Summer is HERE, friends and we could not be more excited! We've been on a major summer-inspired crafting kick these last few weeks so when we saw this month's free hand-lettered cut file from Arlena over at Bossy Brushstrokes we knew exactly what we wanted to do with it!

We've been wanting to use our Color Chimp Stretch HTV on a swimsuit for a while now and Arlena's gorgeous sea-themed cut file couldn't have been more perfect for this project. Follow along below to find out how you can make some fun custom swimwear for yourself. 

You’ll need:

• A plain swimsuit (we choose a simple hot pink one-piece)
• Cutting machine (we used a Cricut Maker for this project)
• Color Chimp Stretch Heat Transfer Vinyl in White
• Weeding Tool
• Heat Press or Iron
• Teflon Sheet (this is optional but helpful)
• Let the Sea Set You Free, Free SVG cut file (download here)

Step 1: Design

Upload the Let the Sea Set You Free SVG file to Design Space or Silhouette Studio and resize to fit your bathing suit.  We sized our file to 6.5 inches wide.

Step 2: Cutting 

Place the vinyl on your mat, with the shiny side facing down. The shiny side is your carrier sheet and it is what you'll use to transfer your final design to your suit (think of it as transfer tape for HTV).

Don't forget to mirror your design! Press the GO button and start cutting.

Step 3: Weeding

Once your machine is done cutting, use your weeding tool to remove all of the excess HTV from your design. 

Your finished design should look like this:

Step 4: Press Your Design

Now it's time to apply your HTV. We like to fold our carrier sheet in half to help find the center of our design. This is really helpful when you're placing your design, making it much easier to center on your garment. 

Next, place your design on the swimsuit and press with medium pressure for 15 seconds at 320 degrees (Note: be sure to follow the pressing instructions for the brand and type of heat transfer vinyl you are using).

IMPORTANT: Working with swimwear can be tricky because it is fairly easy to overheat and melt the fabric. To avoid this we recommend covering the entire portion that will be in contact with your heat source with either a teflon sheet or thin cotton towel to give a little extra protection. 

CStep 5: Enjoy!

Carefully peel away your carrier sheet and you're ready to hit the beach! 

We love to see what you create so be sure to share a picture in the comments below or use the hashtag #GetCraftey on social media so we can see your projects! Check back next month for another exclusive hand-lettered design from Arlena and in the meantime, check out her all work over at BossyBrushstrokes.com and be sure to follow her on Instagram.

Ready to make this project for yourself? Head over to the Craftey shop to find all of the materials used in this project, including our Color Chimp Stretch heat transfer vinyl and join our Craftey Community site to get access to lots more free cut files just like this one!