DIY Grease Inspired Sweatshirt and SVG Cut File

Warm up this winter in a custom Grease inspired sweatshirt made with a bit of heat transfer vinyl and a Cricut or Silhouette electronic cutting machine.

I am not sure when I first saw the movie Grease, but I am certain 80 percent of the jokes went over my head. I do remember watching the show in college and being absolutely shocked at the content…Okay. Shocked may be a bit dramatic, but watching the show with a bunch of dudes really opened my naive mind to reality and left me blushing. I finally understood the underlying humor behind the phrase, “If you can’t be an athlete, be an athletic supporter.”

It may have taken me some time to fully understand the humor, but I loved the catchy songs right from the start. A month or two ago the closing song, “You’re the One That I Want” was included on a Spotify playlist I was listening to and it’s been running through my mind since.

DIY Grease Inspired Sweatshirt

Fast forward to January – it’s freezing outside! The line “I’ve got chills…” is a pretty apt description of how I feel on a daily basis so I incorporated it on an inexpensive funnel neck sweatshirt.

I’ve been walking down the street humming, “You’re the One That I Want” on a daily basis, but at this point, in my Grease inspired sweatshirt, I am wearing attire appropriate for the occasion.

What you will need to recreate this DIY Grease inspired sweatshirt:

I have provided a direct affiliate link wherever possible so that you can easily shop and create!

- - - Grease Inspired SVG Cut File (download available at the bottom of this post)
    - Sweatshirt (similar)
    - Cricut Electronic Cutting Machine
    - Cricut Cutting Mat
    - Cricut Easy Press or an iron
    - White Heat Transfer Vinyl

How to create a Grease inspired sweatshirt with an SVG cut file:

Download the Grease SVG cut file at the bottom of the post and save to your computer.
Upload the design to your design software (Design Space if you’re using a Cricut) and size appropriately.
Note: I typically size images being placed on adult t-shirts eight to 10 inches wide, while kids shirts run about five to six inches wide.
Mirror image. The design should show up in reverse on your screen.
Place the heat transfer material on a cutting mat (I like to use a standard grip mat with HTV) glossy side down. Feed the mat into your machine and select HTV from the options on your media menu (or dial).
Cut the design.
Peel the negative space in the design off the HTV plastic backing, leaving only the words and shapes you want to apply on the clear plastic transfer sheet.
Pre-heat the fabric you’re planning to transfer the design to for about five seconds. I like to crease the center of a shirt, creating a vertical line for reference.
Position the design face down so that you see it through the clear transfer sheet. Your text should be facing the right direction at this point.
Firmly press the design on the fabric using a heat source.
Note: I love the Cricut Easy Press for this step. It is quicker and lasts longer than a design heated with an iron.
Remove the heat source. Gently peel up the transfer sheet. If the HTV continues to stick to the transfer sheet, replace the cloth and heat again, making sure to apply pressure.
Note: Follow the instructions on your HTV to determine if the transfer sheet should be pulled back when the vinyl is still hot or if you should wait until it’s cooled.