Learn how to layer HTV on oven mitts and potholders!
Whoops! The party is tomorrow and you need the perfect housewarming or guest gift. How will you pull it off? I love having a fully stocked craft room at home. It means I’m always prepared to make great gifts in a flash! In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to apply HTV on oven mitts for a super cute (and useful) gift! I even have free SVGs for you that you can layer, or make into single color designs. I’ll show you how easy it is to do both in Cricut Design Space!
The full step-by-step video showing you exactly how to create your own HTV oven mitt was part of Maker Academy Weekend 2024. Get a pass to watch all 18 workshops, each with a printable handbook, transcript, audio files, design files, and support with a Maker Academy Weekend 2024 VIP pass!
Did you know ADVANCE with JenniferMaker annual members get a free 2024 VIP pass and lifetime access to the 2024 Maker Academy Weekend projects? Join now!
Sometimes, you forgot to pick up a present. The perfect gift is hard to find, and sometimes it gets lost in the shuffle of life. Next time you’re stuck, try adding one of these cute cooking designs to kitchen accessories! All you need is heat transfer vinyl (HTV), a way to cut it, a heat source like a heat press, and the item! Then it’s time to make some magic. I have four different designs you can pick from to help with your crafty alchemy!
After preparing the SVG design in Cricut Design Space, I used my Cricut Maker 3 to cut it — but you can use another Cricut machine, or other brands like Silhouette machines, too. Once the designs are cut and you’ve removed the excess vinyl (thank you, weeding tool!) the process is just like decorating a T-shirt.
And if you’re using a layered design, I have a trick with registration marks to make sure each cut piece lines up correctly. There is always room for occasional human error (we are human beings after all!) so be sure to check the tutorial for accurate information about using the registration marks.
Add the finished items to a gift bag with some baking mix and voila: instant present! Learning how to make handmade items like custom oven mitts means you’ll be able to expand your skillset for making quick, last minute gifts. You can start with my designs, but be prepared for customization requests to start rolling in once people see the results! Wouldn’t it be fun to add a family name with HTV on oven mitts?
The best part? You can use them as gift bags. I’ll show you how in the tutorial! The total cost to make an HTV-decorated oven mitt isn’t much more than a store-bought gift bag, and it can become an amazing gift when filled with baking goodies, mixes, and other kitchen accessories!
Let me show you put HTV on oven mitts! This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link I will earn a small commission but it won’t cost you a penny more, there is no additional cost)! Read my full disclosure policy.
Materials to Make Layered Vinyl Oven Mitts
View my Amazon shopping list for the exact items I used!
- Black Iron-On Vinyl -AND-
- Gold Iron-On Vinyl -AND-
- White Iron-On Vinyl
- Oven Mitts – AND/OR-
- Hot Pads
- Optional for gifts: Cookie Mix
- Optional for gifts: Christmas Spatula
- Optional for gifts: Whisk
- Optional for gifts: Christmas Cookie Cutters
- A method to cut your vinyl – I’m using the Cricut Maker 3, but you can also use the Cricut Maker, a Cricut Explore Series machine, the Cricut Venture, the Cricut Joy Xtra, or even the Cricut Joy
- Heat Press (I used the EasyPress 2)
- Pressing Pad
- Lint-Free Cloth (Optional: fold and insert inside oven mitt to smooth seams before pressing)
- Cricut Green StandardGrip Machine Mat 12″ x 12″
- Brayer
- Weeding Tool
- Tweezers
- Lint Roller
- White Butcher Paper
- Scissors
- Heat Resistant Tape
- Ruler
- Optional: Cricut BrightPad Go
- Design #669 – My free SVG/PDF/DXF design files are available in my free resource library (get the password by filling out the form at the bottom of this page) or get additional access to the workshop video and printable workbook by getting a 2024 VIP Pass to Maker Academy Weekend or by joining the ADVANCE with JenniferMaker program as an ANNUAL (Yearly) member!
How to Make Layered HTV Oven Mitts!
The detailed step-by-step assembly video on how to make layered HTV Oven Mitts was available to watch for free for 24 hours during Maker Academy Weekend 2024, held online November 7-10, 2024. Get access to the Maker Academy Weekend 2024 videos, printable handbooks, and design files with a 2024 VIP Pass to Maker Academy Weekend or by joining the ADVANCE with JenniferMaker program as an ANNUAL (Yearly) member!
Answers to Your Questions About Layered Vinyl Oven Mitts
Q: Where is your tutorial for this project?
