Edited: September 30, 2024
Set yourself up for heat transfer success with these tips and tricks for Cricut Hat Press with Iron-On (HTV) and Infusible Ink.
General Tips and Tricks
- Remove cardboard insert inside of hat before placing on form
- Open backstrap and fold out sweatband so it doesn’t add bulk to the pressing area
- When hat is placed over the hat pressing form, smooth the hat against the hat form so that there are no air gaps between hat and the form; air gaps will result in unwanted transfer effects
- Once the hat is placed on the form, double check that the sweatband is still folded out. Then, re-fasten backstrap to help hold the hat in place on the form.
- Ensure your design is placed 0.5 in (12.7 mm) from the bill of the hat – this allows the Cricut Hat Press heat plate to cover your full design during transfer.
- Use Strong Heat Resistant Tape to secure your design to the hat – tape one side of the design down, smooth the design across the pressing area so it’s flat and taut against the hat, then tape the remaining sides. This ensures there are no air gaps between your design and the hat and keeps your design in place during transfer.
- Designs should be within these maximum recommended dimensions: 2.25 in high x 4.25 in wide (5.7 cm wide x 10.79 cm wide).
- Trim excess liner or paper close to the design to help it lay properly on the curved surface of the hat
- Clip or notch liner/paper around the design where applicable to allow it to flex over the curved surface of the hat
- Allow the heat plate to extend approximately 0.5 in (12.7 mm) beyond all edges of the design during transfer. This ensures your full design receives the necessary heat.
- Once the hat blank is securely fitted over the hat pressing form, rest it upright on work surface with pressing area facing up. Stabilize with one hand on the side while pressing with the other hand. The handle on the hat pressing form is not intended for use during transfer.
Tips and Tricks with Infusible Ink
Infusible Ink projects have special instructions depending on the blank and Infusible Ink product you’re using. Refer to Cricut Heat app for settings and stacking instructions. Here are some basic tips to keep in mind.
Note: Ensure your design is within the maximum recommended design size for using Cricut Hat Press with Infusible Ink: 2.25 in high x 4.25 in wide (5.7 cm high x 10.79 cm wide)
- Find a firm, flat, heat-resistant surface, around waist high.
- Be sure to avoid flimsy ironing boards.
- Before handling Infusible Ink materials, be sure that your hands are dry and free of any oils or lotions.
- Before using Cricut Hat Press, ensure that fabrics and other base materials are completely dry.
- Use extreme caution. Machine operates at high temperatures that can cause burns.
- Trim Infusible Ink Transfer Sheet liner or copy paper (for pen/marker projects) close to the design.
- To ease your design over the curved surface of the hat:
- Ensure hat sweatband is folded out before placing on hat pressing form.
- Max design of image should be 4.25 in x 2.25 in (10.79 cm x 5.7 cm) or smaller.
- Smooth hat pressing area onto form to ensure there are no gaps between the hat and the form – his ensures you have a firm pressing surface for your full design.
- Clip or notch the design where applicable to allow it to flex over the curved surface.
- Place Strong Heat Resistant Tape on one side of design, then smooth rest of design onto pressing area before applying tape on the other sides.
- Ensure design is positioned at least 0.25 in (6.35 mm) from the bill of the hat.
- Secure design to blank with Strong Heat Resistant Tape.
- Infusible Ink Pen and Marker designs are also secured to blank with Strong Heat Resistant Tape.
- Move Cricut Hat Press continuously all over design until the timer reaches 0.
- Let project cool before removing butcher paper, heat tape, and design.
- Always return Cricut Hat Press to its Safety Base when not in use, turn off, and unplug.