How to Get Perfect Cuts with Your Cricut: The “Press Play Again” Trick You Need to Know
Written by Sticky Vinyl Australia's, Adam.
If you’ve ever been halfway through a Cricut project and realised the cut is not quite deep enough, don’t stress. You don’t need to start again or waste vinyl. There’s a simple trick built into most Cricut machines that a lot of people don’t know about. If you hit the Go or Play button again before unloading your mat, the Cricut will repeat the exact same cut without shifting the design.
At Sticky Vinyl Australia, we see this all the time. You put time and money into every project, and the last thing you want is a ruined sheet of vinyl because the blade didn’t go through properly. This little trick has saved me more times than I can count, especially with thicker vinyls, HTV, glitter and holographic films.
Why This Works
When your Cricut finishes cutting, it pauses and waits for you to eject the mat. Until you do, the design is still active inside the machine. Pressing the Go button again tells the Cricut to run the same cut a second time in the exact same spot.
It works the same way as running a craft knife over the same line twice. Each pass makes the cut deeper and cleaner.
When To Use The “Press Play Again” Trick
You won’t need this for every project, but it is a great backup when:
- You are cutting thicker vinyl like glitter, shimmer or specialty adhesive.
- Your blade is a little worn and struggles to make a clean cut.
- You used a lighter pressure setting and don’t want to waste material testing again.
- You are cutting layered or stacked vinyl that needs a bit more force.
How To Check Before You Eject
The key is to test the cut while the mat is still in the machine. Here is how:
- Let the cut finish, but do not unload the mat.
- Grab your weeding tool or tweezers.
- Lift a tiny corner or inside piece of the design.
- If it lifts cleanly, you are good to go.
- If it feels tough, tears or is still attached, leave the mat in place.
Press the Go button again. The Cricut will repeat the cut perfectly in the same place. You can do this as many times as needed until the cut is right.
A Real Example
Say you are cutting Sticky Vinyl’s Glossy Chrome Adhesive. It looks amazing but can be a bit stubborn on certain machines, especially if the blade isn’t brand new. You check a letter with your weeding tool and it is still hanging on. Instead of wasting the whole sheet or fiddling with settings, press Go again. By the second or third pass, it will usually lift cleanly.
Pro Tips From The Sticky Vinyl Australia Team
- Keep your blade sharp. Even with this trick, a really dull blade will eventually give you trouble.
- Do a test cut when trying a new vinyl. It can save you a lot of frustration.
- Don’t rush to unload the mat. A quick check before ejecting can save your whole project.
- Pick the material setting that matches your vinyl. It reduces how often you need extra passes.
- Save your scraps for practice cuts or small test pieces.
We’re Here To Help
At Sticky Vinyl Australia, we don’t just sell vinyl. We are crafters too, and we know the ups and downs of creating. That is why we love sharing simple tricks like this. They save you time, save you material and make crafting a whole lot less stressful.
So next time your Cricut hesitates to cut through glitter vinyl or a tougher material, remember this trick. Don’t unload. Press play again. It is simple, effective and it can save an entire project.
If you are ever unsure about what vinyl to use or want advice on a project, drop into our Huntfield Heights store or reach out online. We love helping and we always enjoy hearing about what you are making.
Your craft projects matter to us just as much as they matter to you.
