Best Cricut Vinyl for Shirts | Iron on + Infusible Ink

If you want to get started with making customized shirts with your Cricut then you’re probably trying to figure out the best Cricut vinyl for shirts. There are so many different types of vinyl to choose from and some are better for certain projects than others so it’s important to know the differences. In this post I’ll guide you through the characteristics of different vinyl options and help you decide what will be the best choice for your shirt project.

Types of Cricut Vinyl

Iron-on Vinyl

Cricut calls it iron-on vinyl, you may also have heard it referred to as heat transfer vinyl, or HTV for short. This type of vinyl is designed for fabric projects like shirts, tote bags, pillows, etc. It uses heat to bond with the fabric. Iron-on vinyl is flexible, washable, and great for making shirts.

Adhesive Vinyl

So at the store you will find adhesive vinyl labelled as permanent vinyl or removable vinyl by Cricut. Don’t use these vinyls for shirts. Use adhesive vinyls for wood, glass, metal, and plastic projects. This vinyl is great for making vinyl decals.

If you are confused about what type of vinyl you have then take a look at the back of the vinyl. Permanent and Removable Adhesive vinyl with be labelled as such. It also has a handy grid for measuring, cutting, and keeping the vinyl straight.

Iron-on vinyl will not look like this on the back. Iron-on vinyl has a clear carrier sheet on the front (which is the shiny side) and the back is the matte side (the more dull side of the color). So you can tell vinyl is iron-on vinyl if there is no side with words and a cutting grid like the regular adhesive vinyl.

Specialty Iron-on Vinyl

Iron-on vinyl comes in a variety of options including glitter, holographic, mesh, metallic, and patterned. It also comes in a huge array of colors so it’s easy to find exactly the right colors for your project.

There are so many different kinds of specialty iron-on vinyl that you really can make awesome custom t-shirts. Be sure to check the Cricut website and your local craft store to see all the different patterned options, many of which feature popular licensed characters from cartoons and movies.

I think some of the most impressive looking vinyl is the glitter vinyl. It really makes shirts pop and stand out. The mash vinyl would be cool for adding a sporty look to a shirt, like if you wanted to make a parent t-shirt to support your kid’s sports team.

Iron-On Vinyl vs. Infusible Ink

A few years ago Cricut came out with an amazing product called Infusible ink. This technically isn’t a vinyl BUT it is great for making shirts in some situations. Infusible ink actually uses sublimation to transfer ink onto the fabric rather than sitting on top of the fabric like vinyl does.

Below I have a close-up of a pillow that I used Infusible Ink on and you can see how the ink becomes a part of the fabric rather than sitting on top of it like iron-on vinyl does. This gives customized shirts more or a screen-printed look and tends to look more professional to me. Using Infusible Ink instead of heat transfer vinyl also allows you to avoid the potential for peeling down the road but your item may be susceptible to fading over time and with repeated washing.

If the situation is right I actually prefer to use Infusible Ink over iron-on vinyl but they each have their own strengths and are suited to different projects. Let’s take a look at which situations call for which.

Iron-On Vinyl

• How It Works: Applying heat to the vinyl activates the adhesive and adheres it to the surface of the fabric.
• Design Particulars: Allows for layering and produces bold, solid colors. If you want a design that has different parts that are different colors then iron-on vinyl will work the best for getting that layered look.
• Material Compatibility: Works on a wide range of fabrics, including cotton, polyester, and blends.
• Best For: Beginners and fabric projects requiring multi-layered or specialty finishes like glitter, holographic, or metallic.

Infusible Ink

• How It Works: Transfers ink directly into the fabric via sublimation.
• Design Outcome: Yields smooth, professional-looking results.
• Material Requirements: Requires polyester-based fabrics or Cricut blanks for best results. Typically does not show up well on darker-colored fabrics. Also note that you cannot make a white design that would go on top of a shirt. You would need to use iron-on vinyl to put a white design onto a shirt.
• Best For: Long-lasting, seamless designs with none of the peeling or cracking that happens over time with iron-on vinyl.

When to Use Iron-on Vinyl vs. Infusible Ink

I typically prefer infusible ink because of the screen-printed, part of the fabric look that it produces. However, if you want a really bold design that pops off of the shirt then you should use iron-on vinyl. Also, if you want a design with layers or to make a design on a black or dark shirt then you need to use iron-on vinyl as infusible ink isn’t going to work for your project. Infusible ink also suffers from the limitation that it works best on polyester-based products so if you’re using a cotton shirt it may not work well.

