Exploring Cricut Explore Air 2: T-Shirt Design Made Easy

The Cricut Explore Air 2 is a fantastic tool for creating custom T-shirts. It can cut iron-on material, allowing you to personalise blank T-shirts with intricate designs. The process is simple: design your T-shirt in the Cricut Design Space app, cut the iron-on material using the Cricut Explore Air 2, and then apply the design to your T-shirt with a heat press or iron. You can use Cricut's ready-made designs or create your own from scratch. The machine is easy to use, and with a few tips and tricks, you'll be making custom T-shirts in no time!

How to design a custom T-shirt in Cricut Design Space

The Cricut Explore Air 2 is a great tool for designing custom T-shirts. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to design a custom T-shirt using the Cricut Design Space:

Step 1: Open Cricut Design Space

Cricut Design Space is free software that comes with your Cricut machine. To start creating a new project, click on the "New Project" button on the top right or bottom left of the homepage.

Step 2: Select a Template

Templates will help you visualise your design and ensure it is the correct size for your T-shirt. On the left sidebar of your canvas space, select templates and use the search bar to search for "T-Shirt". Choose the Classic T-shirts template or any other template that suits your needs.

Step 3: Upload Your Design

If you have a custom design, you can upload it to Cricut Design Space. Click on the Upload icon on the left column and select the Image type. Cricut Design Space accepts various file types, including PNG, JPG, GIF, SVG, DXF, and BMP. It is recommended to use the SVG file type as it retains its shape well when changing dimensions.

Step 4: Resize and Position Your Design

Once your design is uploaded, you can resize it to fit your T-shirt. Use the resize handle in the lower right corner to adjust the size. Position your design on the T-shirt template to get an idea of how it will look.

Step 5: Choose Your Font and Text Style (Optional)

If your design includes text, you can choose from hundreds of fonts available in the Cricut library. On the left-hand navigation bar, click on the "Text" button to add a text box. Type your text and select your desired font from the dropdown menu at the top of the screen. You can also curve your text by selecting it and clicking the "Curve" option at the top of the screen.

Step 6: Prepare for Cutting

Once you are happy with your design, click on the "Make It" button. Ensure that you select the "Mirror" option on the cut screen, especially if your design includes text. This is because you will be using iron-on material for your T-shirt.

Step 7: Select Your Material

After clicking "Make It", Cricut Design Space will provide instructions for continuing to cut. Select the appropriate material setting for your project. For iron-on vinyl, select "Iron-On" or "Heat Transfer Vinyl" (HTV).

Step 8: Load Your Material

Place your iron-on vinyl material onto a cutting mat, shiny side down. Ensure that your material is loaded correctly and securely on the cutting mat of your Cricut Explore Air 2 machine.

Step 9: Start Cutting

With your material loaded and settings selected, click the Cricut button on your machine to start the cutting process.

Step 10: Unload and Weed

Once the cutting is complete, unload your material and remove the excess iron-on vinyl from around your design. This process is known as "weeding".

Now you are ready to apply your design to a blank T-shirt using a heat press or iron, following the instructions in the Cricut Heat Guide.

How to cut iron-on vinyl with a Cricut

To cut iron-on vinyl with a Cricut machine, you will need the following:

• A Cricut smart cutting machine
• Cricut Design Space on a computer or mobile device
• Cricut Heat Guide or Cricut Heat app (for Cricut EasyPress 3 and Cricut Hat Press)
• Standard Grip Machine Mat
• Fine Point or Premium Fine Point blade
• Cricut Everyday Iron-On
• Cricut Autopress, Cricut EasyPress, Cricut Hat press, heat press, or household iron
• Iron-On Protective Sheet (optional)

Before you start, pre-wash your fabric base materials without fabric softener to pre-shrink and remove chemicals that may prohibit strong adhesion.

Now, follow these steps:

Step 1: Design, Cut, and Weed

Select and size your design in the software. Be sure to mirror your mats in Design Space before cutting. Select Everyday Iron-On from the list of materials.

Step 2: Prepare the Iron-On Vinyl

Place the Iron-on sheet, liner side down, onto the Cricut Standard Grip cutting mat. Load it into the machine and cut your design. When the cut is complete, weed your image.

Step 3: Prepare the Base Material

Preheat your base material as instructed in the Cricut Heat Guide or Cricut Heat app (for Cricut EasyPress 3 and Cricut Hat Press). Place the cut design on the base material with the shiny liner side up.

