What is Attach in Design Space for? How is Attach different than Group or Weld in Cricut Design Space? Why do they all sound the same, but so different?!
Luckily, the Attach and Detach tools in Cricut Design Space are not as confusing as they might seem at first.
Yes, Attach is different from Group. It's also different from Weld.
In this tutorial, I break down what the Attach tool does, plus when and why you'd use it.
Like learning through video? Watch the short and sweet video tutorial below. Prefer to read and work through examples as you learn? Jump down to the blog post walking you step by step through the Attach and Detach example.
Page Contents
What is Attach in Design Space?
The Attach tool has two functions in Design Space.
The first is that it connects elements together on your design canvas so that they remain in the same layout when you click “Make It” and transition to the cutting stage.
This is different from the Group feature, which is only relevant on the canvas itself. Grouping does not tell Cricut to keep items in the same relative positions once you hit “Make It” and are ready to cut.
The second is that it fastens non-cut features into place on a cut layer, so Cricut knows where to place them on your final project.
For instance, if you are making a card, you may want to add a score line perfectly down the center of your rectangular card stock cutout. The “Attach” feature will make sure the score line does not readjust when you hit the “Make It” button.
Keys to Attaching and Detaching In Design Space
This video tutorial using the Attach function in Cricut Design Space will help solve one of the biggest beginner problems when starting with Cricut.
Why are my words and images not cutting out on my mat they way they look when I create them in Design Space?!
To make sure your designs cut out in the same arrangement and layout as on your Design Space Canvas, all you need is to use the Attach tool correctly.
Activity: Follow Along In Design Space
In my example, I went ahead and put together a quick and simple Soccer Mom design.
I recommend following along with this exercise to Attach in Design Space as you read through. It's always helpful to learn hands-on! Of course, you can use whatever text and images you want in your exercise.
Using the basic text tool, I wrote out Soccer Mom. Then, I searched the images available through Design Space and found a cute heart soccer ball to insert into my design.
Let's layout the text and images exactly how you'd want them to look on your final project (let's say a t-shirt.)
In order to have flexibility as I moved around my layout, I used two separate text boxes for the words “soccer” and “mom.” That means that Design Space is seeing them as two independent elements on my canvas.
Why That Matters
When Design Space moves your images from the Canvas into the cutting stage, it may rearrange individual elements. The software is trying to save cutting material and be more efficient cutting your design. However, it may not be what you want.
In this example, when we move from the canvas to the green “Make It” button, this is the layout we see. Suddenly, the cutting mat has readjusted our text. It's no longer two lines but one. It's also in reverse “mom soccer” order.
Instead of cutting as-is and then having to worry about lining them up yourself on your t-shirt, let's fix the problem before ever cutting out the vinyl.
If you need certain elements to stay together (in our case, “Soccer” and “Mom”) we need to tell the software to treat them as one. That's when we use Attach in Design Space.
If you forgot to Attach and you see this type of display, you can easily go back to your canvas before cutting your material.
Highlight and select each of the text and image pieces you want to stay attached in their current layout. You can do this by holding down “Shift” while clicking each piece on the canvas. You can also do the same in the vertical layers menu on the right side of the canvas.
Then, also on the vertical right-hand menu, select “Attach.”
What Not To Do
One big key when using Attach is to remember to only attach items together that will be cut out on the same color material.
You will notice that I only Attach the purple “Soccer” and “Mom” text items in this example.
If I were to also attach the soccer heart, Design Space would change all three of my items to the same color. That is telling me that now they are all Attached. My Cricut machine will think they need to be cut in the exact same layout all on the same material (like one single color vinyl sheet.)
One good thing about the Attach function is that Design Space also has a simple Detach tool as well.
When you have selected an Attached feature on your canvas, you will notice that the “Attach” paperclip icon on the righthand menu has changed. It is now a “Detach” icon.
If you have accidentally attached features you don't want included together (in this case, the soccer ball,) simply Detach the image.
Two Keys To Remember If You Detach Items
If you do attach then detach your items in Design Space, there are two vital keys to remember.
The first is that the canvas will Detach your entire selection. It does not know whether you are trying to remove just one piece (like the soccer ball.)
So, you will have to remember to go back and “Attach” the correct items again, or you will be running in to the same issue.
The second key is to notice that once you have Attached items, they all become the same color. If you do need to Detach the items, they will not return to their original colors.
In this example, you'll notice that “Soccer Mom” has stayed black and not returned to purple. If I do not fix this, then it will cut out on the same material color as my soccer ball. That's what I was trying to undo in the first place!
These are both quick and easy fixes, but can be easy to overlook as well.
Cricut Coaching Moment
Using Attach in Design Space is a valuable feature that more Cricut makers need to understand! Now you are ready to become a pro.
Here are a few more final thoughts.
Remember to always double check the mat cutting view before speeding ahead to the final cuts on your material.
This view will help double check that you have colors sorted the way you want, and that you have attached items in their perfect arrangements.
Also keep in mind that the Attach tool in Design Space is the feature that will transition your design as-is from the canvas to the final cutting layout.
This is very different from the Group tool, which is only used on the Design Canvas, and does not impact the final cutting layout.
Some of the features sound confusing at first. Once you get your hands-on experience, it becomes second nature and so much easier to remember. I promise!
Was this guide helpful? Let me know in the comments below. I love hearing from fellow Cricut crafters!
