Makin’ for Maker Faire: Cricut-Cut Fabric

by Sister-Diane on May 28, 2009

in Fabric Crafts

Watching all this Cricut coverage this week, I’ll bet you’re wondering: “Does it cut fabric?”

The answer is yes…and no. My Maker Faire cohorts and I have devoted a good part of the week to trial and error on this subject, and concluded that fabric-cutting is possible (and even cool) with the Cricut, but requires some caution.

You need to fuse the fabric to some double-sided fusible webbing. Then, you need to place it fabric side down on the Cricut cutting mat, and then burnish it down really, really well. Then, you need to tape the edges with masking tape.

This video, in fact, walks you through that part of the process nicely.

But, as you can see, there are still challenges. The cutting blade can really get hung up at corners.

So, after having some success with spray starch in my wallet project, I decided to try starching my fabric heavily. After all, if the Cricut is a paper-cutter by nature, why not make the fabric more paper-like by stiffening it?

That gambit works better. The paper backing of the webbing might get torn up, but the fabric takes the cut well.

…Although in my experience, simpler shapes work best. I couldn’t even help this one out with regular scissors. Some fabrics work better than others – I tend to think that lighter weight is better.

As much as I love the cut-outs, cutting this way does consume a bit more fabric – and prep time.

But, for a simple cut-out to embellish a tool case (up top there) or a tee, it’s fun to explore.

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Tagged as: fabric, makerfaire

  • Kay
    Here's a great tip sheet on cutting fabric with the Cricut:
    http://www.psychomoms.com/Cricut/ClassProjects/CuttingFabric/FabricTips.pdf
  • DeeAnn
    Did you try Wunder Under. It works best for cutting fabric with the Cricut. Makes it really stiff. The starch trick works too but I like Wunder Under the best. Lightweight cotton cuts the best. Some of the sturdier fabrics cut nicely. You can't use nappy fabrics because the lint gets caught up in your Cricut housing.

    I love the Cuttlebug Color Duct tape idea. You have my mind churning out ideas again for art cards. :) I love my Cuttlebug & all the different things it will cut out. I use my Big Kick because it has more pounds of pressure to use for different materials.
  • Barbara
    I have no experience with Cricut, but my original Sizzix machine cuts fabric quite well without any fusing, taping or anything.
  • LizAnderson
    OK, I get the whole cut it and iron it on something else, which is so very slick. But --- can't you iron your fabric to the shiney side of freezer paper, thus creating your own paper-fabric???

    And did you know you can fuse a single layer of a printed napkin to cardboard using plastic wrap and your iron? Oh the wonders of the internet!
  • Jess
    YES! You can use freezer paper. I had great success using this method. I also just had the thought that you could fuse the fabric between 2 layers of freezer paper and use multi-cut and slow cutting.
  • they're soo pretty. shame it doesn't cut absolutely anything! anything? ANYTHING!
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