Step 4: Apply Heat

Apply heat as instructed (see the Cricut Heat Guide or Cricut Heat app). Flip the base material over and apply heat to the back of the design. Use a cool peel to remove the liner.

Step 5: Care and Maintenance

Wait 24 hours before washing the embellished item. For the longest life, wash and dry the embellished item inside-out. If areas of iron-on material lift after washing, simply follow the complete application instructions to reapply.

How to apply HTV to a T-shirt

The following steps will guide you through the process of applying HTV (Heat Transfer Vinyl) to a T-shirt using a Cricut Explore Air 2 cutting machine.

Prepare the HTV for Cutting

• Ensure that the HTV is placed on the cutting mat with the shiny side facing downwards. Use a brayer to smooth out any wrinkles or air bubbles.
• Load the fine-point blade into Clamp B of the Cricut machine.
• Load the cutting mat into the machine by aligning it with the guides and pressing the Load/Unload button.

Cutting the HTV

• On the Cricut machine, press the flashing Go button to initiate the cutting process.
• Once the cutting is complete, unload the mat by pressing the Load/Unload button.
• Gently peel the mat away from the HTV, keeping the vinyl flat to avoid curling.

Weeding the HTV

Use a weeding tool to remove the excess HTV, including the centres of letters or other intricate details.

Prepare the T-Shirt

• Preheat the T-shirt by placing it on an EasyPress mat or towel and pressing it for about 5 seconds. This helps remove moisture from the fabric.
• To easily centre the design, fold the T-shirt in half and press to create a crease. Then, gently fold the HTV design in half to create a corresponding crease.

Applying the HTV to the T-Shirt

• Position the HTV design on the T-shirt, ensuring that the plastic backing is facing upwards.
• Place the EasyPress on top of the design and apply light pressure for 30 seconds.
• Carefully peel away the clear transfer sheet from the vinyl while it is still warm. If the vinyl starts to lift, press it again before removing the sheet.
• Flip the T-shirt over and press for another 30 seconds on the backside.
• Allow the T-shirt to cool down for a few minutes before wearing or washing.

Washing HTV-Applied T-Shirts

• When washing HTV-applied T-shirts, turn them inside out and use a delicate cycle in the washing machine.
• For drying, either hang or lay the T-shirt flat, or use a no-heat tumble dry setting in the dryer. Always refer to the care instructions on the T-shirt and the HTV for specific guidelines.

How to use a household iron to apply HTV

To apply HTV with a household iron, you will need to follow a few steps. First, ensure that you have the correct equipment. This includes a Teflon sheet, thin pillowcase, or parchment paper (not wax paper) to place on top of your design, and a sturdy table or counter to work on. You can also use a terrycloth towel folded 3-4 times as an alternative to a table.

Next, set your iron to its highest heat setting, without steam. You want the temperature to be around 300 degrees Fahrenheit. It is also important to iron out your garment first to warm the material and remove any moisture. This will help the HTV adhere better.

Now, place your HTV design on the garment, and cover it with the Teflon sheet, towel, or parchment paper. Press the iron down on the HTV for 30 seconds, then lift and check your design. You will know that the HTV has adhered when you see bubbles. If there are areas that still need more heat, apply the iron to those sections for another 30 seconds.

Finally, flip the garment over and apply heat to the back of the design for an additional 15 seconds. Allow your project to cool, then gently peel off the cover sheet.

And that's it! You've now successfully applied HTV with a household iron.

How to care for your T-shirt

To ensure your custom T-shirts last as long as possible, there are a few care instructions you should follow.

Firstly, always wash your T-shirts with cold water. Cold water will clean your T-shirts without causing any damage to the fabric or print. Hot water can cause prints to fade and the fabric to shrink.

Secondly, avoid using bleach or fabric softeners. Bleach can cause the print to fade, and fabric softeners can leave a residue that affects the print quality. Instead, use a mild, eco-friendly detergent.

Thirdly, turn your T-shirts inside out before putting them in the washing machine. This will reduce wear and tear on the print by limiting its contact with other items in the wash.

Fourthly, avoid tumble dryers. As mentioned, heat is bad for prints and can cause them to crack or peel. Similarly, do not iron T-shirts with prints on them. If you must iron your T-shirt, turn it inside out and ensure the iron is on a low setting.

Finally, when storing your T-shirts, keep them flat in a clean, dry, well-ventilated area, and away from direct sunlight. Hanging T-shirts can cause the fabric to stretch and prints to distort.

Frequently asked questions