How To Use A Cricut EasyPress 2 To Make A Vinyl Shirt – Tutorial & Video

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I make a commission from purchases made through links in my posts, at no extra cost to you. Read my disclosure for more information.

I made this signal layer heat transfer vinyl (HTV) shirt design with my Cricut EasyPress 2. I used iron-on mesh vinyl for this project and it is perfect for parents, and their kid’s biggest sports fans. I even created a short video and a Cricut design file so you can make this signal vinyl design for yourself too! You can find both in this post.

Cricut-Football-mom-Vinyl-design

Since my son plays football and I already made him his own custom shirt with his jersey number with layered vinyl design. (If you want to see the layered vinyl post go here!) I wanted to get in on the action and made my own custom shirt. You can see from the image below here is what my shirt looks like. This design will work great for dads and maternity shirts as well!

Product Used To Make A Cricut EasyPress 2 Shirt Using HTV

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How To Use A Cricut EasyPress 2 To Make A Shirt – Tutorial

These are the steps I use to make a shirt using a Cricut EasyPress 2 and a signal layer of heat transfer vinyl (HTV).

  1. Cut your design out of the vinyl with the shiny side down on your cutting mat and mirror image turned on.
  2. Preheat you Cricut EasyPress 2 following the Cricut EasyPress Heating Setting Chart here! (You can find this chart at the bottom of the post.)
  3. The Cricut button will turn “Green” when the EasyPress 2 is ready to be used on your project.
  4. Put your EasyPress Mat inside your shirt and pre-press the area where you would like add your design to go for 5 seconds. (This will remove extra moister from the design area.)
  5. Place your design (shiny side up) on the shirt where the EasyPress Mat is located.
  6. Following the project directions for your iron-on material time and temperature. Info can be found here (https://cricut.com/en_us/heatguide or see the chart below)
  7. Put the EasyPress 2 on top of your vinyl design and set the time.
  8. Remove EasyPress 2 when the timer is done.
  9. For the leave the clear backing on from your vinyl layer on the shirt. (Very important step!)
  10. Remove your EasyPress Mat inside your shirt.
  11. Turn the shirt inside out so the design is now on the inside.
  12. Put your EasyPress Mat inside your shirt with the vinyl design sitting in the middle of your mat.
  13. Make sure the clear backing is still attached to the vinyl design.
  14. Put the EasyPress 2 on top of the vinyl layer and set the time.
  15. Remove EasyPress 2 when the timer is done.
  16. Let the vinyl layer and shirt cool.
  17. Turn the shirt right-side out so the design is now on the outside of the shirt.
  18. Peel the clear backing from your vinyl design.


Very important tip: Don’t forget! When you do any heat press or transfer projects that your image and text needs to be a mirror image. You must do this before you run your project through the Cricut machine or everything will be backward! Unless that was your plan for the project from the beginning!

My downloadable Cricut template has the layout for moms and dads so you don’t have to change a thing. Only print the template you need for the shirt you want to design.

I used a polyester shirt and the Cricut mesh iron-on. The EasyPress 2 should be set to 315 Fahrenheit for 30 seconds. Once the front is done I flipped the shirt inside out and pressed the back of the design for 15 seconds. I removed the clear transfer liner when the design was cool to the touch.

You can get the download of this Cricut SVG signal layer vinyl project file, so you can make this craft for yourself.

How To Use A Cricut EasyPress 2 To Make A Shirt – Video

Here is a video detailing all of the steps of how I did this signal layer vinyl shirt project with my Cricut EasyPress.

Cricut BrightPad

Cricut EasyPress Heating Setting Chart

This chart below details the heat settings and timing for the different material that you can use with the Cricut heat transfer vinyl and iron-on product line. Feel free to print this post so you can save this chart for yourself. In each block the heat setting is on top and the timing for the transfer is in seconds on the lower half of the dividing line. The letter in parentheses is telling you how to set the Mini EasyPress. (L) is for the Low setting and the (M) is for the medium setting. I included a detailed notes section at the bottom of the chart for how to use the Mini EasyPress settings.

