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3 MORE Gender-Neutral Onesies & Silhouette Giveaway

Around this time last year, I had just tackled my first heat transfer vinyl project with my new-ish Silhouette machine: some cutie-patootie onesies of the gender-neutral variety.

Well, a whole new set of my friends are about to give birth, so it’s time for a brand new batch of gender neutral onesies!  {Cheers!}

Oh, and in addition to some FREE cut files I have for you lovelies today, we also have a Silhouette Portrait to give away…plus a little something extra.  It promises to be a grand old time!  So, grab your cup of coffee, set yourself down for a spell, and enjoy the party.

Gender Neutral Onesies: 3 NEW Silhouette cut files from thinkingcloset.com

Home Grown

"Home Grown" Onesie - Super Cute DIY Shower Gift via thinkingcloset.com

When I saw a “Home Grown” onesie in my forays around the interwebs, I immediately thought of our cousins up in Ohio, Andy and Liz.  They are due with their second babe (a girl!) this May…and could there be a more perfect onesie for a farming family?  I think not.

And yet, I love that it can be just as fun to gift anyone because it honors their home state and town!  Just find a free clip art file of their home state, use the tracing tool to trace the outline, add in the heart atop their city (which you can pull from my free cut file further down), place the text off to the side, and voila!

Font used: Bebas

"Home Grown" Onesies - Super Cute DIY Shower Gift via thinkingcloset.com

Settlers of Catan®

It’s no secret that Mark and I are board-game geeks: *Small World, Pandemic, Dominion, Carcassonne…we love them all!  But our board game obsession started with one particular game called Settlers of Catan®, which we would play with Andy & Liz all the time when we lived in Ohio.  Perhaps you’re obsessed with it, too?  If so, you’ll get a kick out of this onesie:

Settlers of Catan Onesie: Such a fun shower gift for board game geeks! FREE cut file via thinkingcloset.com
Catan and The Settlers of Catan are trademarks of Catan GmbH and all Catan content is the copyright property of Catan GmbH and all use here is with permission from Catan GmbH and its English-language publishing licensee Catan Studio, Inc.

Although I’m gifting Andy & Liz with one of these, too, I initially designed this one for my friend Rachel from Lines Across after seeing this inspiration on CafePress.  She and her husband Grant share in our love of crop production and land-grabbing…and now, their newborn baby boy, Oliver, will, too!

Font used: KG Lego House

The perfect onesie for Settlers of Catan fans! FREE Silhouette cut file via thinkingcloset.com
Catan and The Settlers of Catan are trademarks of Catan GmbH and all Catan content is the copyright property of Catan GmbH and all use here is with permission from Catan GmbH and its English-language publishing licensee Catan Studio, Inc.

Step 3. Salsa!  

Step 3. Salsa Baby Onesie! FREE Silhouette cut file via thinkingcloset.com

This onesie is made especially with one of my bestest friends Gianna in mind.  Thinking Closet regulars may remember a certain DIY Subway Art Canvas that I made for Gianna last spring with one of her favorite dance quotes.  Well, I was overcome with joy when I found out that she and her husband Raj are due with their first little one this June.  Although they know it’s a boy (eek!), you could use this design for any child of a dance-lovin’ family.

And you can even swap out the text of “Step 3.” for other physical activities: surfing, four-wheeling, gymnastics…the possibilities are endless.  (I wish I could remember where I initially saw this onesie to properly credit it…but there are a slew of similar type ones you can find with a Google search if you’d like some more inspiration.)

Fonts used: Apple LiGothic (Mac font), Recklame Script Demo

Step 3. Salsa Baby Onesie! FREE Silhouette cut file via thinkingcloset.com

Free Cut Files

Gender Neutral Onesies: 3 NEW Silhouette cut files from thinkingcloset.com

I love the versatility of gender-neutral onesies…both for the giver and receiver (these make great hand-me-downs!).  And while all three of these designs were created with specific couples in mind, I’m hopeful that some of you out there might be able to use one or two of these for future onesie projects.

So, I’m offering all three designs fo’ FREE download to my newsletter subscribers. You can sign up to download your free cut files using the nifty form below or by clicking HERE. {Fine print: these designs are for personal use only and are not to be used for commercial purposes. Thanks!}

And if you want to download my original 3 gender-neutral onesie designs, grab those HERE.

Gender Neutral Onesies & Free Cut Files | The Thinking Closet
More FREEBIES here.

Tips for Working with HTV

I’ve gone through detailed step by step tutorials for working with heat transfer vinyl (HTV) a few times before (here & here), so I’ll just share some quick tips n’ tricks here:

  • Do NOT forget to flip your design horizontally before cutting.  It should look like the mirror image.  No one wants to waste perfectly good HTV.
  • Feed your HTV into the machine (or stick it to the mat) shiny side DOWN.  The shiny side is actually a plastic film that will peel away after ironing.  You don’t want to cut through that!

Tips for Working with Heat Transfer Vinyl from Lauren at thinkingcloset.com

  • Always-always-always do a test cut before sending your design to your machine.  If only I had heeded my own advice, I would have saved myself from ruining some perfectly good HTV.  The second time around, I was able to run a few test cuts to determine that my blade needed to be on a 1 with a double-cut (apparently the recommended setting of a 2 was just too sharp!  It was cutting right through the entire sheet instead of giving it that “kiss cut” you’re going for).

