Socks make a great gift for all ages and you can vinyl any slogan or saying you like onto the bottom of the socks. It is really so easy and in this blog I’m going to show you just how to vinyl on socks.
To make these socks you will need the following items:
Scissors
Cardboard foot shape
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Choosing the design
To get started choose the design that you wish to put onto the bottom of the socks. This can either be designed by yourself or a design that has been purchased from somewhere like design bundles.
Once you have the design head over to design space. Click on new project and that will take you to a new blank canvas.
For this project I’m just going to be adding text to the bottom of the socks. The text is going to say If you can read this …. Bring me a beer please.
Getting Started
Start by clicking on the Text button at the left-hand side of the screen. This will bring up a text box for you to start typing. Type in the text that you want to go on the bottom of the first sock.
Then click on the text button again to open another text box and type in the text you want to go on the bottom of the second sock.
To alter the font style click on the font box. The font defaults to cricut sans. You can either select a cricut font or a font you have purchased. Chose a font that you like. I used DTC Marker print for my font style for this project.
To centre your text click on the alignment button and this will centre the text in your design.
Getting the size right
Measured the bottom of your socks. My socks needed the size of the design to be 4” high by 2.5” wide.
To change the size of the design you can do this 2 ways. The first way is to use the sizing handle in the bottom right corner of your design. Click on it and move it until the design is the right size. The other way is to click on the width and height box at the top of the canvas and alter the size accordingly. The padlock in the middle means that they will both change in proportion unless you click on the padlock and this will allow you to change the height and width to the exact size you require.
Once you have your text or design ready, head up to the 'select all' button on the top bar and click on it. Down in the bottom right corner select 'attach'. Both text boxes will now be attached together and will be kept in proportion when the design is sent to be cut.
Let's get making!
Once your design is the correct size, we are now ready to cut the vinyl. To prepare the vinyl onto the mat you should place the heat transfer vinyl shiny side down and press firmly onto the mat. Load the mat into your Cricut by using the arrow button.
Now the mat is ready head back over to design space and click on the make it button in the top right hand corner. This will take you to the next screen where it will show you the prepared mat and your design on the mat. This is how the maker will cut the design.
As you are using Heat Transfer Vinyl you will need to click on the mirror button, this will reverse your design. Head over to the continue button in the bottom right corner.
Selecting the materials
Select the material you wish to cut. If you need to search for your materials then click on browse all materials and this will show you all the materials that the cricut can cut. I personally use premium vinyl as it gives consistent results. Once you have selected your material you have the option to alter the pressure. To get the best cut possible change the pressure from default to more. Change the pressure by just clicking on the box and it will drop down the options.
The green cricut button on the maker will be flashing, press the button and the cut will start.
Once the cut has finished, press the flashing arrow button and release the mat.
To remove the vinyl, flip the mat over and peel the mat away from the back of the vinyl. This will prevent the vinyl from curling up.
Trim around the edges of your design to save excess vinyl for another project and to save time weeding. Begin to weed out all the unneeded vinyl, all you will be left with is your design.
Preparing the socks
The best way I found to press the socks was to insert a cardboard cut out of a foot into each sock. I made these by just using an old cardboard box and drawing around my foot or you could also draw around a shoe. Pull the sock onto the cardboard foot shape so the bottom of the sock is totally flat. Make sure the heel of the sock is also flat and wrapped around the cardboard. This made it easier to add the design onto the bottom of the socks as it guaranteed the sock was flat.
Time to press the design onto your socks.
For the final stage we now need to heat press the design onto the bottom of the socks. I used my cricut easy press for this. I heated the heat press up to a temperature of 360 centigrade. Prepare the socks by heat pressing them for 10 seconds to remove any moisture that may be in the socks. Line up the design on the bottom of the socks making sure it is centred.
Once you are happy with the placement of the design, apply the heat press and apply pressure onto the socks for 30 seconds.
Carefully start to remove the protective sheet from the vinyl. I like to do this slowly starting in the corner, if the vinyl is lifting up then just pop the protective sheet back down and press the design again and that should do the trick.
I really hope you have a go at making your own personalised socks as they are so easy to make and make great presents.
If you would like to watch how I added vinyl to socks then please click on the video below
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