DIY Toddler CAT Shirt

Growing up, my dad was an excavator. When I got to be old enough, I worked for him. I remember when I was in high school, some days after school, I’d take off and go to where ever he was working and I’d go to work. I loved it! I thought it was pretty cool to be a girl that could operate a lot of the big equipment that he had. Between school years and after high school, I worked for him during the summers. I think part of the reason I loved it so much was because I was able to spend time with my dad. Fast forward a few years, I got married and started having kids. When my kids were young, I always loved to show them equipment and help them learn the proper names for them. (Nothing drives me more crazy than hearing someone call a backhoe a tractor. 😉 I realize that not everyone grew up around equipment like I did, and it’s okay to call things what you want, it’s just a little tidbit that drives me a little crazy.) Then when we would go visit grandma and grandpa, my kids would know about what grandpa did. Well, when my dad died nearly 10 years ago, it was hard. My oldest was five at the time and two of my boys weren’t born yet. So now, I really try to make sure my boys know these things. Maybe it sounds a little weird to some, but teaching my boys about what their grandpa did, makes me feel like his legacy lives on in a sense. 🙂 Well, after telling my two year old what things were called a few times, he picked up on it! It made my mama heart so happy to hear him say “cak-o” for trackhoe. Since then he has learned more names for different pieces of equipment, and he thinks his uncle Scott is pretty cool because he now runs the backhoe business that my dad ran. Not only does my two year old say the names of equipment, but he knows the CAT logo and says that as well. For a little one who is hard to understand with the few words that he does say, it makes me happy to hear him say these things! SO, of course I had to make him this DIY Toddler CAT Shirt!

This DIY Toddler CAT Shirt post contains affiliate links. If you click on an affiliate link and purchase something, you won’t pay anything extra, but it will help support this blog. All ideas and opinions are my own.

DIY Toddler CAT Shirt Supplies:

• Cricut Maker or Cricut Explore Air 2
• EasyWeed HTV in Sun Yellow
• EasyWeed HTV in Black
• Gray T-shirt (I found mine at Hobby Lobby)
• Cricut EasyPress
• Cricut EasyPress Mat
• Weeding Tools

I uploaded the image I was using and sent it to be cut on the Cricut Maker. I love that I can send files to be cut via Bluetooth! It is so handy to not have to have my computer connected to my machine.

Once cut, I weeded my vinyl and then got my EasyPress preheated. Because I wanted to press these at the same time, I trimmed the carrier sheet for the CAT so the triangle would fit without having to apply the heat twice.

I preheated my shirt.

Then placed the design where I wanted it.

Then I applied the heat. I love that the EasyPress has a timer so I don’t have to mentally count in my head. Also, the new Raspberry EasyPress 2 keeps the previously used temperature and time settings, which I think is convenient.

After applying the heat, I turned the shirt over and applied heat from the back as well. Then I pulled the carrier sheet off.

I adore the way this DIY Toddler CAT Shirt turned out and so does my two year old!

Although I think it comes in second to the Batman Shirt. 😉

He is still pretty excited about having this CAT shirt to wear, and that makes this mama’s heart so happy!

Now that I’ve made this one, I think I need to create a pull over sweatshirt for myself, with maybe a little bit of glitter HTV. What do you think?

If you’re looking for more fun HTV and iron-on ideas, then check out my gallery here.