Tips for Working with Heat Transfer Vinyl from Lauren at thinkingcloset.com

  • Use a hook tool to peel away the negative space of your design.

Tips for Working with Heat Transfer Vinyl from Lauren at thinkingcloset.com

Tips for Working with Heat Transfer Vinyl from Lauren at thinkingcloset.com

  • Pre-warm your pre-washed onesie with a dry iron before placing your HTV pieces on it.
  • I like to use a ruler to make sure my design is properly centered.

Tips for Working with Heat Transfer Vinyl from Lauren at thinkingcloset.com

  • Place a thin cotton cloth or piece of parchment paper in between your iron and the onesie.
Ironing the HTV design onto the tote!
(Photo from my TEAM BETTY tote bag.)
  • Apply good solid PRESSURE when pressing your garment with your iron, approximately 20 seconds per section.
  • The plastic film should peel away with ease when the HTV is properly applied.  If not, allow it to cool 30 seconds and re-press.

Tips for Working with Heat Transfer Vinyl from Lauren at thinkingcloset.com

  • Be sure to turn your garment inside out and press the back-side, as well.
  • Washing instructions: low heat, inside out.  And if for some reason your HTV starts to peel up, you can always iron it back down again!  However, it should not peel up if you’ve applied good solid pressure in the first place.

Phew!  That list was pretty much a tutorial…but I never want to leave y’all in the lurch!  Let me know if you have any HTV questions in the comments below.  And don’t be too intimidated.  It’s a really fun medium to work with…especially when it comes to itty bitty onesies.

This is Lauren, signing off.

*Full Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post; however, I received free product in exchange for an honest review.  This post also contains affiliate links, meaning that if you make a purchase after clicking through, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.  Please rest assured that as always, I only recommend products that I use and love like cray-cray.

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43 Comments

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  2. I have a question —- what brand of HTV do you think works the best for you? I have made some shirts and after the first wash the vinyl seems to be peeling on some.

    1. I prefer Silhouette America’s flocked HTV and Happy Crafter’s smooth HTV for ease of application; but I have had great success with both brands staying adhered to clothing. I think the key is really applying firm firm pressure and also ironing on the underside of the fabric. Also, I have heard that if HTV starts to peel up, you can just lay a thin cloth overtop, and re-iron, making sure to add that heavy pressure. Hope that helps, Kathy!

    1. Thank you for the compliments, Yo! Unfortunately, at this time, I just don’t have the time to create items for sale. I’m so sorry! Please feel free to see if one of your friends with a digital craft-cutter would create it for you using one of my free cut files or take the plunge and join us!

  3. How CUTE are these?!! I especially love the “home grown” onesies! They would totally make the perfect baby shower gift! Thank you for sharing the free downloads 🙂

  4. I love the “home grown” onesie. I’m not from Ohio, but I live here now and it immediately caught my eye. I might have to make some for my dozens of pregnant friends (there is a serious baby boom going on up here!).

  5. Hi! New follower from A Bowl Full of Lemons Linky Party. I love this blog post and of coarse the giveaway. I have a Cameo and it’s one of my most prized possessions! I entered the giveaway and if I happen to win I have the perfect person to give it to as a gift.

    I have never tried the Heat Transfer and after seeing your cute onesies I may just have to try it! Thanks for sharing!

  6. The Settlers onesie is GENIUS! We’re HUGE fans! It also sparks some ideas for a few other “game” onesies: like Ticket to Ride… Our OTHER addiction 🙂
    Thanks for sharing!

  7. Oh my gosh, I’m so in love with these! The Settlers of Catan one is adorable. Do you guys play Carcasonne too – that’ll have to be your next project 🙂 And the salsa dancing, love. I really need to get on the onsie-decorating bandwagon, while my little one still wears onsies.

    1. Yup! Carcasonne is one of my faves! I’m all over that onesie assignment. And yes, you’ve totally gotta take advantage of this special onesie season with your daughter! What about some signature ChiWei woodland creatures?

  8. Thanks for the coupon code! I’m excited about ordering some HTV, and trying it out. Do you have any other HTV brands you use and would recommend, or websites with good pricing. I can see this becoming an expensive hobby.

    1. Ha ha. Yes, the supplies can add up! So, sales like the current one are always great to take advantage of. I’ve bought HTV from Pick Your Plum (link on my sidebar) and got a free sheet from Happy Crafters. And freezer paper stenciling is a wonderful inexpensive alternative to HTV if your design is pretty simple. My April 12th post shows freezer paper stenciling in action. Best of luck!

  9. I think your smart little onsies are just adorable. Thank you for sharing the cut files with ua. These will make the perfect gift.

  10. These are so clever and unique! Gianna & Raj and Liz & Andy will be delighted to receive these! Congrats to both of these dear families. Great tutorial, too! All the best to those participating in the give-away. Can’t wait to hear who the winner is! You are an amazing gift-giver!! Cheers to you!!

  11. My friend, you had me at “Settlers of Catan”! If only we were having more babies so I could put that cut file to good use. Though you know, there are always tshirts for bigger boys… 😀 Love them all– so cute! Thanks for sharing, Lauren!

    ~Abby =)

  12. Can you somehow save the negative space portion to cut some small details later? Or is it just wasted because the transfer sheet is used up? Heat transfer is one of the few things I haven’t tried with my Cameo because the amount of waste for the price of the HTV seems excessive (tempting at 30% off though). Love your tutorials!

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