![How to transfer embroidery designs (even complicated ones) with your cricut machine.jpg How to transfer embroidery pattern with cricut](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iDSgLOdSpFg/W5SWaO7s1pI/AAAAAAABnj8/LPdhTzX9KVcWuvWSCO7sR5im3rBIn2yzACHMYCw/How%2Bto%2Btransfer%2Bembroidery%2Bdesigns%2B%2528even%2Bcomplicated%2Bones%2529%2Bwith%2Byour%2Bcricut%2Bmachine.jpg?imgmax=1600)
By now I’m sure you know a Cricut machine is good for personalizing things, from furniture and cups to shirts and tote bags. You also know it is great for paper crafts and home decor. In fact, this month’s Craft and Create challenge is filled with a huge assortment of home decor ideas for the Cricut:
But did you know you Cricut can be handy in the world of HAND EMBROIDERY? Oh yes.. It is like there aren’t many crafts that a Cricut can’t crack. Check out my recent embroidery project, all done with the help of my Cricut Maker!
![embroidery-version-of-tattoo.jpg Embroidery version of tattoo](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Rq-_bqjgf2U/W5SWbAnlqOI/AAAAAAABnkA/LXEmcwN00Jssi7xpIOng_sQurrQa319gQCHMYCw/embroidery-version-of-tattoo.jpg?imgmax=1600)
Cricut actually has a tutorial on using a Cricut to chart embroidery patterns, but I am going to be real with you here.. as someone who embroiders, their tutorial was great for entry level embroidery, but I wanted to push it farther.
Their example was using a simple oversized design. But I don’t need help with those kind of designs.. I need help with the COMPLICATED ones. The ones with lots of detail, straight lines, text.. stuff that is hard to trace by hand.
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Image source |
![Crafty-bird-embroidery-pattern.jpg Crafty bird embroidery pattern](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-j9yRhLu9U2s/W5SWcsJsVQI/AAAAAAABnkI/7rr1RLjLgWAIPPRSwK9I6peSyJdiux48QCHMYCw/Crafty-bird-embroidery-pattern.jpg?imgmax=1600)
I uploaded my image into Cricut Design Space and selected “Write” instead of "Cut". One problem with uploading your own designs is that Cricut wants to TRACE the outline.. so you are already starting right off the bat with double lines.
![Screen Shot 2018-09-08 at 8.22.36 PM.png Screen Shot 2018 09 08 at 8 22 36 PM](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-opFnBem_VJM/W5SWfv3h47I/AAAAAAABnkU/j9LRAACJB1kw1OkwWPi36yHKawh4f1LJACHMYCw/Screen%2BShot%2B2018-09-08%2Bat%2B8.22.36%2BPM.png?imgmax=1600)
But I continued to press on anyhow.. in hopes it wouldn’t matter much. I put my fabric (I was using a yellow hand dye cotton) on the pink Cricut Fabric mat and my Cricut Washable fabric pen into the pen holder of my Cricut Maker.
![embroidery-transfer-with-cricut.jpg Embroidery transfer with cricut](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-760itjYBZ4w/W5SWeYRk8aI/AAAAAAABnkQ/mjf-mbr8LMEwUz4Vknf8W770HYVTg7rRACHMYCw/embroidery-transfer-with-cricut.jpg?imgmax=1600)
This is where the second problem came around. The fabric pen is JUST TOO THICK. I mean, it is like writing with a extra fat sharpie, and bled like crazy on my cotton fabric.
![Cricut-fabric-pen.jpg Cricut fabric pen](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Vym-3-WzsDo/W5SWg89yffI/AAAAAAABnkc/x3_idyEuYzoGWyYiN0SHXjRPleynkicpQCHMYCw/Cricut-fabric-pen.jpg?imgmax=1600)
I could immediately see that it was not detailed enough when it was running through the machine.
![using-cricut-to-draw-on-fabric.jpg Using cricut to draw on fabric](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HMT5C5vjac8/W5SWgfF_FNI/AAAAAAABnkY/rKROXd-lZ-kIXhL5JqAx-nJPPNXd0UNWgCHMYCw/using-cricut-to-draw-on-fabric.jpg?imgmax=1600)
So I needed a plan B. I decide to try a soft lead pencil. I have hand drawn designs with pencil beforehand I love the accuracy and detail.
