T-Shirt Ruler Guide for Perfect Vinyl & Sublimation Placement | Free Rulers + Directions!

Custom T-shirts are so much fun to make, but how do you get the design placed perfectly? Too high or too low and they just don't look right! Not to worry, you can make your own T-shirt ruler guide for any kind of shirt from infant to adult! After all, making your own tools and project accessories is one of the best parts of being a Cricut crafter! I'll show you how to make them out of either cardstock or plastic (wait 'til you see what we're using!) and how to use them with my free ruler patterns. Your new T-shirt rulers will work for any of my custom T-shirt projects, whether it's iron-on vinyl, sublimation, or even screen printing!

Correct placement can be the difference between success and sadness for T-shirt projects! If you get it wrong, the design might be hard to read or uncomfortable to wear. Not to fear, you can make the perfect T-shirt alignment tool using your Cricut! I'll show you how to use my free SVGs to make a t-shirt ruler guide out of cardstock or plastic.

Which should you make? It depends on your different needs!

If you make the paper version in premium quality cardstock like the kind in my material list, it will hold up for many uses. It might be easier to use if you have vision trouble since we'll draw the markings on top using a Cricut pen before cutting it on a StandardGrip mat.

But if you might need to see the fabric's surface during alignment -- like if you're using a patterned shirt -- or plan to make A LOT of shirts, the chopping mat version is easier to make than you might think and extremely durable. It actually just takes a fine-point blade and StrongGrip mat!

MATERIALS LIST (contains my affiliate links):

To make a cardstock T-shirt alignment ruler, you will need:

To make the plastic T-shirt ruler guides, you will need:

And for either version, you want:

, scissors, weeding tool, and brayer.

To make the custom t-shirts, you'll also need:

0:00 - Make a T-Shirt Ruler Guide for Vinyl & Sublimation Placement
0:40 - Why Do You Need a T-Shirt Ruler?
2:05 - Supplies & Tools
3:03 - Get Free T-Shirt Ruler Files
4:34 - (Learn How to Upload SVG Files to Cricut Design Space)
4:50 - Prepare and Cut the Ruler Designs on Your Cricut
4:54 - Version 1: Heavyweight Cardstock T-Shirt Ruler
7:21 - Tip: Learn How to Get Cleaner Cuts on Your Cricut
7:46 - Version 2: Plastic T-Shirt Ruler
10:17 - Cut T-Shirt Designs for Your T-Shirts
10:39 - Get Reference Graphic for Sizing Your Decal
11:35 - Use Your T-Shirt Ruler Guide and Apply Your Decal
17:08 - Apply Decals to Different Types of Shirts
18:08 - Apply a Vinyl Decal to the Back of a Hoodie
19:14 - Closing Notes and Link to More Information

#cricut #cricutmade #designspace

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Credits:
Introduction: PixelBytes (my child!)
Music: Cute by Bensound (licensed, royalty and copyright free)
Videography: Jennifer Marx on a Panasonic Lumix FZ-1000 DSLR 4K camera
Design: A Jennifer Maker original!

[marydonnell]

I have to say that if it wasn't for you and your video's I would never have done as much as I have with my cricut. I was fortunate to find you when I first got my cricut and I have learned so much. Thank you Jennifer for all your instruction. Mary
💙

[elizabethenholm]

Thank you so much for your generosity and time. Your instructional techniques are perfectly detailed and easy to follow.

[laurafox]

Thank you very much, Jennifer! What a great tool to have and the video was so clear to follow.

[shariz]

Thank you again for your generosity in sharing your expertise, files, and time and resources with all of us. You’ve helped this cricut newbie from last February to become a confident beginner 💕.

[imadish]

Thank you for your kindness and generosity. I might even try shirts again -they just might come out right with your rulers and technique!

[emmym]

This is SUCH amazing timing, I really needed one of these TODAY cause I need to finish making a custom onesie for my cousins new baby before I leave to visit them tomorrow morning. I messed up on my first try- the baby's name is Arrow, so I picked a cute little arrow design with hearts, but didn't notice til after I had ironed on the HTV that it wasn't centered. This morning I bought another onesie to try again. I happened to be scrolling through YouTube just now and the algorithm somehow showed me this video at exactly the perfect time. Thank you Jennifer! 💘

[fshnfool]

Ha! I just bought some on Prime day in July, but I haven't had a chance to use them yet. So glad you made this video because I had no idea how to use them. Thank you. You really are a great teacher!😊

[vernialarris]

Jennifer, thank you so much for this freebie.💚 Will be making shirts for our family reunion, was looking to purchase some of these. Now thanks to you a trip to $$tree is all needed.

[tammy]

You can always laminate the cardstock ones to keep them longer.

[dianekosch]

This couldn't come at a better time. Thank you!

[lindalowery]

These T- Shirt guides will be so much more useful than the 3 fingers or 2 fingers, etc! Thank you so much!

[cinthiaflores]

Waooo, you really think about your subscribers! It's just what I needed to buy but I never thought I could make my own. I thank you very much for giving us so many tools that help us improve our projects.

[debchiu]

Jennifer, you are the BEST. Every time I’m stuck on a project, I just look you up and help is on the way. Thank you!!!!

[SafariSis]

How helpful! I just got back from my walk and caught the end of this, so I will go back and watch the beginning! Thanks, Jennifer!

[feltthefluff]

Your generosity and skills never cease to amaze me! Thank you so much for sharing everything.

[lindalaney]

Thank you Jennifer for this amazing gift. I quickly downloaded the svg files and made all 7 of the t-shirt templates

[mrsdizi]

Thank you Jennifer so much for the time you took to prepare this and willing to share your hard work for us for this well needed tool and for free you are awesome.

[nancykost]

Thank you, thank you thank you!! Best tshirt ruler video that I have seen, in my opinion! Absolutely love your videos and projects! I have made several and will be making this one today after a quick trip to Dollar Tree

[melaniesimpkins]

Thank you, I've been wanting to purchase a tshirt guide but just haven't yet and now I can save that money! You rock!

[tanoaiwilliams]

Thank you!! I love making shirts and this will help me TREMENDOUSLY!!!