MASTERING THE ART OF INKSCAPE: How to align your canvas with your Cricut mat for perfect cut-outs

When I first started using Inkscape, it never occurred to me to match the canvas so that it would match up with Cricut Design Space (CDS). It’s a really simple process, and makes so much sense as you’ll get a better idea of what space you have to work with working with when creating SVGs to be cut in CDS. Not only will it save time, but it also saves material, too!

The maximum dimension that can be cut for a 12 x 12 inch Cricut mat is 11.5 x 11.5 inches as the Cricut machine allows for a margin of 0.5 inches before cutting.

To create your canvas to match a 12 x 12 Cricut mat:

Go to File → Document Properties:

The Document Properties window then opens:

Select the unit of measurement that you need; I usually work in inches, but cm is also available:

In the Width box, type ‘11.5’

In the Height box, type ‘11.5’

The canvas dimensions now match the dimensions of your Cricut mat

For 24 x 12 inch mats, simply change the Width to 23.5 inches, and the Height to 11.5 inches:

If you prefer to work in cms then the conversion can be found below:

CRICUT MAT SIZE	INCHES	CENTIMETRES
12 X 12 INCH	11.5 WIDTH X 11.5 HEIGHT	29.21 WIDTH X 29.21 HEIGHT
24 X 12 INCH	23.5 WIDTH X 11.5 HEIGHT	59.69 WIDTH X 29.21 HEIGHT

Obviously, you can swap the dimensions of the larger mat if you would like the height longer than the width.

You can then ‘Save As’, and save the file as an ‘Inkscape SVG’ to your preferred location, and use it again, and again!

‘The Inkscape Guide For Crafters’

Fancy taking your Cricut crafting to the next level? This quick guide is designed to help you create stunning, custom SVG designs with ease. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced crafter, this guide will provide the Inkscape basics so that you can create your own custom SVGs using the free graphic and design program.

If you are ready to stop buying SVGs online, and make your own instead then you are in the right place!