Best of Crafting Step by Step
Which Cricut should you buy first? These are the machines we would point a friend to, matched to what you want to make, from cards and stickers to fabric and thin wood.
Sample picks while Kimberly finishes her hands-on testing. The final list may change.
Some buttons on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through one, we may earn a small commission. You pay the same price, and it never changes which products we pick. Nobody pays to be on a list.
For fabric, felt and thin woodBest for: Fabric and wood
Why it's here: It takes the widest range of blades in the Cricut family, including a rotary blade for fabric and a knife blade for thin wood, so it can grow with almost any craft.
For cards, vinyl and iron-onBest for: Paper and vinyl
Why it's here: It cuts the paper, cardstock, vinyl and iron-on most of our projects call for, at full mat width, without paying for blades you may never use.
Small machine, letter-size sheetsBest for: Beginners
Why it's here: It is small enough to keep on a shelf yet cuts a full letter-size sheet, so cards, labels and stickers all fit.
The smallest CricutBest for: Small spaces
Why it's here: It is the smallest and simplest Cricut, made for quick labels, cards and decals, which makes it a gentle first step into machine cutting.
Sample picks. Details may change after hands-on testing.
Fabric and wood
Paper and vinyl
Beginners
Small spaces
Swipe sideways to see all 4.
Free step by step tutorials from Crafting Step by Step.
Crafts
9:01 video · 7 steps
Based on a video by Christy Cain - Appalachian Home Co. (opens their YouTube channel)
Crafts
15:12 video · 10 steps
Based on a video by Colleen Pastoor (opens their YouTube channel)
Scrapbooking
4:30 video · 10 steps
Based on a video by Blick Art Materials (opens their YouTube channel)
Paper Crafts
8:57 video · 10 steps
Based on a video by JR Creations (opens their YouTube channel)