Tips and Tricks for using the Cricut Maker for Quilting & Free Mini Quilt Pattern
Today I’m going to share with you some tips and tricks for using the Cricut Maker for Quilting. We will talk about how to cut out basic shapes from fabric with the machine, and how to cut out all of the shapes for your quilt project when working with an existing pattern.
I’m also sharing with you a free SVG cut file for Dresden blades for the Cricut Maker, along with a free pattern for a fun half-square triangle mini quilt! I work as an Ambassador for Cricut, this is sponsored content.
This is the 7th in a series of posts that I have done showing you how to use the new Cricut Maker machine. If you’ve never heard of the machine before, you might want to start by reading this post. I introduce the Maker machine and share a review of the features of the machine. You can click HERE to see all of my Cricut posts share to date.
Ever since the Cricut Maker came out last August and I began blogging about it, I’ve received the same few questions over and over again. Today I thought I’d address some of the most frequently asked questions about the Cricut Maker machine and share a bit more with you regarding how I’m incorporating it into my workflow. I’ve been asked questions about quilting and sewing with the Maker, today I’m going to address many of your quilting FAQ’s.
How to use the Cricut Maker for Quilting
Let’s start off first, by addressing a few of those Frequently Asked Questions about the Cricut Maker.
How can I use the Cricut Maker with existing Quilt Patterns?
This is the #1 question that I get regarding the Cricut Maker machine. You have a quilting pattern that you already own and you want to be able to “load” it into the Cricut software to cut out the shapes for the quilt.
Can you do it? Yes or No?
Well, the answer is both, yes and no. If your quilt pattern is made up of simple shapes (triangles, rectangles, squares, circles) then YES you can easily load it into the software and get the machine to cut it out for you. Just keep in mind two things. The machine thinks in terms of mats. So you need to think that way too. If you’re cutting out 40 pieces all of the different sizes from white fabric, it’s pretty straightforward. But if you’re using two different fabrics, you’ll need to plan it out a bit.
For example, I can easily cut out all the pieces I need for my Halloween Haberdashery Quilt. The pattern lists the size of the triangle needed for the hat shape and lists the rectangle shapes for the other pieces.
Here you can see what it would look like in the Design Space software:
This is my “file” for the hat fabrics.. and below is the file for the background fabrics for the block. I made this file myself in the Cricut software. You can make one too, if you own the pattern, all of the measurements are already there.
You’ll see that with a 12″ x 24″ mat I can cut all of the background fabrics at once. Since the Halloween Haberdashery quilt uses lots of rectangles in various shapes, the Maker DOES save you quite a bit of time cutting.
All I did is draw each rectangle in the Design Space software, then the machine figured out for me how many mats I’d need and what the most efficient way to cut all of the fabrics out was. Note: It will cut the fabric at right angles. You don’t need to worry about it cutting on the bias, but you might want to pay attention to the fabric direction. We’ll talk a little bit more about that in a minute.
and now for the “no”
If the pattern contains a specific shape or template that is unique to that pattern designer, then no you can not cut it with the Maker unless you can figure out how to draw it yourself in the software and illustrator. Then you are getting into weird copyright territory. If you’re just using it for yourself then it’s not a big deal, but if you want to share the file with others it is a big deal. Also, most pattern makers are not likely to let you upload a SVG file of their pattern (or give you an SVG file of the FULL pattern). This is because the SVG file type is not secure, and it’s like giving away the “digital blueprints” to a pattern. If you ask, and a designer says “no” then just respect it and move along.
Can I cut two layers of fabric at one time?
Kind of. I have experimented with using 505 spray to “baste” two layers of fabric to each other, then run them through the Maker at the same time. It works half the time.
The rollers have a tendency to catch on the 2nd layer of fabric and a few times I managed to “clog” the machine. The bottom line is you need an even coating of the 505 spray which begs the question of what do you do about the spray AFTER you cut? Right now I have to say that I don’t recommend it. I’ll keep working on it though.
Cutting Basic Quilt Shapes with the Cricut Maker
(fabric is Derby Day by Riley Blake Designs)
The 3rd question I’m going to address today is how to cut basic quilt shapes with the maker. Things like Half Square Triangles, Iscocoles Triangles, Hexagons, etc..
Since this post is pretty long already, I’m going to share with you how to cut two basic shapes with the Maker, the Half Square Triangle, and the Dresden Blade. We’ll leave other shapes for a different post.
How to Cut a Half Square Triangle with the Cricut Maker
First, you need to do a bit of math. You need to know what size FINISHED Half Square Triangle (HST) you want to make. The FINISHED size of an HST is always 1/2″ smaller than the size of the HST before it’s sewn into the quilt. So if you want to make a 3″ HST it will be 3 1/2″ BEFORE you sew it into the quilt. Make sense?
So let’s say you want to make a 3″ finished HST. You want to start then with a square that is 3 7/8″ x 3 7/8″. Since the Cricut Design software is in decimals, just convert that to 3.875 x 3.875.
In Design Space draw a square that size:
To make it easy, just type the dimensions you want into the size box on the toolbar.
