Infusible Ink Essentials: Must-Have Tips for Crafters

Here are some essential tips for getting the best results with infusible ink. If you own a Cricut and want to learn more about sublimation then this guide is especially for you.

In collaboration with Hobbycraft

Choose the Right Material: Infusible ink works best on materials made from Polyester or that have a high Polyester count. If you want to apply your designs to hard surfaces, you need to make sure you buy suitable blanks that have a poly coating on them. . The high heat of the transfer process allows the ink to become one with the fabric (or poly coating), resulting in vibrant, long-lasting designs. Which are more durable than HTV or vinyl.

Understand Sublimation: Infusible ink uses a process called sublimation, where the ink turns into a gas under heat and pressure, then solidifies in the fibres of your material. This is what gives your designs their durability and vibrancy. Using Infusible ink sheets from Cricut allows you to join in the world of sublimation crafting without the need to invest in a purpose sublimation printer.

Weeding and Cutting: After cutting your design on your Cricut, you’ll need to weed away the excess material. Be careful during this process to avoid damaging your design. I find it best to cut the design twice with more pressure and then weed with my hands rather than using a weeding tool. Rolling the design slightly in your hands helps to ‘crack’ the design away making the weeding easier, but it does not weed in the same smooth manner you may be used to from HTV.

Mirror Your Design: Always remember to mirror your design before cutting, especially when working with text. This ensures that your design will appear correctly when transferred.

Use SVG Files: SVG files are perfect for infusible ink projects. They’re easy to resize without losing quality, and there are plenty of free downloads available in my svg library and don’t forget to grab the shoes cut file at the bottom of this post.

Gather Your Supplies: Before starting, make sure you have all your supplies ready. This includes your infusible ink transfer sheets, heat-resistant tape, butcher paper, white card and a heat press and mat. I use the Cricut EasyPress 3.

Choose Simple Designs: As I said before, weeding infusible ink is very different to HTV or permanent vinyl. So stick with simple bold designs.

Visit Hobbycraft: For high-quality blanks, infusible ink sheets and every thing else you need to get started with sublimation crafting.

Unlock the free svg

Sign up now to unlock my exclusive content – a free shoes SVG design! It’s a fun, easy project that’s perfect for practicing your new infusible ink skills. Not only with you get instant access to the design but al my other freebies will be unlocked too!