How To Use Sizzix Big Shot To Cut Fabric

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I've had an electronic die-cutting machine for several years, and for the longest time, I couldn't understand why people would need a manual cut automobile. A couple years agone, I gave in and got my Large Kick – and wow, have I always been pleased with the variety of things I can cut with it that I cannot cutting with my electronic cutter. When Sizzix recently released their new line of Framelits, I was excited to attempt using them on material (especially existence that this is sewing month!).

Framelits are wafer-thin, chemically etched dies which allow you to see exactly what you are cutting. Some Framelits sets even take coordinating stamp sets, so yous can stamp an epitome and then cut it out precisely. (I love this concept, because I hate fussy-cutting!)

I noted the directions on the back of the package. One thing I immediately loved was that unlike other similar dies, with Framelits, when yous brand your cut sandwich, you lay your textile to be cut down Starting time on the cutting plate, then lay the cut die face downwards over your textile, allowing for perfect placement, and then place the pinnacle cutting mat over the die(s) to complete the sandwich. I've had problems with other dies in the past, where I had to lay the dies downward face, and so place my cutting material on height of the die – and my material moved in the process of making the sandwich or putting the sandwich through my automobile…causing lack of precise cutting and inability to maximize my material. At that place was none of that with the Framelits.

Instructions on back of packaging

Sandwich = multi-purpose platform, so cut plate, and so material, then dies (cut side down), and then second cutting plate

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I basically wanted to try cutting a variety of fabrics with the dies. The following are substantially my "swatches" for this review!

Muslin: second only to the denim, probably the almost threads left connected, but these were easily clipped with small scissors, and the overall result was withal pretty proficient.

Muslin subsequently running through Big Kick, cut with Framelits

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Muslin – a few threads yet continued, simply overall, cutting nicely

Crinoline: the dies cutting cleanly through the crinoline and left virtually no threads continued. Â You tin see the item of the scallops around the edges is nice and make clean.

Crinoline cut with Framelits

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Quilting cotton wool: the dies cut the cloth cleanly, leaving simply a thread or 2 connected to be easily snipped with scissors.

Quilting cotton cut with Framelits

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Sheet: the dies left a few threads connected and had a bit more than difficulty cut through this, though not equally many as with the muslin, and notwithstanding resulted in nicely cut shapes.

Canvas (non-gummy-back) cut with Framelits

Burlap: the dies cut fairly easily through this rather thick material, surprisingly, leaving simply a few threads to be trimmed.

Burlap cutting with Framelits

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Felt: the dies had no problem cutting cleanly through the Eco-felt I had on mitt. Â I didn't have whatever wool felt to try.

Felt cutting with Framelits

Fleece: again, the dies cutting neatly through the textile with no problem.

Fleece cut with Framelits

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Denim: the dies had the most difficulty cutting the denim, though with a couple actress passes through the Big Boot, were, in fact, able to successfully cut the denim while leaving merely minimal threads left to clip with thread scissors. You tin encounter the detail in the scallops effectually the edges is still nice and make clean.

Denim cut with Framelits

I have to admit that prior to doing this post, I was extremely skeptical about whether or not these dies would exist able to cut fabric – any fabric – let alone ALL of these fabrics! I take used wafer-thin dies from other companies in the past, to try to cut fabric, unsuccessfully…always catastrophe in frustration on my part. I am THRILLED thinking of the possibilities this opens up…applique, hair accessories, home decor, wearable accessories, fabric pieces to use in mixed-media art…the possibilities are Endless. And priced at $19.99 per set, they aren't unreasonable, peculiarly for the quality.

While I have many more than ideas zooming around in my head, here are just a few quick ideas that I put together. Â The first is a layered flower, sewn together using jute string. Â Imagine using this on a scrapbook page or an altered frame. Gorgeous!

Layered fabric blossom with sewn push button center using Framelit die-cut pieces

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And how awesome to be able to rapidly cutting canvas circles to size? They are perfect for stamping on and adding to a larger canvass to give dimension, or to a paper scrapbook layout, or to an art journal page…and so many ways you could utilise these!

Canvass cut with Framelits then stamped with paint

Finally, I folded iv circles in half and layered them in a different mode, stitching them together using my sewing machine. It sort of has a doodling-effect to information technology. Imagine a gorgeous frame effectually 9 of these on a coordinating background? What a simple, quick piece of home decor!

Machine-stitched and layered fabric flower using Framelit die-cutting pieces

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I call back you should give these Sizzix Framelits a try! I simply bet yous volition be as pleasantly surprised equally I take been! And if you lot've tried them already, I'd love to hear what y'all recall! Have you used them to cutting cloth?

Update 1/21: if you are having difficulty with the fabric cutting cleanly, endeavor adding a shim of a piece of cardstock (or two) on TOP of your die. This volition add pressure that may help it cut more than cleanly. Or consider investing in a metal base of operations plate which will also increase the pressure and requite you cleaner cuts! Bank check out this post so yous can see Tim Holtz demo the metal plate for Framelits.

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