Cricut EasyPress Heating Setting Chart
Warm Peel Cold Peel
Everyday,
Lite, &
Metallic		   Glitter   Holographic Sport-Flex   Foil   Patterned
Burlap 305F (M)
30s		 305F (M)
30s		 305F (M)
30s		 Don’t Use Don’t Use Don’t Use
Cotton 315F (M)
30s		 330F (M)
30s		 330F (M)
30s		 Don’t Use 295F (L)
30s		 340F (M)
50s
Cotton/
Poly Blend		 315F (M)
30s		 330F (M)
30s		 330F (M)
30s		 Don’t Use 295F (L)
30s		 340F (M)
50s
Cotton/
Canvas		 340F (M)
50s		 270F (L)
30s		 285F (L)
30s		 Don’t Use 290F (L)
30s		 340F (M)
50s
Felt 280F (L)
30s		 270F (L)
30s		 285F (L)
30s		 Don’t Use 280F (L)
30s		 265F (L)
20s
Jersey Mesh 280F (L)
30s		 Don’t Use Don’t Use Don’t Use 280F (L)
30s		 Don’t Use
Polyester 315F (M)
30s		 330F (M)
30s		 330F (M)
30s		 305F (M)
30s		 295F (M)
30s		 Don’t Use
Silk 280F (L)
30s		 Don’t Use Don’t Use Don’t Use 255F (L)
30s		 Don’t Use
Nylon 280F (L)
30s		 Don’t Use Don’t Use 305F (L)
30s		 255F (L)
30s		 Don’t Use
Cardstock 280F (L)
30s		 290F (L)
30s		 290F (L)
30s		 Don’t Use 270F (L)
30s		 290F (L)
30s
Chipboard 315F (M)
30s		 315F (M)
30s		 315F (M)
30s		 Don’t Use Don’t Use 315F (M)
30s
Faux Leather 280F (L)
30s		 270F (L)
30s		 285F (L)
30s		 Don’t Use 280F (L)
30s		 265F (L)
20s
Wood 300F (M)
40s		 300F (M)
40s		 300F (M)
40s		 Don’t Use Don’t Use 305F (M)
30s
Cricut EasyPress Mini Heat Settings:

(L) – Low: For lightweight, delicate, synthetic, or heat-sensitive fabrics; also great for more delicate heat-transfer vinyl, such as Foil Iron-On. Use with sensitive base materials or heat-transfer materials that transfer between 255°F (125°C) – 295°F (145°C).

(M) – Medium: For most fabrics and heat-transfer vinyl. Use with most base materials or heat-transfer materials that transfer between 300°F (150°C) – 355°F (180°C).

(H) – High: For Infusible Ink projects and blanks. Use with Infusible Ink materials, heavy-duty base materials, and other heat-transfer materials that transfer between 360°F (185°C) – 400°F (205°C).

Can I Use An Iron Instead Of The Cricut EasyPress 2?

You can use a standard iron but you run the risk of dealing with inconsistent heating temperatures on your project. This can cause two problems.

  1. A low temperature iron will cause your iron-on vinyl to not stick to your project and it will peel of in the washer machine.
  2. A over heated iron will cause your iron-on vinyl to burn on your project and can leave scorch marks on your fabric.

This is why I don’t use a regular iron to do my heat transfer and iron-on projects. I have seen too many iron-on failed projects and my share of frustration from inconsistent heating temperatures from a regular iron. Please don’t make the same mistake I did! I had a project I spent hours on, to only have it ruined a week later by one washing.

Cricut BrightPad

Talk about a big disappointment! If I’m going to spend time on a project, I am not going to waste my time doing it halfway. I admit I am a perfectionist when it comes to my craft projects and as a mom, I have very little free time to do them again. I know every mom can relate to that!

I know I had a squirrel moment there! Dang those squirrels! Back to my battle with the iron and why the EasyPress 2 has solved my iron-on project woes.

I’ve had iron-in projects ruined from uneven heating because I did not have an EasyPress 2 at the time. I will explain why! A regular iron will not get hot enough, an iron is not able to provide even steady pressure and heat, and/or wide enough to complete the project. All of the iron-in transfer materials will require different heat settings and heating time for the transfer to be completed. The EasyPress 2 has an easy temperature and timer controls, to take the guesswork and frustration out of your projects.

Want to learn more about Cricut? Check out my other Cricut posts!

What is a Cricut EasyPress 2?
What is a Cricut BrightPad?
What Is Cricut Access?
Which Cricut Machine Is Right For You?
Cricut Pen Adaptor Hack
What is Cricut Infusible Ink and how to use it?
10 Cricut Infusible Ink Hacks
How to Design a Mug with Cricut Infusible Inks In The Oven
How To Use Cricut Removable Matte Vinyl On Your Wood Project? – Illustrated Tutorial
How To Use Cricut Adhesive Foil Vinyl On Wood Furniture? – Illustrated Tutorial
How To Design A Color Changing Mug Using Cricut Infusible Ink

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I hope this post was helpful to you in do a signal layered vinyl EasyPress 2 project!

cricut-heat-transfer-easypress-signal-layer-vinyl-projects

I make a commission from purchases made through links in my posts, at no extra cost to you. Read my disclosure for more information.

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