A: This is a special project we made for our free Maker Academy Weekend 2024 event! A complete and detailed step-by-step video premiered during the event November 7-10, 2024. You can get access to the video tutorial and printable handbook that details how to make this great project if you get a 2024 VIP Pass to Maker Academy Weekend or by joining the ADVANCE with JenniferMaker program as an ANNUAL (yearly) member which comes with other perks and bonuses, too!
Q: Can you use HTV on oven mitts?
A: Yes! Make sure to check the material of your kitchen accessory (like pot holders, or a hot pad) and adjust the heat and time as needed.
Q: Should HTV vinyl be shiny side up or down when cutting?
A: When cutting HTV on a cutting machine, place the material shiny side down on your machine mat. The shiny side is the carrier sheet, which you need to keep intact.
Q: What material does HTV not stick to?
A: Certain types of iron-on vinyl don’t stick well on some materials like nylon, which works better with a stretchy vinyl.
Q: Do you let Cricut HTV cool before peeling?
A: I wait until my plain HTV is cool to the touch before peeling off the carrier sheet.
Q: Why is my Cricut iron-on vinyl not sticking?
A: HTV can give you trouble if you have not enough heat, too much heat, get the pressure wrong, or peel up the transfer material at the wrong time.
Q: Why is my HTV peeling off?
A: Often, if my HTV peels up, I’ve found that I didn’t use enough pressure.
Q: Can you re-press heat transfer vinyl?
A: Yes! If you need to re-press iron-on vinyl, make sure to put the carrier sheet back in place to protect your heat press and repeat the process.
Q: Where can I buy blanks for HTV?
A: I like to purchase my HTV blanks on Amazon because of their fast shipping and delivery times with my Prime membership. Depending on the item location and the seller’s handling time, I usually get my supplies in 1 – 2 business days with their very quick shipping! I can usually find a great price on supplies, too. You can also check out your local Dollar Tree, or another discount store for inexpensive blanks for HTV crafting.
Q: Can you use a home iron with HTV?
A: Yes, use the cotton/linen setting without any steam.
Q: Is there a limit for how many pieces of iron-on vinyl that you can stack?
A: When working with Cricut vinyl, it’s generally advisable to limit stacking to three or four layers.
Q: Can I use parchment paper instead of butcher paper?
A: Yes, you can generally use parchment paper in place of butcher paper when applying heat transfer vinyl to protect your tools and materials. Butcher paper is a little more breathable. Do not use wax paper, freezer paper, or anything else with a coating, look for uncoated and unwaxed materials.
Q: Is there a way to remove the adhesive residue that is on a shirt?
A: If you removed HTV and there is still some glue left, put parchment paper over it and use a warm iron to heat it up with gentle pressure. Then carefully peel it off.
Q: What if the mitts have rubber backing. Will they be affected during application of the vinyl?
A: Keep the rubber side down so it doesn’t touch your press, and it won’t impact the vinyl.
Q: The only oven mits I can get do not have a flat side, will it work on the “quilted” type if that is on both sides?
A: If your surface is bumpy, use firm, even pressure to ensure the HTV adheres to all parts of the fabric. If you’re using an iron instead of a heat press, press down firmly without moving the iron around.
Q: Does HTV go bad?
A: The materials can degrade over time, so trying a test piece on a hidden spot is a god idea if you’ve had it for more than a year or so. I’ve used vinyl several years old.
Q: What font did you use?
Wonderful Display Font or Free Alternative: Bestoom
Cherry Cordial or Free Alternative: Kabut Hitam
Beachwood Free Alternative: Something in the Cloud
Beachwood Sans Free Alternative: Lobster
Forever Grateful Free Alternative: JM Sweet
Wished Regular Free Alternative: Marine Sikona
Q: What are registration marks?
A: Registration marks are pieces in the design that are on more than one layer, so you can align each new layer using them.
Q: How do you wash oven mitts with HTV decorations?
A: I would hand wash and hang dry for best results
Q: Does it matter what the mitts/potholder are made of?
A: The temperature and time might change depending on the material.
Q: if you don’t have heat resistant tape is there anything else you can use instead?
A: The butcher paper on top can help keep the pieces in place, but there isn’t another type of tape I would recommend because of the heat. The carrier sheet is a little sticky and can help keep everything in place, too, so you can use empty pieces like tape!
Q: Do you need to wash the pot holders before doing this project?
A: It’s not necessary to wash them, but that’s up to you!
Get my free SVG files to make layered vinyl oven mitts!
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I love seeing what you make with my designs and tips! Please share a photo of your vinyl oven mitts in our Facebook group or tag me on social media with #jennifermaker.
Love,