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Made in Steps
Made in Steps

Craft questions, answered

Practical answers, visible sources and a useful place to go next.

Is there a difference between iron-on vinyl and regular vinyl?

Adhesive vinyl bonds with its adhesive backing; iron-on or heat-transfer material uses a heat application process specified by its maker. Choose for the receiving surface and the intended use. Do not assume cutting orientation, transfer medium or application settings are interchangeable. Printable heat-transfer products can have their own rules.

Cricut: product-specific printable iron-on instructions ↗

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Which cardstock is best for greeting cards?

Start with the finished card, the fold, the decoration and your printer or cutting tool. Check thickness, finish and any supplier guidance alongside the paper weight. Make a fold and print sample with the actual stock. One weight number alone cannot tell you how every coated or textured sheet will behave.

Cricut: scoring tools and compatibility ↗

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What is a 1/2 inch seam allowance?

It is the distance between the stitching line and the cut edge: half an inch equals 12.7 mm. Whether you need to add that allowance depends on the pattern. For a simple rectangle that finishes 100 mm wide with 12.7 mm on both sides, the cut width is 125.4 mm. Curves and construction details need their own pattern instructions.

SINGER: pattern cutting and seam allowances ↗

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What is the difference between interfacing and stabilizer?

Interfacing is chosen to support the structure of the fabric or finished item; embroidery stabilizer supports the fabric during stitching and may remain, tear away, cut away or wash away depending on the type. Match the exact product to the fabric, stitch design and laundering plan rather than substituting only by appearance.

Brother: embroidery stabilizer and backing ↗

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Why is my Cricut cutting all the way through vinyl?

Check the selected material, blade, housing, pressure and number of passes against the exact machine and material guidance. A typical adhesive-vinyl cut is intended to separate the vinyl layer while leaving a usable backing. Rehearse a small test cut and inspect the backing before running the complete design.

Cricut: material settings and test cuts ↗

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What are the dimensions of a 5x7 folded card?

The closed card is 5 × 7 inches. A simple side-fold blank is 10 × 7 inches, folded at 5 inches; a top-fold blank is 5 × 14 inches, folded at 7 inches. These are basic two-panel dimensions. Check stock thickness, any construction allowance and the envelope separately.

Cricut: paper scoring reference ↗

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