A Cricut is a popular electronic cutting machine that many crafters use to create projects. Discover the pros and cons of buying a Cricut here.
Hey y’all, today I’m going to share whether I think a Cricut is worth it for sewing. I know for many years, especially around this time of year when I started to see Black Friday deals, I would wonder if I needed a Cricut. I finally got one a couple years ago, so I’ve had plenty of time to see how much I use it before writing this post.
It should be noted up front that I don’t have a ton of experience with cutting machines, so I can’t tell you whether to get a Cricut or Silhouette or some other cutting machine. My opinion is also geared toward people who sew, as sewing is my main hobby. So when I talk about whether I think a Cricut is worth the money, I am speaking as someone who bought one as a compliment to my sewing hobby.
You can see my opinion on my Cricut maker in the video below or on YouTube here. You can also scroll below the video if you prefer to read instead of watch.
What Is a Cricut?
My machine is a Cricut Maker (affiliate link). All cutting machines, from Cricut to Silhouette Cameo to Brother and more use computer software to precisely control and coordinate the movements of a blade and a mat. This allows you to cut intricate designs for many purposes. I most commonly use my Cricut to cut out heat transfer vinyl into graphic designs for t-shirts. Typically I use this for school spirit shirts. But I also sometimes just make designs for myself to wear, like the cactus shirt in the image above and on me below.
I’ve also used Cricut Maker (affiliate link) to make labels for clothing with heath transfer vinyl.
Making Crafts
Many people use these machines for all kinds of non-fabric non-sewing things, but as I said at the beginning of this post I wanted one to compliment my sewing. However, I have also used my Cricut Maker (affiliate link) to cut out adhesive vinyl to add names to non clothing items or decals to homecoming mums, for example. I’ve used it to cut paper for locker decorations as well. And I’ve cut felt with it – the rolling fabric blade makes that very easy – for things like felt flowers.
Cutting Fabric
Speaking of felt, the biggest reason I wondered whether I’d like a Cricut is that I had heard the Maker could cut fabric. And it can, very easily with the rotary blade. So if I was a quilter or did a lot of appliqué, I think that would be a great selling feature. It’s probably also great for small bags
But since I mostly sew clothes, the machine isn’t super useful for me in that regard. First, you’re constrained by the size of the cutting mat – the largest size I have is 12 inches by 12 inches. I think you can get a 12 inch by 24 inch mat to expand the cutting area. But besides doll or baby items, there’s not a lot you can fit on that size of mat to cut. And you can only cut a single layer of fabric. Which means it’s not useful for pattern pieces that need to be cut on a fold.
Which brings me to software – in order to cut something it needs to be imported into Cricut Design Space. I generally do my own graphic designs with Adobe Illustrator software and import them into the Cricut software. But if graphic design isn’t your jam or if you don’t have the software to do it, you’re limited to things within their software or you have to buy designs from others. The Design Space library has a subscription fee. I’m not sure how much that is or whether it’s worth it at all as I haven’t explored it.
Cricut Pros and Cons
The biggest thing to consider when deciding whether a Cricut is worth it is whether you want another hobby. While I use the functions on my machine to compliment things I sew, it really has its own learning curve, its own software and its own supply expenses. Not much from your sewing room will cross over unless you’re a quilter or someone who makes small items or appliqués.
Pros to having my Cricut:
- We’re a sports family, so I can quickly and easily make school spirit items for us to wear and use
- When I do matching pajamas for my kids and their cousins, it’s easy to make matching t-shirts
- The software and machine are both pretty user friendly and the learning curve isn’t steep
- I enjoy the freedom to make my own designs from scratch
Cons to purchasing a Cricut
- It’s not cheap
- It takes up room in my sewing studio and needs clearance in front and behind the machine to work properly
- I don’t use it to cut fabric, so it’s not actually helpful to me with any sewing tasks. This could change if you’re a quilter or tend to sew small items.
- If you don’t design your own things, you have to pay for designs
- Additional supplies are needed. You have to buy rolls of heat transfer vinyl to do t-shirts, for example. I also ended up buying a Cricut EasyPress (affiliate link) to get more consistent results on heat transfers for t-shirts.
So there’s my opinion! Hopefully this helps you decide whether a Cricut is worth it for you.
Linda
Thank you for this post, Melly. I am a leather bag maker, and I was wondering if a cricut would be worth it. You make some very good points for consideration.
Danita Courtney
That was a great review for us sewing people! I know I would never use it as my kids are grown and my grand kids would only like the tag less feature you talked about. But we solved that years ago with my tags being sewed at the side seam and bottom of T-shirts and other projects. Thanks so much for the pro and con list. This was a huge help!!! Now I can just buy more fabric! LOL
Val Phillips
Thanks for the review. I have a Cricut Maker and recently used it to cut out the pieces to make memory bears. I followed an online tutorial to upload the free pattern ( it might have been one of your’s) then had the Maker to cut it out. The whole process took me ages, but it’s there now, saved in my Cricut Access Design Space Projects. Subsequent pattern cuts have been much quicker. It cuts absolutely precisely, which is great for me when sewing the pieces together. There’s little room for error and I’m not the best at cutting precisely by hand.
I do need to mention that there are hundreds of free designs and fonts through Design Space without subscription. You can also find free designs elsewhere on the internet and upload to your own Projects space without charge. There are also free shapes on DS so you can make your own designs. There is a learning curve as you say.
I’m no expert but I have used my Cricut Maker a lot to aid/ embellish my sewing. But as you say, it’s the making of appliqué, iron-on transfers and small items that it’s a help for the most.
Don’t forget sublimation…I’ve just branched into that but it’s a game-changer.
I hope to do some quilting as well, so looking forward to using my Cricut for that. It is meant to be a time saver, the Cricut cuts pieces while you do something else. But it’s fascinating to sit and watch it !
For me, it’s a useful addition, but I do use it for other crafts. I bake, so make cake toppers and party table decorations. It’s fun and I buy my supplies in the frequent 20-30% off Cricut sales. Cricut Access subscription is 7.99€ a month, As a subscriber you get 10% off everything, including sale prices. I also buy from marketplace sites like Temu. Subscribers receive a 10€ code and free p&p every 3 months, which can be used in conjunction with sale prices and the 10% off. I’m in France but come from the UK. I can buy from the UK and French Cricut shops and get that quarterly discount twice.
It is a learning curve but if you can do Word or Canva it’s easy. Even if you can’t, it’s not difficult for most.
For me, the purchase was worth it. But I do use it for other crafts than sewing.
Michelle M.
I got a Cricut Maker in 2018 with the hope of being able to do more fabric-related projects (like stuffed animals or costume accessories). The only sewing projects I really used it for was to make masks during the COVID-19 lockdowns. It was great for cutting out a lot of pieces in a small amount of time for a beginner like me! And yes, there is a 12×24 in. mat which made that easier.
Now, I use it for vinyl and paper projects. As a avid maker and crafts teacher for my church, it gets a lot of use so the Design Space subscription is actually worth it for me! I rarely use it for fabric and have never cut actual leather on it. I find that a good leatherworking toolkit is much much better.
If someone wants to cut a lot of paper/cardstock/thin balsa wood for miniatures, 3D projects, or cards then a cutting machine is ABSOLUTELY the way to go. They’re also great for iron-on, vinyl, and small faux leather projects as well. At this point, would I recommend Cricut? Not really. There’s been some shadiness with Design Space subscriptions and Cricut marketing, so I recommend folks do a lot of research before sinking $200+ into one. Brother seems to be the favored machine for sewists, especially because you can scan your patterns and convert them to files that the machine can cut.