Next, click the shape box again, and select SCORE LINE.
It will add the scoreline to the canvas for you. Hold down the shift key and hover over the bottom corner of the shape until you see the rotate icon. Hold the shift key and rotate, it will rotate in 45-degree increments. Rotate the line 45 degrees. Size it so that you have a diagonal line that will fit the square perfectly.
Next, you need to change it from scoring to CUT.
Select the line on the palette to the right. Click the icon and it will take you to the attributes panel. Change the scoreline to a cut line.
Select the square and the line at the same time. Use the ALIGN button on the toolbar to center them on top of each other exactly.
Click both layers then click ATTACH on the bottom right corner of the canvas. This will make both of them cut at the same time, in the same place.
Now you need to decide how many you want to cut. A half square triangle is made up of 2 triangles of 2 different prints of fabric. So if you need 8 Half Square triangles you need to cut 8 of fabric 1 and 8 of fabric 2 (8+8=16). You are cutting 2 triangles at once so to cut 8 triangles of fabric 1 you’d need to cut out 4 squares.
Click MAKE IT and on the upper left corner, tell the software how many shapes you want to cut. (Remember we made 2 triangles at the same time)
In my example above, I’m cutting some of the WHITE triangles for my mini quilt.
I’m using the 12×24 mat to fit them all.
I told the machine to cut 8 shapes, which will yield me 16 triangles, which will make 8 HST’s.
To make the Mini Quilt in the photo above, you need to cut:
- 16 Light Blue Triangles
- 15 Green Triangles
- 4 Navy Triangles
- 35 White Triangles
So that would be; 2 mats with two different Light Blue fabrics… tell the machine to cut 4 squares (remember there are 2 triangles per square).
2 mats with two different Green fabrics – tell the machine to cut 4 squares.
1 mat with White Fabric – tell the machine to cut 18 squares (you’ll have 1 triangle leftover). If you use the 12×24 mat they will all fit more efficiently.
Then cut by hand one square 3 1/2″ x 3 1/2″ (the hat fabric in the photo above).
TIP: When you’re cutting your fabric to fit your mat, just cut it 12″ wide, and let the rest of the fabric hang off the mat. You don’t need to go to the trouble of cutting it 12″x 12″– just 12″ wide will work. Also, don’t drive yourself crazy pulling off fibers from the mat. It will work fine with them left on.
You can use the same technique for ANY size HST, just remember to add 7/8″ to your finished HST measurement.
For the FULL Tutorial to make the Mini Quilt in the Photo above just CLICK HERE.
How to Cut a Dresden Blade with the Cricut Maker
Another common shape that I’d like to show you how to cut today, is the Dresden Blade. There is actually not an easy way to draw a Dresden blade in the Cricut Designs software, but don’t worry! I’ve done the work for you and included a FREE SVG file to cut Dresden Blades with your Cricut!
To cut the blades:
Go to the CRICUT DOWNLOADS page and download the SVG file.
Open Cricut Design Space and UPLOAD the file into the software.
Insert the file into your canvas. DO NOT resize the image AT ALL! Just keep it the exact same size it is when it imports.
Included in the file are shapes to cut 2 1/2″ tall up to 5 1/2″ tall Dresden blades. You obviously don’t want to cut them all at once, so I’m going to show you how to only cut the ones you want.
First, right-click on the imported image and click UNGROUP.
Next, on the right sidebar, you’ll see lots of groups. I made each blade group a different color to help you out.
Decide which size Dresden Blade you’d like to cut, then DELETE all the other blades.
You’ve probably noticed that there are words with the blade, you don’t want to cut them. They are just for reference so you know which blade is which size. On the group of the letters, click the eyeball icon. This will hide the words so they will not cut.
Click on all of the remaining layers and then click ATTACH.
Now you’re left with one Dresden blade ready to cut!
Click MAKE it and tell the machine how many blades you want to cut. I told it 10 just for fun.. this is what my mat looked like:
Let’s say your fabric is directional and you don’t want to cut those two pieces sideways, you can just move them on the mat.
Just pick them up with your mouse, rotate them and move into place (hold down the shift key to rotate the image in 45 degree increments).
The other cool thing you can do is to load 2 different fabrics on your mat then cut out the blades all at once. You just need to drag the lower 4 blades to the bottom of the mat, then when you load the fabric on the mat, put print 1 on the top and print 2 on the bottom! Pretty cool huh!?!? The marks on the mat are EXACTLY where your cuts will be. You can also use this technique if you’re looking to use up a bunch of scraps.
This is especially great if you are working with a 10″ x 10″ pre-cut piece of fabric, you can make sure you cut only on the precut!
If you’d like to make this Dresden block, you can find the full pattern for it by CLICKING HERE.
Cutting other Shapes with the Cricut Maker
With the Maker you can cut, Hexagons, Diamonds, Circles, Triangles, Squares, and Rectangles. Which are all pretty common quilting shapes. Just draw the shape then adjust the size as you need.
We’ll talk more about hexagons and diamonds in another project!
To find out more about the Maker Machine, visit Cricut.com!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine.
