tutorial I am sharing how to create a shirt with infusible ink transfer sheets.
How to design a Cricut shirt
There are a few options for designing a Cricut shirt. You can make this as quick or in depth as you are in the mood for.
- Use a pre-made design or project in Cricut Design Space. When you open the software you are given the option to choose a project that is all ready to go. All you have to do is click Make it. You can also search images and choose one there, size it correctly then make it.
- Use an SVG file you purchased or download outside of Cricut.
- Create your own. I’m going to walk you through how to create your own design that works well with Cricut Infusible ink.
What is Cricut Infusible Ink
Cricut infusible ink is a fairly new product that allows you to infuse color onto a base for a permanent and vibrant look. The base options from Cricut are growing all the time. This material really lasts, no flaking or peeling over time! It can be applied to any compatible base and comes in a wide range of colors and patterns.
You can see how I applied infusible ink to coasters and read on to learn how to apply it to a t-shirt.
To create your own graphic with infusible ink, first think about what you want it to say or show. My daughter wanted a cute shirt that showed off her love of reading.
Next, choose something simple with large blocks of text or image to really highlight the colors and patterns in the infusible ink.
I chose to write out the words using 2 fonts, Cricut Sans and DonJuan – Marquee. The boxy font shows off the color of the ink. Most infusible ink has fun patterns that you can’t find on iron on or vinyl.
Infusible ink comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns, the pattern used on this shirt is Brushed sunset.
Cutting infusible ink transfer sheets
Here are the steps for cutting these sheets. They are thick and hard and come on a roll. Make sure your hands are clean and try not the handle the ink side too much.
Once your image is designed and ready to cut. Adjust your Cricut Explore Air 2 to the custom setting and choose infusible ink in design sppace. Next, mirror your image! It will cut backwards on the mat.
Lay a sheet on a mat with the colorful side up and begin your cut.
Weeding this material is different from vinyl and iron on. Gently pull it from the mat and cut away any excess to use another time.
Crack the material at the lines and use your fingers to pull up the unwanted parts. Use a weeding tool to help as needed. The edges can be sharp so move carefully.
Now it’s time to prep the t-shirt. You will need the following
- Cricut EasyPress
- EasyPress mat
- White cardstock
- Butcher paper – this comes with the infusible ink
- T-shirt
- Lint roller
- Cut infusible ink image, weeded and ready to go
Use the heat guide to set your EasyPress for the right temperature. I have this bookmarked and refer to it for all my projects.
Lay the shirt on the mat with a piece of cardstock in between the layers. Ensure there is no lint or anything else on the shirt, use a lint roller just to be safe.
Place the ink on the shirt with a piece of butcher paper over the top. Place the heated EasyPress on top for the allotted time. Do no move it around, the ink will smear.
When the time is up, pull the EasyPress straight up and pull back the butcher paper. Everything will be very hot! Let it cook before pulling the plastic back.
Here is what I love about infusible ink shirts. They are so soft! This acts likes screen-printing and the ink infuses into the fabric creating a smooth look and feel.
I hope you learned some tips today, take these with you and start creating your own custom shirts with Cricut infusible ink.
Pin this project to save the steps.
Thanks for visiting!
