If you’re new to working with a Cricut machine, you might be wondering—can you make clothes with a Cricut? You can customize different types of apparel with Cricut, including t-shirts, hats, and more! Learn more with this post, which was sponsored by Cricut.
Can you make clothes with a Cricut?
Hey everyone! Today I have another Cricut collab for you—and I’m pretty excited about this one since it’s the first post I’ve done about Cricut’s new hat press. I’ll be talking about the different types of clothes I’ve customized with Cricut, including the different ways to customize t-shirts, tank tops, baby bodysuits, costumes, and hats.
How do you make clothes with a Cricut?
It’s true that you can make some types of clothes with a Cricut. The Cricut Maker has a rotary blade and the ability to cut fabric, while the Explore machines can use a bonded fabric blade to cut some fabrics (but not the rotary blade).
Given the size of things that Cricut machines can cut, actually making clothes can be an issue for larger sizes. It can be perfect for baby clothes or doll clothes. But generally Cricut machines are used to cut intricate designs that are then applied to clothes.
What are the options for customizing clothes with a Cricut?
If you want to customize clothes with a Cricut machine, you have two easy options:
- Iron-on material, which comes in a variety of finishes, colors, and patterns. This material is adhered to an item and sits on top of it. It can peel or crack over time, but I’ve found that it generally holds up very well to wash and wear.
- Infusible Ink, which comes in a variety of bright and interesting colors and patterns. This is a permanent transfer that is actually infused into a material, so you need to use specific types of materials for it to work.
I’ll cover both of these options while going over the clothes you can customize with a Cricut. So let’s start with the easiest: a shirt using iron-on.
Can you make clothes with a Cricut machine? Yes!
1. Shirts customized using iron-on material
Making t-shirts with a Cricut machine is probably the most common gateway to using a Cricut machine. We’ve all been there! We think of something we want on a shirt but can’t find it anywhere. So why not make it ourselves?
Here’s what you can use to customize a shirt with iron-on material:
- Any Cricut machine
- Any shirt blank
- Iron-on material
- Cutting mat (unless you’re using Smart Materials)
- Weeding tool
- EasyPress (household iron works too, but EasyPress ensures the best transfer)
If you’re super new to Cricut, they have a very basic guide on their website about how to make a t-shirt using iron-on material. I also have posts on the best Cricut for making shirts, which covers making shirts in great detail.
Of course I’ve also made my fair share of shirts! Some of my favorites have been the tank tops I customized using Everyday Iron-on material, as well as a gorgeous iron-on shirt I made for my daughter using Cricut’s holographic mosaic iron-on material.
2. Shirts customized using Infusible Ink
The next step in your Cricut shirt journey will probably be Infusible Ink. And let me tell you what—I LOVE Infusible Ink. Iron-on material is a classic, but Infusible Ink is permanent and looks fantastic.
Here’s what you need to customize a shirt using Infusible Ink:
- Any Cricut machine
- Infusible Ink—comes in a variety of patterns and colors
- Infusible Ink compatible blank shirt
- Cutting mat
- EasyPress—highly recommended for Infusible Ink
The thing to be aware of with Infusible Ink is that it is not compatible with all materials. For example, it will not transfer to 100% cotton material. For best results, just grab one of Cricut’s compatible blanks. I have used every one of Cricut’s apparel blanks, and all of the transfers were flawless.
Here are a few examples of shirt’s I’ve made! These show the toddler t-shirt blanks, the kids t-shirt blank, and the women’s t-shirt blank. For posts about these projects, check out how to use Infusible Ink on an adult t-shirt, layering Infusible Ink and iron-on, and using Infusible Ink on a toddler shirt blank (among other things!).
3. Custom baby bodysuits
Custom baby bodysuits are also an adorable item of clothing you can make using a Cricut. You can use iron-on for designs if you have a specific bodysuit or item of clothing you’d like to use. Cricut also has bodysuit blanks designed for use with Infusible Ink.
Here’s what you need to make a baby bodysuit with a Cricut:
- Any Cricut machine
- Infusible Ink and compatible blank OR iron-on material and almost any blank
- Cutting mat
- EasyPress
Here are a few examples of baby bodysuits I’ve made using both iron-on material and Infusible Ink. They both went over really well with the parents, too 🙂 (I have a post about using Infusible Ink on baby bodysuits for more, too.)
4. Costumes
Costumes might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of making clothes with a Cricut. But if you’ve ever made a costume before, you know that your Cricut machine is your best friend! I have made two costumes using my Cricut machine.
I used iron-on for both of my costumes. The first project used SportFlex Iron-On material, which is a great option for stretchy costume materials, as well as Glitter Iron-On. The other project used Everyday Iron-On and a plain cotton t-shirt.
Here are a few examples of the projects! A family PJ Masks costume and a DIY pineapple costume for a toddler. (Also both were great last-minute costumes that we threw together with a few Amazon orders, digging through the closet, and a Cricut machine.)
5. Custom hats made using the Hat Press
And the last project is the one I’m most excited about because it is the first time I’ve used the Cricut Hat Press! Unlike the other presses Cricut offers, the Hat Press has a curved ceramic heat plate to help you make consistent, wrinkle-free heat transfers.
This is perfect for iron-on projects, but it’s also great for Infusible Ink. That’s because Cricut also released hat blanks that are fully compatible with Infusible Ink transfer sheets!
So here’s what you need to make a custom hate using the hat press:
- Any Cricut machine
- Infusible Ink and compatible blank OR iron-on material and almost any blank
- Cutting mat
- Hat Press
- Hat blank—I’m working with a trucker hat and Infusible Ink hat for this tutorial
Step 1: Design your hat in Design Space & cut
I used a few elements in Design Space to design mine (the starbursts are #M3D919DE3 and the font is Baylac). Keep in mind that, for best results, Cricut recommends that designs are not larger than 4.25 in wide by 2.25 in high.
I then cut my design out using my Cricut Explore 3 and an Infusible Ink transfer sheet. Make sure to mirror your design before cutting it!
Step 2: Set up your heat press
Make sure you have the Cricut Heat Guide app downloaded and paired to your phone. Select “Start a New Project” and then “Infusible Ink Transfer Sheet” as the transfer material. The blank for this one is “Trucker Hat.”
The app then routed me to a quick tutorial in the app, which was really handy. It’s the same short video I watched on Cricut’s website, and it walks you through the process. (The process is pretty much the same as other Infusible Ink projects.)
The app will then give you the recommended settings. For this project, they are a 5-second preheat, a 90-second press with constant, moving pressure, and a cool peel.
Step 3: Cut, weed, and apply your design
Cut, weed, and apply your design. Make sure you pre-heat your hat as your app instructs you too. Then use a lint roller to clean it off completely.
Make sure that when you apply your design, you use heat-resistant tape to adhere the design as tightly as possible. Put it all around the border, smoothing the design down as you tape.
As butcher tape as well, using heat-resistant tape to keep that in place. And then apply constant, moving pressure using the heat press to transfer the design. Make sure you curve back and forth, evenly covering the entire design. My first transfer, the edges of the design didn’t transfer completely because I didn’t move the press far enough back and forth.
Step 4: Let cool and remove the transfer sheet and tape
Let the project cool completely and then remove the transfer sheet, Infusible Ink paper, butcher paper, and tape. And there’s your beautiful design!
Pin my post about how to make clothes with a Cricut!
