how to use infusible ink

I've been eagerly awaiting Cricut's new Infusible Ink for weeks! I've watched a few Cricut sponsored videos on YouTube, but couldn't wait to get my own hands on it and answer lots of questions rattling around my creative brain…

Why use it?
How do I use it?
Do I have to use Cricut Easy Press?
Do I have to use Cricut blanks?
How cool is it, really?

Look no further, I will answer all of these questions for you.

Starting with the last question, first… yep, it's REALLY, SUPER COOL!

This post contains affiliate links, which allow me to receive a small commission, at no additional cost to you, if you make a purchase. All opinions are authentic and my own.

Cricut Infusible Ink Now Available in Store! Only at Michaels.

Why Infusible Ink?

Unlike heat transfer vinyl, that sort of sits on top of the fabric, and screen printing ink, that can feel kind of stiff, infusible ink is heat pressed INTO the fabric. It literally becomes part of the shirt and you don't feel anything but the fabric. It looks like you bought the shirt right off the rack at a clothing store.

For that reason, for me… it's a total game changer.

How to use it

You'll need:

Cricut Design Space
Cricut cutting machine (I use a Cricut Explore Air 2)
Cricut Infusible Ink transfer sheets with accompanying butcher paper
Cutting mat
Scissors
Blank shirt (or other material)
Heat press or Cricut Easy Press
Piece of white cardstock

Step-By-Step Instructions:

1- Create your design in Cricut Design Space

You can also upload a pre-made design like the one here. Click here to purchase the Beach Mode SVG and click here to see more SVGs I offer.

2- Click 'Make It' in the top right corner to cut your design. And be sure to mirror your design.

3- Set your material dial to the custom setting and chose Infusible Ink Transfer Sheet from the material options.

4- Place the Infusible Ink transfer sheet on your mat with the color side up.

Take Note – Until now, the process has been much like working with heat transfer vinyl, but this is where it differs. Be sure to place the sheet on the mat with the color side up!

Tip – You can probably use a standard grip mat without much trouble if your mat is in good shape. Since the transfer sheets come rolled up in the package and they are like stiff paper, I found it hard to make mine stick flat to my mat, which is kind of old. I used a heavy grip mat and still had to tape it down on the sides.

>>> I used the Mermaid Rainbow Infusible Ink transfer sheet pack. You can find it here . <<<

5- Cut your design

Take Note – There is no 'Fast Mode' allowed with Infusible Ink transfer sheets. There is only one pre-determined speed.

6- Unload your mat, remove the sheet from the mat, and cut around your design to save the rest of the ink sheet for another project.

7- Weed your design. (remove excess material from the backing, leaving only your design.)

Take Note – You don't need a weeding tool for this! It's much like working with cardstock. You bend the paper slightly and pull the edge of the sheet with your finger to pull it up.

Tip – Mostly, this is a really easy weeding process, but you may have some small white pieces of the sheet backing left behind, especially in more complicated designs.

As you can see below, I had a lot left with my pineapple design. I tried to scrape them off with my fingernail, but I ultimately got frustrated and left some of them. They had no ink on them so I hoped they wouldn't cause a problem while heat pressing, and they didn't! So don't stress too much about those small white pieces, as long as there is NO INK on them.

8- Place your blank shirt on your heat press with a piece of cardstock inside so the ink doesn't bleed through to the back of your shirt.

Place the butcher paper on top of the shirt and preheat press it for 15 seconds at 385 degrees to remove any moisture.

Take Note – Each 12×12 Infusible Ink transfer sheet comes with a piece of butcher paper.

Take Note – These settings are per Cricut's heat guide . The guide is for the Cricut Easy Press, but I found them to work with my heat press as well.

>>> I used Cricut's blank v-neck t-shirt. You can find it here . <<<

9- Place the design sheet on the shirt with the color side down. Place the butcher paper on top of the design and press for 40 seconds at 385 degrees.

10- Take the shirt off the heat press and let it cool completely, then peel off the transfer sheet paper.

Take Note – The final design color will look darker and more vivid than how it looked on the transfer sheet.

Do you have to use the Cricut Easy Press?

Obviously, all the Cricut sponsored tutorials you will find will use Cricut blanks and the Cricut Easy Press because they prefer you to buy their products.

However, I do not have an Easy Press so I used my heat press and it worked great. This is the heat press I have used successfully for years. 👇

Do you have to use Cricut blanks?

The short answer is no. I have so far used Cricut Infusible Ink on a variety of t-shirt blanks, but with varying success.

Because I want your projects to be as beautiful as possible, I will tell you that Cricut Infusible Ink was created specifically to be used with the Cricut blanks, so you will get the best results using their blanks. Whenever you use any product outside the way it was intended by the manufacturer, results will vary and it is always a risk.

But, as someone who wants to save as much money as I can, while still making beautiful projects, I will always look for the most cost-effective blanks. The project in this post was made with the Cricut t-shirt blank, Women's size Medium. It was $10 at Michaels, which is the only place these products are available right now.

I have also done projects with good quality shirts I bought at Goodwill for $3 each. But some of those projects worked, and some failed. Check out this post 👇 for those results.

Using Cricut Infusible Ink With Colored Fabric

Tip – I found the Cricut t-shirt blank to be a bit snug in my usual size. And since the Infusible Ink is pressed directly into the fabric and stretches with the fabric… if your shirt stretches across your tatas, so will your design. 😉 So, if you're concerned about that, size up.