This post may contain affiliate links. This means if you click a link and purchase an item that I recommend, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions are my own.
If you have a Cricut EasyPress machine you’re probably wondering if you need a Cricut EasyPress mat or not. You want to make professional quality Cricut shirts that will last a long time, but you want to be sure the EasyPress mat is something that you actually need.
In this article, I tell you everything you need to know about how to use a Cricut EasyPress mat and let you know if it’s worth buying.
Jump to Sections in this Post
What is the Cricut EasyPress mat?
The Cricut EasyPress mat is a mat that you can use with your Cricut EasyPress machine or iron to create a flat base for pressing your material. The important part of the Cricut EasyPress mat is that it gets rid of any moisture/steam and wrinkles in your material.
With most heat press machines, there is a hard metal base and a sturdy mat that lays on top of the metal base.
The mat allows you to press your shirt while eliminating any moisture/steam that could mess up your design.
Think about it like this, have you ever wondered why there is a cover on your ironing board?
Well, the cover helps draw the moisture/steam out of your shirts or pants and leave them with a nice crisp press.
If you didn’t have a cover on your ironing board and you just pressed on the metal, your shirt would be moist from the heat and the metal.
So, the Cricut EasyPress mat is designed to be similar to the mat base of a heat press machine or the cover on your ironing board.
When to use the Cricut EasyPress mat?
You can use the Cricut EasyPress mat any time you are pressing iron-on vinyl or heat transfer vinyl (HTV).
Examples of HTV projects include shirts, aprons, pants, onesies, dog clothes, tote bags, makeup bags, etc.
What sizes are the Cricut EasyPress mats?
The Cricut EasyPress mat comes in 3 sizes: 8″ x 10″, 12″ x 12″, and 20″ x 16″
How much do Cricut EasyPress mats cost?
The cost of Cricut EasyPress mats varies by the size of the mats:
- The 8″ x 10″ Cricut EasyPress mat costs about $17.99
- The 12″ x 12″ Cricut EasyPress mat costs about $24.99
- The 20″ x 16″ Cricut EasyPress mat costs about $49.99
Where to use Cricut EasyPress mats?
You can use a Cricut EasyPress mat on firm flat surfaces including a wood cutting board, kitchen table, wood table, marble cutting board, craft table, or butcher block.
How to use a Cricut EasyPress mat?
- If you’re pressing a shirt, you can put the Cricut EasyPress mat inside of the shirt or lay your shirt on top of the EasyPress mat.
- You would then press your shirt using a Cricut EasyPress machine or iron to get any wrinkles and moisture out.
- Next place your design on your shirt and take your Cricut EasyPress machine or iron and press your design onto your shirt.
- Remove the clear plastic, lay a piece of parchment paper or teflon sheet on top of your design, and press again.
- If you’re pressing a smaller HTV project, you can place your Cricut EasyPress mat underneath the material and follow the same steps above.
Where to buy a Cricut EasyPress mat?
You can buy a Cricut EasyPress mat from Amazon, Cricut, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, or Walmart.
You can also find Cricut EasyPress mat dupes on Amazon.
Is the Cricut EasyPress mat worth it?
So, to the question you may have been wondering about, is the Cricut EasyPress mat worth it, my answer is that it depends.
As I mentioned earlier, with a standard heat press machine, there is a spongy mat on the base of the machine that helps pull the moisture from your items when you’re pressing them. The mat helps to make sure your Cricut items last longer.
With a Cricut EasyPress, there is no base so you must use a hard surface such as a tabletop to press your items. The Cricut EasyPress mat is the barrier between your tabletop and the item which allows the mat to pull the moisture from your item, extending the life of it.
If you don’t think a Cricut EasyPress mat is worth it, you can use a Cricut EasyPress mat alternative such as a bath towel that has an even texture with no patterns or embellishments.
Cricut EasyPress mat alternatives to avoid include aluminum foil, silicon baking mats, ironing boards, and corrugated cardboard. These materials don’t provide insulation, get dangerously hot, aren’t sturdy enough to allow necessary pressure, and don’t have an even surface.
I hope this article on how to use a Cricut EasyPress mat was helpful to you.
Comment below and let me know if you have a mat and how you use your Cricut EasyPress mat.
