Cricut for fabric
 

Now that Cricut has been out for sometime, I'd like to know how well it works cutting fabric. Does one need to put a fusible backing on quilt cotton or lighter weight fabric to stabilize it?

If it is worth purchasing, what model do you like best?

Thanks for the info!

i tried it once and it did not work well. but i did not know about fusibles at that time. I expect that should make it work just fine (and a new blade). you can adjust the depth of the cut by setting a custom material. I never did that either.... just things to consider if you give it a try.

My SIL loves her's. She tells me it has some limits. She finds she has to fuse most fabrics and can only do a single layer at a time. She likes my Accuquilt better for cutting more layers but the Cricut can cut so many different designs of your choosing and are not just limited to the expensive dies. It takes her longer to cut a full quilt with the Cricut than it does with the Accuquilt.
She has a Cricut Maker but I do not know what model # it is.

Thanks for the information. I wasn't aware the machine needs stabilized fabric to cut well. It was first meant to cut paper so I can see where simply using quilting cotton would be an issue.

Thanks for asking that question, thrums. I've seen how well Accuquilt works and always wondered if and how Cricut would work on fabric.

Accuquilt will cut a single later at a time. You need to have the fabric very stiff. I use Terial Magic, and the fabric behaves like stiff paper. You can also stabilize with a fusible.

I have had the Cicut Maker now for over 1 year and love it for fabric. You have to use the wheel to cut fabric it is just like a rotary cutter and is very smooth. You do not have to always fuse a backing on.

To save the pink mat from threads and fuz and if I use felt I put down a layer of glad press and seal with the sticky side up. Works great.

Some fabric you have to cut from the back side like corduroy. Or if you are using sequined fabric.

This machine is really not intended for making tons of quilt squares at at time. I find it is best for appliqué pieces. Not to say you could not use it to cut out small squares but there are better and faster methods to use.

I have a MAJOR typo in this post. SilhouetteCameo will cut 1 layer of fabric. Accuquilt is completely different and will cut 6 layers of basic cotton or 4 layers of a cotton fused to an adhesive. I have both and I have used both.

??? are you talking about the accuquilt or the Cricuit? I usually cut 4 layers with my accuquilt but I have cut 6 layers without problems. I usually press before....but seldom use best press. I have the regular GO

Thanks for the info, I should have been more specific: I was wanting to use it for applique.

Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm thinking the Cricut would cut only the outside border of an applique. I would have to use scissors to make any interior cuts such as in the letters O, P, B etc.

When cutting fabric with interior cuts it is absolutely fabulous. I have done many intricate designs not just outlines. I also make paper cards and other 3d objects.

The blue image was cut on the Cricut maker and layered over yellow. The blue image is 3.5 inches by 2.5 inches. It was done with paper and may be too intricate for fabric but I would try it that size just because. I would use a use a fuseable backing. You can always enlarge the pattern. That is the beauty of using design space with a Cricut or any other type of software for designing svg's.

You can not make tiny letters. I would not make anything smaller than maybe an inch. I always do a mockup first with just plain copy paper so see the size and how small the cuts can be. The letters should not be to intricate.

I have a neighbor that designs the letters,applique and then transfers them to her embroidery machine and has the machine do the stitching. I am not that good and I don't want to be that good.

Happy to answer another questions any time.

https://www.quiltingboard.com/attach...1&d=1630280264

Re: Kayak cut-put.

This is exactly what I was wondering about.https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/smile.png I would think the fabric needs a light fusible to stabilize it. Would the fabric blade work for the inside cuts too?

What model Cricut do you use?

I have a Cricut maker. not the new one. no advantagae

If you are going to use cotton then fusible backing is good so the edges do not ravel unless it is a large piece and you are going to use a satin stitch backing may not be necessary.

As I said before you have to use the PINK mat and I have learned to use the press and seal then lay material on top if I am going to use felt so the mat does not get full of threads and fuzz. Also do not use a scraper on the pink mat. Different adhesive than on the blue and green mat.

Yes the Cricut Maker does cut the inside also . The blade is like a rotary cutter and is lifted up with each cut. It does more than just one continuous line.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wmzS0Y2SCg- go to this web site and go to 6:05 minutes and you can see how the blade cuts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_xgMW_FIMQ-- good tips for fabric.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYZuUxp0JlQ-start at 4:20 for actual cutting. 9:25 for reveal.
This is not fuzzy felt, some are and leave a real mess that is why I use the Press and Seal then lay fabric on top.

Lots of how to videos on Tube. I watched many before I invested in this. Also wanted to make sure I could do the designing aspect with Design Space. You can actually use design space and not purchase the machine. I downloaded the program from the Cricut site and used it. Not a bad learning curve if you have used other editing programs. I would suggest trying before buying. You can do everything but cut.

Hope this helps