Cricut - Which Vinyl Do I Need & Where Do I Buy It?


The chart above is simplified, there are more options - such as marine vinyl, and sign shop vinyl, and they sometimes have numbers like 751, etc.  HTV comes in sports-flex, stretch, and more.  
But for most projects, we are going to use just  four types of vinyl:

 HTV (for on fabric. )
 651 (permanent, non fabric projects)
 631 (temporary, non fabric projects)
and printable iron on transfer paper (for Print Then Cut projects)
And maybe some contact paper for stencils, or for transfer tape.  I love the Dollar Tree Contact paper.
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I try not to pay more than $2-$3 a square foot, including shipping,  for htv.   Black and White I typically purchase for half that - $1.50 a square foot, other colors typically cost me a bit more.For "regular" vinyl (not htv ) I try not to pay more than 50 cents a square foot.

Do not forget to calculate any shipping costs into your costs!  I've never found it worthwhile to shop anywhere other than Amazon, personally, because of the shipping costs.  I know you can often get free shipping from other sites if you spend a certain amount... but I don't like to fuss with that. 

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Cold Peel Vs Hot Peel
When purchasing new htv, read the instructions and see if that brand is meant to be peeled when it is hot, or after it has cooled a bit.  This varies by band, and sometimes also by the type of vinyl.  
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Quick Links For My Favorites:
  • Caregy is is one of my favorite htv brands.  Inexpensive, GREAT quality.  
  • HTVRont - My new favorite.  The most inexpensive I've found, AND it comes with a free weeding tool in many of the rolls!  The last pack I purchased came with a free mat too.  
  • Craftables is another new favorite from 2020.  This comes in 12x12 sheets   It's a little more expensive than HTVront and Caregy, but they sometimes have specific colors that the other two do not have.  (And it's still typically cheaper than Siser)
  • Transwonder HTV - Black, White, & Red.  $1.40 a sq ft for htv - was my go to for the basics, and I still use it a lot because I have a lot of it on hand.  These days, I'd look to see what HTVront and Caregy have, then choose based on which brand had the best price that week.  I like all three brands.
  • Frisco Craft Matte Black Permanent Adhesive Vinyl   (30 foot roll for anywhere from $13-$17, price fluctuates)  I love this matte black,  And it's inexpensive.
  • Avery Iron On Transfer For Darks (even if it's a light shirt)
Don't forget to check the Dollar Tree too!  It's hit or miss at our local stores, some have it, some do not.  I love their faux leather, it's lightweight and cuts beautifully.  And their vinyl has held up fine for me - on the few things I have used it on.
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Free Printable Vinyl Tracker - To track your purchases and prices


Find the free Vinyl Tracker Printable here:
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Siser HTV Reference Chart
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This chart from Siser will give you an idea of how many different kinds of htv there are, just from one brand. I have heard really good things about the Siser Stretch (especially for women's t-shirts are tighter and stretch across the chest area), but I have never used it myself.

Find the full chart here:

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https://amzn.to/2XkQcnl
Avery Iron On Tansfer paper is what I use for print then cut t-shirt designs.
Learn more about Print Then Cut here:
https://fieldsofhether.blogspot.com/2018/02/print-then-cut-with-cricut.html
You can also buy this at most craft stores, with a 50% off coupon, or buy it at Wal-mart.  I've even found partial packs of it at our thrift store!




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