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Cricut Beginner Tutorial: How to Use Heat Transfer Vinyl

This tutorial will show you how to cut your first heat transfer vinyl project using a Cricut Maker, Explore, or Joy machine.

 

 

Heat transfer vinyl, also called HTV, is a vinyl that adheres to your material when pressed with heat.

We are using the Fur Mama svg design for this project.

 

Beginner SVG Design Set from So Fontsy

 

Open your design in Cricut Design Space.

 

 

Select all of the layers and Click ATTACH to keep all of the pieces in place.
Click Make it and click the slider to Mirror your design (this is very important!)
Place the heat transfer vinyl onto the Cricut mat with the shiny side facing down on the mat. Be sure there are no bubbles.
The shiny side is the carrier sheet. You do not need transfer tape with HTV.
Load the mat and cut using the Heat Transfer setting.
Before discharging the mat, check to make sure that it has cut all the way through. 
Now it's time to "weed" your design. This means you are removing all the extra pieces of the design that you do not plan to press onto your project.
We have used a "weeding box" around the design. For more information on using weeding boxes CLICK HERE.
Once you are done weeding the heat transfer vinyl, trim around the design and save the rest of your HTV for another project.
Place the design with the shiny carrier sheet facing upwards, onto your shirt.
With an iron, press the design onto the shirt with firm pressure for 30-40 seconds right over the shiny carrier sheet.
Peel one corner to check that the heat transfer vinyl has properly adhered. If it is peeling up, apply more pressure with the iron for another 10-20 seconds.
Once it's complete, peel back the carrier sheet. You've now made your first heat transfer vinyl project with your Cricut and an iron! 
PIN this project for later:
Cricut Beginner Tutorial How to Use Heat Transfer Vinyl So Fontsy

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