The Cricut Easy Press | Why I Need One

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I have a heat press. I use it for so many things – t-shirts, reverse canvas, pot holders and more. Since I had a heat press, I never saw the need for the Cricut Easy Press.  That is until I came across some projects that wouldn’t work with the heat press.

What is the Cricut Easy Press?

The Cricut Easy Press is a hand-held press. It is 9 inches square and you can set the temperature, as well as set a timer. It’s easy to use – just plug in and turn it on. It’s also easy to program. I have used the Easy Press with different types of Siser brand HTV – EasyWeed, Stretch and StripFlock.

As of the summer of 2018, Cricut has put out 3 more Easy Presses, known as the Easy Press 2. They come in a new raspberry colour and 3 different sizes:  10×12, 9×9 (same as the first run) and 6×7. Just offhand, my initial thoughts are that since I have a 15×15 heat-press, I wouldn’t use the 10×12. Also, the price point of the 10×12 is pretty close to that of a heat press. The 6×7 is limited in size. Sure it’s great for items like onesies and cosmetic bags, but as someone who has limited crafting space, I need to pick versatile tools that work for a variety of projects. I quite like the 9×9 size. It is a versatile size that can work on a variety of items.

Why not just use an iron?

I had previously used an iron and with some things, like onesies, I had success. However, the Cricut Easy Press has some advantages over an iron:

• Temperature control: you can program the exact temperature you need or want on the Cricut Easy Press. With my home iron, I set it to cotton and hoped for the best. I believe not all irons are created equally – some may be more consistent and even than others.
• Even heating surface: the bottom of my iron has holes – meant for the steaming function. The trouble with that is, there is no heat in that spot. The Cricut Easy Press, however, is a solid, flat surface. There are no cold spots and so you will have an even, smooth transfer.  It is also possible that the iron may not be consistent in terms of heat over the entire surface
• Size: while not a heat press, the Easy Press is bigger than an iron. This makes jobs quicker and easier than an iron. I previously mentioned the new sizes in the Easy Press.
• Timer: you no longer need to stand there and count out loud while you wait. The Easy Press has a programmable timer that beeps when you are done.
• It heats up really fast – way faster than my heat press.

When to use a Cricut Easy Press and Not a Heat Press

I am lucky enough to have a commercial heat press, but there are some projects that simply do not work with a heat press – mainly because you can’t get them into the heat press. Such projects include:

• HTV on cork: I’ve made hot pads/trivets, as well as coasters. Due to the thickness, it’s challenging to use a heat press. It’s not impossible – I’ve simply rotated it around to press it multiple times. With the Cricut Easy Press, however – you can just do it once. To read about this project check out this blog post here.
• Framed Canvases: Unlike reverse canvas, in which the canvas is removed from the wood frame and is therefore easy to put into a heat press, a framed canvas cannot go into the heat press. To read about this project, check out this blog post here.
• HTV on stuffed animals: okay, you can use both the Cricut Easy Press and a Heat Press – but considering that stuffies are not flat and level – I find it easier to make sure HTV doesn’t shift at the last second.
  
• HTV on wood: I recently discovered that I prefer putting HTV on wood, rather than adhesive vinyl. Like cork, wood is not exactly flat and so I can’t close my heat press over it, so the Easy Press makes it easier.

Tips on Using the Cricut Easy Press

Things that you should use, but are not included when you buy the Cricut Easy Press include:

• Pressing Pad or Pressing Pillow:  Cricut offers an Easy Press mat. I used one of my pressing pillows and it worked just fine. It goes underneath your project. It helps distribute the heat.
  For easy to follow directions on how to sew your own pressing pillow, check out this blog post here.
• Teflon sheet:  just like when using your heat press or iron, it is best to cover your project with a teflon sheet before applying heat. This protects both your project and the surface of the Easy Press.
• HTV is best applied, not only at the correct temperature but with also a fair amount of pressure to make it adhere better. For this reason, I work on my kitchen floor when using my Cricut Easy Press – I am able to use my full weight to press down on the Easy Press.
  Note that some manufacturers, like Siser, have different temperature recommendations for use with the Cricut Easy Press. For instance, applying Siser Easy Weed with a heat press is set at 305 degrees, while Siser recommends 335 degrees with the Easy Press.
  TIP:  When in doubt, press at a slightly lower temperature than you think is right and press for shorter amounts of time and press a few times (as opposed to once). It may take a bit longer, but better safe than sorry!

To be honest, for a long time I never saw the need for the Cricut Easy Press. I thought that my heat press could do everything but then I discovered a few projects that don’t really work with a heat press. I’ll also admit that when I have a quick, small job to do – I find it easier to use the Easy Press instead of hauling out the heat press – which if you recall from my post on Storage and Organization since I don’t have a designated craft room, my heat press sits on an Ikea Alex cart and needs to be rolled out when used. The Cricut Easy Press is stored in an Ikea Raskog cart and is small enough to grab and use when I just want to make something small.

I have also brought out my Easy Press to iron as well. If it’s something small, I can’t be bothered to haul out the ironing board and wait for the iron to heat up. If it fits on one of my pressing pads, I just use the Easy Press. This is really handy when sewing small projects.

Do you need the Cricut Easy Press? Well, it depends on what kinds of projects you are using for. I still maintain that if you can afford it, getting a heat press is more versatile and useful, but I have discovered that I actually need and use both. They are used for different kinds of projects.

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