Create a Personalised Jumper/Sweatshirt for $21
Let’s get warm this winter and make it personal for 21 dollars!
The inspiration for this post is quite obvious—Australia (specifically Victoria) is freezing right now. Winter officially began on June 1st, and we’re already halfway through this chilly season. Cheers to navigating it bravely so far without succumbing to the sniffles!
As temperatures drop and the need for cosy layers becomes essential, I embarked on a personalisation project this week to transform an oversized jumper into a warm and customised piece using HTV puffer vinyl with my Cricut Maker 3.
I had previously bought a variety of puff vinyl sheets from HTVront for my Mother’s Day gift projects. Out of the assortment, I ended up using only the white vinyl, but unfortunately, the puff effect didn’t quite materialise as expected. Surprisingly, my sister, the recipient of the gift, didn’t seem to mind. Despite the flat appearance, the design was still visible, and she appreciated it overall.
For my second attempt with puff vinyl, this project, I decided to try the black vinyl. Long story short, I was pleasantly surprised—I quite liked the outcome. While I haven't experimented with other brands for comparison, I'm determined to explore and use all the colours from the package in future projects.
As I mentioned earlier, the cost of materials for this project totalled $21. Here’s the breakdown:
- Jumper was from Kmart, $16.00
- HTVront puff vinyl sheets include 8 different coloured vinyl, $39.99 or $5 each.
Now, let's consider the other essential materials required for this project:
- Weeding tools
- Cutting Mat
- Teflon sheet
And, the Tools:
- Cricut Maker 3
- Cricut Easy Press
- Laptop
Let’s personalise a jumper:
1. CREATE (OR UPLOAD) THE DESIGN ON CRICUT DESIGN SPACE.
Open the Cricut Design Space and select ‘New Project’.
I designed this file on Canva.
TIP: Combine > Weld
Otherwise, when you proceed to MAKE, this is how the design will appear:
2. PREPARE THE MATERIAL SETTINGS.
Turn on and connect the Cricut machine to the laptop / computer.
In Cricut Design Space, choose the material settings.
Note: shiny/glossy side down
Mirror image: Yes
Blade: Standard
Pressure: Default
Material: Iron on
3. BEGIN TO CUT.
Load the cutting mat into the Cricut machine. Follow the prompts to begin cutting.
4. WEED THE EXCESS VINYL AROUND THE DESIGN.
5. APPLY HEAT PRESS.
Follow the heat press application instructions from HTVront and this process becomes a breeze.
For HTVront Puff Vinyl:
Pre-heat garment for 10 to 15 seconds.
Do not iron directly on transfer; instead, use a teflon sheet between the heat press and the vinyl.
Do not use steam in the iron.
Apply design at 150°C (300°F to 320°F)
Use medium pressure for 10 to 15 seconds.
Wait 1 to 2 minutes to cool down before peeling off (the clear carrier sheet).
6. REVEAL YOUR PERSONALISED DESIGN.
If I haven’t mentioned it already, I typically personalise items from this blog as gifts for my family, and I'm excited that my sister would happily accept this jumper! 🙂
After the success of using puff vinyl in this project, I’m thinking about exploring other brands like Siser. Perhaps I'll compare them in a future blog post.
For budget-friendly jumpers suitable for personalisation, definitely check out Kmart. If you're comfortable with purchasing online without seeing the product beforehand, give Temu a try. I've had multiple positive experiences with their quality products. For one-off projects or gifting to friends and family, Temu could be your go-to for sourcing materials.
However, if this hobby evolves into a business venture, consider reaching out to wholesalers for bulk purchases.