Free zebra print SVG patterns

Using zebra print

Zebra print is about half black and half white, so you only ever cut one of the two. Cut the stripes in black vinyl and put them on a white shirt, mug or sign and the base supplies the white stripes. For hot pink or neon zebra, change the base and keep the stripes black. The stripes are long loose pieces, so lift the whole pattern with transfer tape to keep the spacing.

To fill a word or a shape, lay a swatch over it in your cutting software, select both, and use Slice in Cricut Design Space, Intersect in Silhouette Studio or Path, Intersection in Inkscape. Turn the swatch first if you want the stripes to run another way. Use the fine print for letters and the large print for anything bigger than a sheet of paper.

What to watch for when cutting

Long thin stripes are the easiest thing in vinyl to stretch or lose while weeding. Each design page lists its narrowest stripe: keep that above about 1 mm after scaling, and weed along the stripes, not across them. The points where stripes taper out are blunted so they do not lift. In card or wood, use the stencil panel, which is one piece with the stripes as slots.

How to open the files

• Cricut Design Space: choose Upload, pick the SVG, and add it to the canvas. Set the width you want; the shape is already welded.
• Silhouette Studio: Designer Edition and above open the SVG. The free Basic Edition does not, so open the DXF instead.
• LightBurn, xTool Creative Space and Glowforge: import the SVG, then set the layer to cut, score or engrave.
• Inkscape, Illustrator and Affinity: open the SVG. It is a plain filled path, so you can recolour it, add a stroke or combine it with your own work.
• Printing or sublimation: use the PNG, which has a transparent background.

Each design page lists the file’s narrowest part at seven sizes, so you can tell whether it will survive at the size you plan to cut.

Questions