Tips for Selecting the Best Cricut Vinyl for Shirts

• Test First: Especially if this is your first time making a shirt with your Cricut, do a little trial run on a small fabric piece. This way you can practice with the heat setting and adjust if you need to for some reason.
• Stick to Trusted Brands: To ensure consistent quality and results I always use Cricut brand vinyl. That’s not to say that other brands of vinyl aren’t great… I just have not tried others because I know what my results will be like with Cricut vinyl.
• Consider Specialty Vinyl: Take a trip to the craft store to look through all the different kinds of vinyl because there is a huge variety available and you might find something that’s even better than what you initially envisioned.
• Match Vinyl to Fabric: Make sure that the vinyl you choose matches the fabric you’re using for your project. Like I said earlier certain products are only compatible with certain fabrics (like how you need a polyester-based fabric for infusible ink).

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using Vinyl for Shirts

• Not Mirroring the Design: You always need to mirror your design in Cricut Design Space when working with iron-on vinyl or infusible ink. I forget this sometimes too so don’t feel too bad if you forget it sometimes. It happens to the best of us.
• Incorrect Heat Settings: Every vinyl product has different heat settings. Check out the Cricut Heat Guide or my printable pdf EasyPress Heat Guide. Always follow the vinyl manufacturer’s instructions.
• Using the Wrong Vinyl: Make cure you use iron-on vinyl (heat transfer vinyl, HTV). Do NOT use adhesive vinyl (called permanent or removable vinyl by Cricut. See the section above if you have any confusion about the differences.
• Skipping the Test Cut: Whether you have a Cricut Maker or a Cricut Joy or a Cricut Joy Xtra when you first get started with your Cricut it needs to calibrate to make sure it cuts correctly. Don’t skip the calibration if you are just getting started with a new machine. This is really important for getting precise cuts, particularly with intricate designs.
• Using an Iron: Ideally, if you can, get a Cricut Easypress. It’s kind of like a combo of a heat press and an iron. It is a combo because it has the even heat of a heat press but the ease of use of an iron. I think that it really helps make things easier and gives a much more professional look.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Best Cricut Vinyl for Shirts

What’s the Best Vinyl for Beginners?

I recommend Cricut Everyday Iron-On vinyl if you are just getting started. When you have a feel for it then try out other types of vinyl.

Before jumping to your shirt project I’d recommend getting some scrap fabric and using your Cricut to cut out a few little things to practice with. Take those practice cuts and press them onto some scrap fabric so that you can practice the entire process, from designing to cutting to pressing.

How Do I Prevent Vinyl from Peeling Off of Shirts?

Vinyl can sometimes start to peel off of shirts. Use the recommended heat settings, use even pressure when you press your vinyl, and wash your shirt inside out in cold water. All vinyl will eventually peel. This is why I actually prefer using infusible ink if I can. However, if you are careful with the application and washing you can get your shirts with iron-on vinyl on them to last longer.

Can I Use Regular Adhesive Vinyl on Fabric?

No, you can’t. Neither permanent nor removable adhesive vinyl are designed for fabrics and they won’t withstand washing. You might be able to get them to stick a little but they will not hold up. They’re simply not designed to stretch or withstand washing.

How Do I Wash Shirts with Vinyl Designs?

You should wash your shirts inside out in cold water, avoid fabric softeners, and hang dry or lay flat to dry when possible. I actually have put my vinyl shirts in the dryer and dried them on the Tumble Dry Low setting. This might shorten the life of my vinyl shirts but I haven’t found that to be the case. For best results follow the recommendations from Cricut to hang to dry.

What’s the Lifespan of a Shirt Made with Cricut Vinyl?

If you take care with your washing and drying then your vinyl designs should last at least 50 washes without peeling, according to Cricut. I’ve never actually kept count of how many washes the vinyl shirts I have made have lasted before peeling but it’s a good long while in my opinion. Plus, most of the shirts I have made over the years have been for my kids and they have outgrown the shirts before any peeling has occurred.

Conclusion

Think about your project’s design and use the guide above to help you choose the best Cricut vinyl for shirts. Everyday Iron-on vinyl and Infusible Ink from Cricut are both great options. Experimenting with different types of vinyl will help you figure out what works best for your projects.

Ready to start creating? Let me know how your vinyl shirt projects go in the comments below! Making custom shirts can be so much fun and I hope that you found this guide to be helpful. For more tips and tutorials, be sure to check out the rest of the blog.

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