Cricut Maker 4 – the best crafting gizmo yet

Cricut (as in Jiminy Cricket) is one of those cool gadgets you already know if crafting is your thing. As a long-time Cricut fan, I was chomping to get my hands on their newest machine, the Maker 4.

So just what is a Cricut? And why was I literally fizzing at the bung to get my hands on one? Cricut machines might resemble old-school computer printers, but they’re very precise digital cutting machines. So instead of inking information onto paper, a Cricut machine uses a blade (depending on what you’re doing, there are multiple blade choices) to cut/engrave, fold or etch. You can also attach pens for precise calligraphy or creasing wheels for art and origami effects if designing paper art is your thing.

The most common use of Cricut machines is to cut designs into vinyl or thermal dye sublimation transfers, which can then be applied to fabrics, mugs, made into stickers, and so many other things that are simply too many to list. You can also engrave leather, wood and metal and cut balsa. In summary, the range of professional-looking items you can craft with a Cricut is limited only by your creativity. Don’t take my word for it, check out this Pinterest link with over 590 different Cricut projects.

Design-wise, the Cricut Maker 4 is long and narrow. Because of this, you’d think it wouldn’t take up much room, but the machine needs space both in front and behind it to feed through the material you’re cutting/engraving. That said, when it isn’t in use, the feed-through slots fold up and close, allowing the Maker 4 to take up far less space. There’s also clever design touches, such as a smart storage space for Cricut tools built into one side of the machine. The Maker connects to your hardware via Bluetooth or USB, and unlike many other gadget makers currently, Cricut also bundles a USB cable.

Getting set up involved connecting the Maker 4, registering and installing its required software, Cricut Design Space. A Cricut app is also available for MacOS, Android and iOS, so compatibility is unlikely to be a concern.

One reason existing Cricut machine owners might want to upgrade to the Maker 4 is that, unlike their smaller models, it can work with thicker materials like wood, leather and aluminium, whereas most other Cricut machines are limited to fabrics and transfers. The Cricut Maker 4 can create intricate and detailed designs that could easily be mistaken for professionally manufactured goods. To this end, Cricut owners make and sell their wares via Etsy and other online outlets.

There’s a gentle learning curve with using a Cricut machine, most of which revolves around the Cricut Design Space app on your desktop, phone or tablet. If you’ve ever used Adobe Photoshop, Corel Draw or something similar, you’ll find its Design Space a little less confusing. The good news is that there is a huge community of Cricut users and online forums where you can seek help. When using the first Cricut machine I reviewed, I found the sheer volume of Cricut tutorials available on YouTube a real lifesaver.

The other big selling point with the Cricut Maker 4 is that it works at an astonishing speed. I found that, in most cases, it was anything up to twice as fast as my existing Cricut Maker.  The other consideration with using a Cricut is all the extra spending you’ll be doing to feed your Cricut habit (and yes, it is a seriously addictive habit!). First up, there is Cricut Access, which involves a monthly subscription that gives you access to an improbable number of designs and design resources in the Design Space app. That said, you don’t have to subscribe, and you can use the fonts on your PC/Mac/phone/tablet and import images.

The biggest cost is in all the consumables/accessories you’ll buy. Making hats? You’ll want a Cricut Hat Press. Making mugs? You’ll need blank mugs, mug transfers and the Cricut Mug Press. For custom fabric transfers, you can choose from a huge range of vinyl (these come in an astonishing range of colours and textures, including glitter and glow-in-the-dark). You’ll need a hot press (you can, alternatively, use an old-school clothes iron). Getting these bits and bobs is dead easy, as Spotlight and Amazon carry everything you’ll ever need.

The big advantages of the Maker 4 over other Cricut machines come down to its ability to work with a wider range of materials and its faster operating speed. Crafting custom mugs, t-shirts, cards and hats is insanely fun, and the results look fantastic; plus, there is a huge support network of other Cricut users. Simply put, nothing else like the Cricut is available to home users. If you want to level up your crafting abilities, you really need to check out the Cricut Maker 4.

https://cricut.com/en/