Cutterpillar

What Cutterpillar does

Cutterpillar is a privately held, founder-operated direct-to-consumer manufacturer and retailer of precision crafting, quilting, and sewing tools, headquartered in Bluffdale, Utah, and organized as Cutterpillar LLC. The company sells proprietary hardware products — including LED Glow lightboards (Ultra, Basic, Mini), the Flip & Fold self-healing cutting mat line (36- and 48-inch), the CutterPillar Flex Sewing Machine Light with magnetic and Flex+ cordless variants, and accessory totes and kits — through a Shopify-hosted storefront, a dealer network, and a wholesale program targeting quilt shops in the United States and Canada.

The product technology is centered on two proprietary platforms: LED backlit lightboard surfaces with precision grids designed to eliminate shadows during tracing, applique, foundation paper piecing, and Half Square Triangle trimming; and a puzzle-lock hinge system on foldable, eco-friendly TPE self-healing cutting mats rated for 100+ lbs of rotary pressure. Pricing is one-time/perpetual across SKUs ranging from approximately $49.99 for accessories to $139.99 for premium mats and lightboards, with free shipping over $125.

The go-to-market model is community-led and product-led, combining organic social (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube), content marketing via the Cutterpillar blog, an affiliate program, monthly challenges, the Insighters community group, and the annual three-day Handmade Collective virtual event. Revenue is generated from direct hardware sales and wholesale distribution to quilt shops; the company has not raised external funding and operates with approximately 5 employees.

Name

Cutterpillar

Legal name

Cutterpillar LLC

Website

https://cutterpillar.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cutterpillar is a privately held, founder-operated DTC manufacturer and retailer of precision crafting, quilting, and sewing tools — LED lightboards, foldable self-healing cutting mats, and task lights — sold through Shopify, wholesale, and a dealer network to hobbyist quilters and sewists in the United States and Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Quilting and Sewing Tools

NAICS

Sewing, Needlework, and Piece Goods Retailers (45913)

akta.pro primary industry

Quilting & Patchwork Shops (CRALADAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Fabric, Sewing & Needlecraft Retail (CRALAIAD)

Keywords

• Quilting tools
• Sewing accessories
• Self-healing cutting mats
• LED lightboards
• Crafting supplies

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Personnel

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: Direct e-commerce sales of quilting, sewing, and crafting tools including lightboards, cutting mats, flex lights, totes, and accessories through the Shopify storefront.
2. Wholesale: Wholesale distribution through dealer network and quilt shops.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Cutterpillar designs, manufactures, and sells precision-enabled hardware for quilters, sewists, and crafters, including LED-backlit Glow lightboards, modular foldable self-healing cutting mats (Flip & Fold), Flex Sewing Machine Lights, and accessories such as totes, accessory kits, and a tempered glass crafting board. Products are sold primarily direct-to-consumer through a Shopify storefront and also through a dealer network and wholesale program in the United States and Canada.

Product overview

Cutterpillar is a direct-to-consumer manufacturer and retailer of precision crafting, quilting, and sewing tools, organized as a single-brand portfolio of proprietary hardware products. The core product line centers on illuminated work surfaces (Glow light boards in Ultra, Basic, and Mini variants) and portable cutting mats (Flip & Fold series in 36-inch and 48-inch sizes), complemented by task lighting accessories (Flex Sewing Machine Light and Flex Accessory Kit) and protective carrying cases (Glow Premium/Classic Tote, Glow Ultra Tote). Additional offerings include supporting accessories such as the Tempered Glass Crafting Board and Crease Scoring Board, with complementary products like Oliso Irons sold through the same platform. The company sells directly via Shopify-hosted e-commerce and participates in community events such as the Handmade Collective.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Glow Ultra Lightboard Premium light surface for tracing and cutting, designed to eliminate shadows during quilting and crafting tasks such as appliqué, Foundation Paper Piecing, English Paper Piecing, and fussy-cutting.
• Glow Basic Light Board Entry-level light board providing consistent illumination for tracing and cutting projects, portable yet large enough for home use.
• Glow Mini Lightboard Compact light board offering LED-lit precision for smaller projects and portability.
• CutterPillar Flex Sewing Machine Light LED lighting solution for sewing machines with 3-stage adjustable brightness, flexible gooseneck arm, and tool-free mounting via magnetic base or stick-on plate. Available in USB-powered or cordless Flex+ rechargeable models.
• Flip & Fold 48 Self-Healing Cutting Mat Foldable self-healing cutting mat that expands to 36x48 inches and folds down to 11x17 inches for storage. Features eco-friendly TPE material, puzzle-lock alignment system, and zero-start precision grid. Rated for 100+ lbs rotary pressure.
• Flip & Fold 36 Self-Healing Cutting Mat Smaller foldable cutting mat that opens to 24x36 inches and folds to 9x12 inches for travel and compact storage. Made from non-toxic, heat-safe TPE material with modular sections.
• CutterPillar Flex Accessory Kit Accessory bundle for the Flex Light providing mounting flexibility with three cradles (spring clip, magnetic, hook-and-loop), magnetic support mount, adjustable neck lanyard, and charging base, enabling 24 different configurations.
• Tempered Glass Crafting Board Heat-safe glass mat designed to work with Glow light boards for fused fabric applications and precise placement during appliqué work.
• Glow Premium and Classic Tote Carrying bag designed to safely transport and store Glow light boards, featuring sturdy vinyl construction with padding and multiple carrying options.
• Glow Ultra Tote Large-format carrying tote specifically designed for the Ultra Glow light board, measuring 20x27x3 inches with full zipper, outer pocket for cords, and ruler/pattern pocket.
• Crease Scoring Board Portable scoring tool that provides targeted lighting for tasks like bobbin work and detailed sewing, without requiring electrical power.
• Laser Cut Quilt Kits Pre-cut quilt kits using laser cutting technology for precise pieces, enabling faster assembly of quilting projects.
• Oliso Irons Professional ironing products for quilting and sewing, sold as part of Cutterpillar's curated product offerings.
• Gift Card Digital gift cards available for purchase to give friends and family access to Cutterpillar products.

