I’ve been getting some questions about the video that I made on how to cut felt with you Silhouette, so I thought it was time for another one. This one is a fun experiment with different kinds of felt and different methods for cutting. I even tried using freezer paper to cut the felt with some success! The info is all in the video. It’s another long one, so grab some popcorn. 🙂 If you would like to know more about the felt that I used, go to my post here.
If you don’t want to watch the video, here’s what went down. I cut out 3 inch squares of different types of felt with different backings. Here they are all labeled. Think of it like a chart, just don’t include the two extras at the bottom.
Here were the results. Make sure to go back here to the first post/video to see the machine settings to use.
National Nonwoven’s wool blend cut MUCH better than the acrylic felt. And it’s just… better. So use that if you can. The 80/20 blend seems to be a bit thinner (the pink), so it cuts better even without flattening.
Some explanations if you don’t watch the video:
- What does “flattened” mean? I ran these ones through a manual die cutting machine with a couple of thin pieces of cardboard (cut up cereal box works great). I used my Evolution from We R Memory Keepers and it worked great! It thinned out the felt, and made it cut much better.
- I have had varying results with freezer paper ironed on the back. I tried once before, and the felt peeled off of the freezer paper and slid around. This time it decided to work, but ONLY with the National Nonwovens felt. The acrylic felt lost a ton of detail and came out looking pretty messed up.
- I also tried with no backing at all. That’s what the square that says “nothing” is. The felt scrunched up and slid on the mat making for some sloppy cutting. No good.
- I also tried using Silhouette brand sewable interfacing. That was the square that says “Silhouette Interfacing”. I was wondering if it would peel off after I was done. It didn’t.
So there you go. For the most part, I’ll probably be using my trusty Wonder Under method, but if I really need the felt to be without a backing, freezer paper it is. I’ll just have to cross my fingers that it sticks as well as it did this time.
Jackie
Wednesday 18th of October 2017
Hi there! Thanks so much for all your helpful posts on this topic. However, i am not having the same success you are and I am completely stumped as to why. I am using the wonder under, wool felt and the fabric blade set to your suggested settings and its not cutting through the wonder under. So at best, I'm just perforating the top layer of felt. I have even double cut, times two, and still same results. I am wondering if it's because my Silhouette Cameo is older....? I believe I purchased it about 5 years ago so it's the original. But regardless, the blades are new so I don't think that's the issue. Thoughts? Any help is greatly appreciated, I am so frustrated :(
Jessica @ Cutesy Crafts
Wednesday 18th of October 2017
Are you using 100% wool or the wool/rayon blend that I mentioned? Did you peel the paper backing off of the wonder under? My Cameo is pretty old too, so I'm not sure that would be the issue.
Lori
Saturday 14th of May 2016
So if you don't plan to use these as an aplique what would you use to keep them on the Matt? I want to make a circle garland and wouldn't need wonder under
Jessica @ Cutesy Crafts
Monday 16th of May 2016
I have had a little bit of luck ironing freezer paper onto it. You could try that.
Mary
Saturday 7th of November 2015
Hello! I would like to make a felt activity wall for my toddler. By attaching the interfacing to the back of the felt letters or shapes will they still "stick" to a felt background? Thanks so much for such a detailed post!
Jessica @ Cutesy Crafts
Saturday 7th of November 2015
The interfacing will make it so they don't stick. Your best bet is going to be freezer paper, but your results will vary with that method.
Samantha
Wednesday 4th of November 2015
Where do you purchase your felt?
Jessica @ Cutesy Crafts
Wednesday 4th of November 2015
You can buy it at JoAnn's in very limited colors or online at several places. I talk about places you can buy it from on the bottom of this post here: https://cutesycrafts.com/2012/12/felt.html
Kelsey
Wednesday 7th of January 2015
I know I'm kind of late to the party but I recently got a cameo and am following all the directions to cut felt but for some reason it's not cutting. Not even scoring the felt. I flipped the felt over with the freezer paper side up to see if the blade would even go through that and it doesn't. It doesn't even look like the blade touched it. What am I doing wrong?! Hope you can help! Thanks!
Jennifer
Monday 10th of August 2020
I’m having the exact same issue. We’re you able to figure out what the problem was?
Jessica @ Cutesy Crafts
Thursday 8th of January 2015
Is your machine cutting other things ok? Are you using the wool blend felt? It should be doing something. Also make sure you are changing the blade depth manually by turning it as well as changing it in the computer settings. Sorry it's not working for you.