Experiments with Cutting Felt on the Silhouette Cameo
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.Ā This one is a fun experiment with different kinds of felt and different methods for cutting.Ā I even tried using freezer paper to cut the felt with some success!Ā The info is all in the video.Ā It’s another long one, so grab some popcorn.Ā šĀ 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.Ā I cut out 3 inch squares of different types of felt with different backings.Ā Here they are all labeled.Ā Think of it like a chart, just don’t include the two extras at the bottom.
Here were the results.Ā 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.Ā And it’s just… better.Ā So use that if you can.Ā 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?Ā I ran these ones through a manual die cutting machine with a couple of thin pieces of cardboard (cut up cereal box works great).Ā I used my Evolution from We R Memory Keepers and it worked great!Ā It thinned out the felt, and made it cut much better.
- I have had varying results with freezer paper ironed on the back.Ā I tried once before, and the felt peeled off of the freezer paper and slid around.Ā This time it decided to work, but ONLY with the National Nonwovens felt.Ā The acrylic felt lost a ton of detail and came out looking pretty messed up.
- I also tried with no backing at all.Ā That’s what the square that says “nothing” is.Ā The felt scrunched up and slid on the mat making for some sloppy cutting.Ā No good.
- I also tried using Silhouette brand sewable interfacing.Ā That was the square that says “Silhouette Interfacing”.Ā I was wondering if it would peel off after I was done.Ā It didn’t.
So there you go.Ā 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.Ā I’ll just have to cross my fingers that it sticks as well as it did this time.
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 š
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.
I tried using the 80/20 and the 65/35 blend and same results with both. I am also removing the backing of the wonder under like you instructed. Iām just baffled…
Darn. I did have better success when I flattened the felt with my manual die cutting machine. If you have one, perhaps you can try that. If not, I have also heard that using a deep cut blade can help. I haven’t tried it myself, and they aren’t meant to be used with a Cameo, but I have read about other people’s success with it on the Cameo. I bought one but haven’t tried it yet. Sorry I can’t be more help.
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
I have had a little bit of luck ironing freezer paper onto it. You could try that.
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!
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.
Where do you purchase your felt?
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
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!
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.
Iām having the exact same issue. Weāre you able to figure out what the problem was?
Any store where I can buy National Nonwoven’s wool blend locally?
Joann’s usually has some in limited colors. I think you can also email National Nonwovens to get a complete list of retailers.
I am a total craft amateur and am making a “quiet book” for my daughter. I buy the sheets of felt from the craft store (yep, the ones made from plastic bottles) and would like to use my newly purchased Cameo to do all the cutting. I know you mentioned the better quality of the wool felt you used, but I’ve already purchased all the felt and want to move forward with what I have, even if it isn’t the greatest quality. So I’m wondering, is my cheap felt thinner than the stuff you use? Do you have any recommendations (other than getting better felt, ha!) before I proceed? Thanks so much for your helpful tutorials and amazing ideas!
Not the sheets made from plastic bottles!!! JK š The cheap felt isn’t thinner, it’s just not as good of quality. It will get really fuzzy when handled a lot and fall apart more easily. It should cut, just not as well as the other felt would, and you probably won’t get any really small pieces to cut successfully. I made my kids’ quiet book out of that kind of felt (cut by hand). I would just make sure that any piece that isn’t sewn down to the book is at least two layers thick. So cut two of each piece and sew them together. The thickness will help the pieces from getting torn when handled a lot.
Genius! Just got a Silhouette for Christmas and I’m trying to learn the ropes. Great tips! Thanks!
Ooh! Don’t you love it?! So fun!
Oh, I’m also sharing a link to it on my blog. It is THAT helpful! š
xo
Daniela
Thanks, Jessica, for the info. I am obsessed with my Cameo and just purchased felt to make a Valentine’s banner. This info was SUPER helpful, and I shared on FB & Google+. š
xo
Daniela
Put A Bird On It
http://iputabirdonit.blogspot.com
So glad you found it helpful and thanks so much for sharing! You are gonna have so much fun with your Cameo! It’s awesome!
Am considering the purchase of a Cameo Silhouette and as a sewer/crafter fully appreciate this experiment. Also since I am extremely hard of hearing was thrilled that you included a link to your blog so I could read it (as didn’t quite catch what type of stabilizer/backing you used) ….. so THANK YOU! ☺ -Brenda-
You are so welcome! I like to use Wonder Under. Also called Pellon 805.
You have no idea how much I love you for testing this out!
Haha. Thanks Vanessa! Glad I could help!
Amazing – you’ve done such extensive testing on all the different types. I’ve not used felt yet but this will be so helpful when I do. Thanks š
You are quite welcome! š
Wow! I love experiments…and this one definitely proved successful. So neat to see all the possible methods and felt types and which worked best. Pinning and will definitely refer people to your videos when they have felt questions. I dub you, FELT QUEEN!
Haha thanks Lauren! Wow, I’ve been called the felt LADY before, but never the felt QUEEN!
I am happy you did this experiment Jessica! Thanks for all the info I am always wanting to learn more about my CAMEO!
So glad you liked it Lisa! I love my CAMEO!
Pinned! I really needed this information, and lo and behold, here it is! I was hoping to do some Valentine’s Day crafts with my silhouette and felt. I appreciate you helping do some research! Which blade did you use?
The regular blade and the fabric blades are the same. The blue one is just a different color so that you don’t dull it by cutting paper. I usually use my fabric blade to cut felt with Wonder Under. However, if you are going to try out freezer paper, you might want to use your regular blade so your fabric blade doesn’t get dulled.