Color Changing HTV T-Shirts with Cricut – Like MAGIC!

Instructions

STEP 1: GET MY FREE DESIGN FILES

First, download my SVG/DXF/PDF files from my free resource library. It's Design #489.
I've included 2 SVG designs to upload and cut out of Cricut color-changing HTV, also known as iron-on vinyl.

First, this cute "Oh The Hue-Manatee" design


And also this "Going Through a Colorful Phase" design


I'll use my Maker 3 to cut my "Going Through a Colorful Phase" design out of Cricut color-change HTV but you can use Explore or even Joy to make my fun color-changing designs.

If you’re not sure how to upload an SVG file to Cricut Design Space, watch this helpful video SVGs Made Simple training series I made. It will help you SO much!

If you're on an iPhone or iPad, here's how to download and upload SVG files to the Cricut Design Space app.

STEP 2: CUSTOMIZE THE FILES

Here is my "Going Through a Colorful Phase" design on the canvas


I'll use the Classic t-shirts template in Design Space by clicking on templates on the upper left-hand side of my Design Space canvas, then select Women's Short Sleeve in Medium from the drop-down menu at the top.

I think this design looks nice at around 9 inches, but you can resize your design if you'd like.




Since I'm using color-changing HTV, I've separated the design into several layers for maximum effect when the color change takes place. Feel free to change up the colors or even incorporate different styles of HTV.

You'll also notice some extra hearts around the design, I've added those as registration marks to make it easier to line up each layer of vinyl.


TIP: If you have an SVG design with many layers, you can add registration marks to help line up your layers. I used this method to make my Sunflower T-shirt.

Everything on my canvas is good to go. Make sure that the correct machine is selected, then click Make It.

STEP 3: CUT THE HTV DESIGN

In the Prepare screen, I will select "on mat" if asked and set the material size to 12"x12" and REMEMBER TO MIRROR each mat.
I now have four mats to cut and I am ready to press Continue in the bottom right.

On the Make screen, I will choose Everyday Vinyl. If it’s not in your favorites, you can click “Browse All Materials” and use the search window to find it. Select "More" pressure to ensure the best cut.

Using a brayer to smooth the HTV - shiny side down- onto a clean green StandardGrip mat and set the Base Material on the Make screen to UV Activated Color Changing Iron-On. Then I set the Pressure to more so I get a nice clean cut.

I will line up my mat with the guides on my Maker 3, check that the Fine Point blade is in clamp B, and press the flashing load/unload button.

Press the flashing Go button to cut the butterfly outlines.


If you ever have any questions about cutting vinyl, I have a great resource to help. It’s “The Ultimate Guide to Vinyl” and among other things, it explains how to tell which side of the iron-on vinyl goes down on the mat. You can find it on my blog at Jennifermaker.com/vinylguide.

Once the mat is finished cutting, I will press the flashing Unload button to remove it.

Repeat the same steps for the next 3 mats but change the material setting to UV Activated Color Changing Iron-On with the pressure set to More.

Next, I'll use my Cricut Weeding Tool and weed out the negative space in the design.


Double check to be sure you've weeded all the small pieces.

TIP: Sometimes the iron-on vinyl doesn't want to come free very easily. If this happens, I make a small knick in the corner with my craft knife. You don't want to cut all the way through. Just cut through the iron-on vinyl layer on the matte side (the cut side) and peel from there. I find that this small cut makes it easier to peel off the vinyl.

TIP: If you are having trouble seeing the cut paths of the vinyl as you’re weeding, the Cricut BrightPad GO can help with that. The light helps reveal the cut lines of the design to make the weeding process much easier.



After I've finished weeding all three colors and the butterfly outlines, I'm ready to layer my iron on vinyl.

TIP: If you don't want the extra hearts to be pressed onto your final shirt, use a small piece of heat-proof tape and apply it directly to your shirt under the registration marks. You'll still be able to see the hearts, but they won't be on the finished shirt.

STEP 4: LAYERING THE COLOR-CHANGING HTV

First, if you are using a Cricut EasyPress, refer to the Cricut EasyPress Interactive Quick Reference Guide for how to prep your material and machine, apply it, and care for the finished product. This takes the guesswork out of the process!
I’ll use my Cricut Easy Press to apply the design, along with a pressing mat, but you can also use a regular household iron and a folded towel.

