i was wondering if anyone has ever had this problem. unfortunatly i am not one of the lucky ones to have that nice sewing room. i have to cut out on my kitchen or dinning room table and put my sewing machine on the table also. but i have noticed that when i cut, i seem to have more slipping with the ruler or fabric. but if i put both of my knees on a chair i seem to get a better grip on things. someone told me that it looks like i may need to use a shorter table. although i don't think my tables are that tall, i have noticed it seems to be a little easier and sore on the knees after awhile.


jeanette

I had that problem until I stuck little bits of the sandpaper on the back of my rulers. They have little dots you can buy, I couldn't find any when I was looking, so I went to Home Depot and bought a fine grain sand paper that had adhesive on the back. My fabric doesn't slip, and I don't have to put a ton of pressure on the rulers now.

I don't have a sewing room either. It makes every project more difficult when you have to stop and put everything away and then drag it all back out again. It seems to me that a shorter table would be harder on your back. I am anxious to see what others have to say.

Most people find a higher table is easier. When you have to bend over, it's not only hard on your back, but you have a tendency to lean on the ruler, which causes it to move.

If you work with a sharp blade so you don't have to push as hard, it's easier to keep straight.

Fold your fabric so you don't have to cut all the way across that width. I usually fold into quarters (as it comes off the bolt, then bringing the fold to the selvedges) so I don't have to cut as far. It's easier to keep straight that way. Also, work with your fabric close enough to you so that you don't have to reach for it.

Press down on your ruler, FLAT, instead of pushing or leaning on it. I hope you can picture what I mean by that. Straight down.

I prefer Omnigrid rulers and can't stand rulers with stuff on the back that prevents me from manipulating it into place. I took a good class from Debbie Caffrey at Quilt Market a few years ago. She supplied us with Omnigrip, which is like clear "window cling" stuff. You know those peelable seasonal decorations? Anyhow, you just stick it on your ruler (it just "adheres" - it is not sticky) and then you can slide your ruler around all you want. But the instant you press DOWN on it, it STICKS to the fabric. This stuff is EXCELLENT!

i have tried the dots and it helps. i guess i just feel like i am looking more down on top of my project.but deffinatley hate all that moving and dragging stuff around.hopefully someday we will move and get a bigger place. one big room that i can call all my own.



jeanette

If you have an island or available kitchen counter, that often makes a great cutting area!

Mom put the little scratch guard pads on the backside of her ruler, you know the little circular felt ones (maybe made by Scotch?). Seems to work well for her and I've thought of doing it myself now that I'm quilting and cutting en masse.

I don't have a sewing room and use my large table in the dining room. I don't put it away, though, when I'm in the middle of a difficult or large project. My husband has learned not to complain when he comes home to find dinner on TV trays!

Shelly

Sewing room, schmowing room... I make due in a small one bedroom. My kitchen table bears the brunt of the hobby, but it extends to almost every corner of the place. I've set the machine up on the coffee table and use the kitchen table for cutting. Fortunately my kitchen and the table is large, unfortunately I love to cook so the process of clean up after each hobby is ongoing. C'est la vie! :wink:

Well, I don't have a sewing room right now either. DH and I are in the process of moving and then I will just as soon as we get moved in. Right now, I am also using the dining room table for cutting and that is also where my machine is located. It looks like a sewing room in our dining room. LOL. A sewing room is what you make it! I love my sewing room to be messy, as it means I am working, when it is neat and tidy I can't find a thing. LOL. Sort of ironic, huh? I did buy that sewing/cutting table from Joann's and am planning on using that as soon as we get moved, it is higher than the dining room table so I'm anxious to see how I'll be able to cut on it.