![replacing-cricut-pen-with-pencil.jpg Replacing cricut pen with pencil](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xG7UuqysZjw/W5SWiPHOqiI/AAAAAAABnkg/FUHuudRBhcw3bJsUoRegMD-zYpFKXq_1wCHMYCw/replacing-cricut-pen-with-pencil.jpg?imgmax=1600)
(You will still need to buy the Cricut pen to get this mark)
![using-any-pencil-in-cricut-machine.jpg Using any pencil in cricut machine](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-64IHS5z2Wgo/W5SWly-fLDI/AAAAAAABnk0/HoqdrQZ7ogIsTAe-S4DqgUwDZP2TUPiFgCHMYCw/using-any-pencil-in-cricut-machine.jpg?imgmax=1600)
Next I loaded that into the pen holder making sure to line up the little mark at the top.
![using-pencil-in-cricut-maker.jpg Using pencil in cricut maker](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3ICleBfJat4/W5SWnVswcJI/AAAAAAABnk8/J3Ak3BhVwSEZ3Taq67iHTrProww1Rm_jgCHMYCw/using-pencil-in-cricut-maker.jpg?imgmax=1600)
THIS IS ALSO NOT A SUGGESTED USE OF THE PEN HOLDER BY CRICUT.. SO IF YOU DON’T WANT TO POTENTIALLY DAMAGE YOUR MACHINE.. DON’T DO IT.
“Danger” is my middle name.. so I went for it!
![inserting-pencil-into-cricut-make.jpg Inserting pencil into cricut make](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-N6SgWO6lYSI/W5SWkWfZQUI/AAAAAAABnks/ABpcoP0mwGgbWZ_P1bWRptYT-JM-bkHLACHMYCw/inserting-pencil-into-cricut-make.jpg?imgmax=1600)
Here is what my fabric looked like after one pass (leaving the Cricut setting as the “Washable Fabric Pen”)
![pattern-transfer-with-cricut.jpg Pattern transfer with cricut](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kfHdn4Xl7w8/W5SWlFuEkHI/AAAAAAABnkw/A_EhANNYC-cxW2lRMfOLTKjBceC94sZtQCHMYCw/pattern-transfer-with-cricut.jpg?imgmax=1600)
You can see, using the Cricut water soluble pen itself just wasn’t going to work. The bleed was too great. I couldn’t even read the words. It was just a hot mess. But the pencil.. it was PERFECTION.
![How to transfer embroidery designs onto fabric with your Cricut machine without getting the huge thick lines from the washable fabric marker. Perfect for small intricate designs, straight lines, text or anything else you want to embroider but it too difficult to draw by hand. How to transfer embroidery designs onto fabric with your Cricut machine without getting the huge thick lines from the washable fabric marker. Perfect for small intricate designs, straight lines, text or anything else you want to embroider but it too difficult to draw by hand.](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LQgxdEXvJLQ/W5SWdmvUHSI/AAAAAAABnkM/_4bwLHTVYTAsVQCXr4ECXHSOCE6fQatYQCHMYCw/Cricut-water-soluable-pen-vs-pencil-for-embroidery.jpg?imgmax=1600)
![using-cricut-for-embroidery.jpg Using cricut for embroidery](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-twm4BMBaBPc/W5SWmkiJI1I/AAAAAAABnk4/kpuXgspVh0MIVVhWPAszcoBvszWcjxm5ACHMYCw/using-cricut-for-embroidery.jpg?imgmax=1600)
![american-traditional-tattoo-embroidery.jpg American traditional tattoo embroidery](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0cPoeRpq_0I/W5SWjEBfU5I/AAAAAAABnkk/C7IN69SGr1YgDUtePbEPlL0tviNeSfScgCHMYCw/american-traditional-tattoo-embroidery.jpg?imgmax=1600)
![crafty-american-traditional-swallow-embroidery.jpg Crafty american traditional swallow embroidery](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-miw1RwBDhic/W5SWj9m6DoI/AAAAAAABnko/4Na8fOYOcDIdH1XJSXs3uymCFAlYGn4iwCHMYCw/crafty-american-traditional-swallow-embroidery.jpg?imgmax=1600)
Once again, Cricut to the rescue!
![transfer-embroidery-pattern-with-cricut.jpg Transfer embroidery pattern with cricut](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FC9oQgMfFfU/W5C9BpiAXVI/AAAAAAABnjc/36sWDysCPuIwfb870QeDDIyEXM-hb_KVQCHMYCw/transfer-embroidery-pattern-with-cricut.jpg?imgmax=1600)
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