Quantifiable outcome

• Self-healing surface reseals after cuts, extending mat lifespan
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Handmade Collective PresenterscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Various quilting influencers and educators presenting at the Handmade Collective event including Allyson Heidenfelder (Quilt-N-Code), Janet Oxley, Theresa Benson (The AI Quilter), Emily Taylor (Collage Quilter), Meags & Me, and Michele (Legit Kits). Each provides exclusive discounts and content for the community.
• Quilt-N-CodecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025Family quilt shop and Cutterpillar Shop Partner since 2025. Operated by Allyson Heidenfelder and her husband since 2018. Also a GE Designs Shop Partner. Allyson is a certified Stripologist ruler instructor. Quilt-N-Code offers Stripology rulers, books, and stickers with 10% discount for HC community plus free shipping over $100.
• GE DesignsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCo-branded shop partner with Quilt-N-Code. GE Designs is a quilting patterns and tools brand.
• Riley Blake DesignsminorOthersFabric designer partner featured in holiday kit collections. Emily Taylor has designed over a dozen fabric collections for Riley Blake Designs.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sullivans: Specialty distributor of sewing and quilting notions, threads, and tools sold through independent quilt shops. Competes for the same dealer-channel shelf space and quilter/ sewist end customer.
• AccuQuilt: Specialist in fabric cutting dies and cutting systems for quilters. Targets the same quilter customer base with precision cutting tools and competes directly with Cutterpillar's Flip & Fold cutting mats for workspace and accuracy.
• Oliso: Premium sewing and quilting tool maker (irons, smart pressing tools) targeting the same professional and hobbyist quilter/sewist customer. Cutterpillar even resells Oliso Irons on its storefront, indicating overlapping customer base and channel.
• June Tailor: Long-standing quilting tools and notions brand selling rulers, stencils, and specialty cutting aids. Overlaps with Cutterpillar on cutting mats, rulers, and quilting-focused accessories sold through quilt shops.
• Creative Grids: Premium non-slip quilting rulers and cutting tools, frequently paired with lightboards for precision cutting. Directly comparable precision-tool positioning to Cutterpillar's mat and lightboard offerings for the same quilter segment.
• Havel's: Specialty maker of sewing, quilting, and crafting scissors and tools. Comparable small-to-mid specialty brand targeting the same sewing/quilting hobbyist customer with premium hand tools.
• Martelli Notions: Maker of ergonomic rotary cutters, cutting mats, and notions for quilters. Directly competes with Cutterpillar's Flip & Fold self-healing cutting mats in the rotary-cutting workspace category.

Broad incumbents

• Cricut: Large incumbent in digital crafting tools (cutting machines, materials, software) serving the same general crafter audience. Broadly overlaps with Cutterpillar's general crafters segment but takes a software/electronics-led rather than hardware-mat approach.
• Sizzix: Die-cutting and craft-tool brand serving paper crafters, quilters, and mixed-media makers. Adjacent peer in cutting-based crafting, overlapping with Cutterpillar's general crafters and fussy-cutting use cases.
• Fiskars: Diversified cutting-tools giant whose rotary cutters and self-healing mats are the default in quilting. Competes broadly with Cutterpillar's cutting-mat category from a much larger global brand and retail footprint.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xfacebook.com/CutterPillarCrafts
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@cutterpillarcrafts
• Facebookfacebook.com/CutterPillarCrafts
• Instagraminstagram.com/cutterpillar
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cutterpillar

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cutterpillar