I will preheat my EasyPress, and even though the guide calls for me to set my EasyPress to 315°F (157°C), I’m going to set mine to 300°F (149°C). Since we are layering HTV, we don't want to overheat the materials. If you use an iron and cotton t-shirt, set it to the cotton setting. If your shirt is something other than cotton, you may need a different setting for your material.

Note: When using a household iron, remember to set it to the cotton setting with NO STEAM.

Find the vertical center of your shirt. The simplest way to do this is to fold your shirt in half by matching up your sleeves. Place your t-shirt on a Cricut EasyPress Mat or folded towel to protect your work surface.
Use your EasyPress or iron to put a little crease on the center fold. When you open your shirt you'll know exactly where the center is.


TIP: Putting a crease in your shirt like this also serves to pre-heat the material. It won’t impact the final design at all.


Use a lint roller to clean any stray lint or fuzz from the area of your shirt where you plan to adhere the vinyl.


Open your shirt up flat, since the text layer will be on the bottom, I will center it on my shirt first.

It helps to fold the non-sticky sides of your bottom layer in half vertically against each other (it won't hurt your design), then open it up and align the creases in the vinyl to the creases in your shirt.


Remember, place the sticky side of the carrier sheet against the t-shirt so the shiny carrier sheet is between the vinyl and your EasyPress or iron.
You can also use my T-Shirt Rulers to ensure the design placement is the correct distance from the neck of the shirt.


The next step is to apply your design, but do not follow the Cricut Heat Guide for the temperature or length of time. Because we are LAYERING our iron-on vinyl, we have to press the bottom layers for less time to avoid overheating our design when we do subsequent layers.
I pressed my first layer, the blue text layer, at 300°F (148° C) for 10 seconds, allowing the HTV to cool slightly and gently peel the liner away. If any of the vinyl lifts, stop peeling and replace the butcher paper. Press for an additional 3 seconds. After the HTV is cooled a bit, and adhered to my shirt, I can remove the liner and press the next layer

There is a chance that three (3) seconds might not be long enough and that’s okay, you can always add a few seconds of extra heat, just do it in increments and check to see if the vinyl is adhering to the fabric. Heat times will vary depending on your climate.

TIP: If your carrier sheet doesn’t stay in place on your t-shirt, tape it down with heat-resistant tape.

Now take the second layer, the butterfly outlines, and position them over the bottom layer. You'll note that the bottom layer has shrunk just a little bit. This is totally normal for iron-on vinyl; the more you heat it, the more it shrinks. A little shrinkage isn't that big of a deal. I will line up the registration marks over the blue hearts at the top and bottom of the text. Once you have the second layer in place, cover it with the clear liner from the first layer.


IMPORTANT: You do not want any vinyl to touch your heat press or iron.

Press it all down with your hand and make sure it doesn't want to move. If it wants to move at all, tape it down with heat-resistant tape to keep it perfectly in place.

Press the second layer, but again, only for a few seconds. It's very important that you do not heat it any longer than a few seconds, or it'll just be too much heat by the time you get to the final layer.
Again, peel the carrier sheet off very slowly while the iron-on vinyl is slightly cool.

Repeat for the third layer, the yellow small butterflies and the wing sections, matching the registration marks to the layer below.

I have included a PDF layering guide in the design file if you need some extra help.


Press the third layer for three seconds or so. Allow the HTV to cool slightly before slowly removing the carrier sheet.
When you get to the final layer, the purple butterflies and wing sections, layer make sure to use the first layer's clear liner and place it over the design.

Make sure ALL the vinyl is covered with liner. Since this is the last layer we can press it for longer at a higher temperature to complete our press. Increase the temperature of your EasyPress to 315°(157°C).

When it's ready, press this last time for 20 seconds and only peel away the carrier sheet when it's completely cool.

STEP 5: SHOW IT OFF! (Display ideas, finishing touches)

Here are my color-changing t-shirts both in and out of the sun!

To assemble the "Oh The Hue-Manatee" design, first, begin with the manatee and then line each layer up with each set of registration marks.
NOTE: The manatee eye, whiskers, and snoot dots are optional - you don't have to include them if you're pressing onto a dark shirt.

Care: Allow 24 hours before washing.
Only wash inside out in cold water and tumble dry low.
Do not iron over the vinyl. If ironing is needed be sure to flip the shirt over and iron the back.

You can view the care guide at jennifermaker.com/easypress.

Enjoy!