How to Use the New Cricut SportFlex Iron On™ Material

If you love to make shirts with your Cricut machine you are going to love the new SportFlex Iron On™ Vinyl! It has enough stretch that is perfect for work out shirts, swimsuits, workout gear, yoga pants, leggings and my favorite..maternity shirts! I am going to show you exactly how to use Cricut SportFlex Iron On™.

Cricut, Easypress and supplies with a letterboard sign that reads "How to Use Cricut SportFlex Iron-on"

All the Info in this Post:

SportFlex Project Supplies Needed
How to Cut SportFlex Iron-On
Correct Application of SportFlex Iron-On
Tips for using SportFlex Iron-on

It’s no secret I love to make shirts with my Cricut. I especially love to make funny baby onesies and maternity shirts! The dilemma I encounter with the maternity shirts is that the shirt obviously stretches over a belly (and even the girls!)…normal heat transfer vinyl does not. This is where the new Cricut SportFlex Iron On™ is is a match made in stretchy heaven!

Author pregnant with a self made maternity tank top

Here is a shirt I made for myself when I was pregnant with Spangenbaby. (Please don’t mind the awkward belly selfie) Do you see the poor iron on hanging on for dear life as the shirt stretches across my belly? I know, I feel sad for it too!

Close up of page author pregnant belly with self made maternity tank

Here is the shirt I made with SportFlex Iron On™! (No, not my belly but a friend’s — this baby shop is CLOSED!) See how much better that works? It’s thin, super flexible and has stretch to it and is perfect for Nylon and Polyester materials like work-out clothes!

Pregnant Belly wearing pink shirt with B-U-M-P Baby Under Manufacturing Process in Sportflex iron on

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Supplies Needed for Cricut SportFlex Iron On™ Project:

Cricut Cutting Machine
SportFlex Iron On™ in your choice of color(s)
Scissors
Weeding Tool
Blank Maternity T-Shirt
Cricut EasyPress™ or Iron
EasyPress™ Mat
Thin Cloth (optional)

You can find many of these items in my Shop on Amazon!

Supplies Needed for using Cricut SportFlex Iron On. T-shirt, Sportflex Iron on rolls, Cricut Machine and EasyPress

I made this fun file using the font Arab Brushstroke std Regular from Cricut Access as well as a circle shape! Nothing fancy and you can find the Cricut Design Space file here.

Bump Maternity Design on Cricut Design Space

How to Cut SportFlex Iron On™:

Load your mat with the SportFlex Iron On™ lining side down.
For the Explore Family turn the Smart Set Dial to Custom. Select SportFlex Iron On™ from the list of materials. For the Maker select the SportFlex Iron On™ Setting.
MIRROR your design.
Cut your SportFlex Iron On™

Cricut Explore cutting white sportflex iron on

How to Apply SportFlex Iron On™:

Using an Iron:

Using the Hook tool, weed your design. This means to remove the extra iron-on material from the lining sheet leaving only your intended design.
Set Iron to WOOL setting. Make sure the steam to the iron is OFF.
Use the iron to preheat the area you will be applying your design. Preheat for 5-10 seconds.
Apply the SportFlex Iron On™ on to your blank with the lining UP. You do not need to use a thin cloth, however, I recommend it so that you don’t get Iron imprints on your shirt! The thin cloth really helps!
Apply Medium Pressure and press for about 20-30 seconds.
Flip the material over and Iron on the backside for about 10 seconds.
Let cool 1-2 minutes and remove the plastic lining. (This is called a Cool Peel)

Using a Cricut EasyPress™ with EasyPress™ Mat:

Set Temperature to 305 F/151 C.
Preheat area for 5 seconds
Apply the SportFlex Iron On™ on to your blank with the lining UP. For Polyester fabrics, use a Teflon Sheet or piece of parchment paper. This is not necessary for Nylon materials.
Press for 30 seconds.
Flip the material over and Press backside for about 15 seconds
You may then remove the plastic lining (Warm Peel)

Cricut EasyPress with EasyPress Mat. This makes using iron on a breeze! Get the best adhesion with this awesome press that fits perfectly on a shelf! No bulky equipment here.

If using Cricut EasyPress™ with a towel in place of the EasyPress™ Mat:

Same as above except use 315 F/157 C temperature settings.

Tips for Using SportFlex Iron On™

It is recommended to ONLY layer with other colors of SportFlex Iron On™ and only 2 layers at most.
Wait 24 hours to wash.
Wash and Dry with the garment inside out.
If you need to re-iron your garment, do so from the backside of the fabric.
Make sure to follow my Preparing your Blank instructions before applying your SportFlex Iron On™

This is not just for maternity shirts, it also works great for swimsuits, leotards, Dri-fit workout gear, leggings and more! Perfect for all those Nylon and Polyester shirts you couldn’t personalize before! Order as an 11.8 x 24 sheet, which can make multiple projects depending on size and it also comes with the Cricut StrongBond™ Guarantee.