the rotary cutter?
I bought enough fabric to make about 20 Christmas table runners as gifts for family and coworkers. I have been procrastinating doing about anything I can except cutting fabric.
I think I have fear of the rotary cutter. I love piecing but cutting doesn't seem to be my favorite part of quilting.

Hmmmmm..... no I can't say that I do. It's been one of my favorite inventions since I started quilting.
But I have a huge fear that I won't get all my UFO's done in my lifetime lol

I don't mind the cutting. I mind having to clear off and wash the table good before I can get started. Then, just when I'm going great I have to stop and put everything away. It takes forever to figure out where I was and get started again.

Set an appointment with your cutter and keep it. Jump in and get the dreaded cutting done so you can get those gifts made! I usually cut one day and then get sewing the next day. You can do this!!:) Now I need to get off the computer and get cutting!

No fear, but a healthy respect. A couple of years ago I managed to slice a good size chunk off the end of my index finger of my left hand when the cutter jumped the straight edge. I am extremely careful now and I use a klutz glove when cutting.
In spite of this experience, I do enjoy the cutting part. It is rewarding to get all the pieces for a quilt or part of a quilt cut and organized.

Wish I lived closer, I absolutely love cutting out a new project! Binding~~~that is a different story. LOL

Only when I've forgot to lock it closed after I made my cuts! :shock: I'm always reminded of the story of a woman who left her rotary cutter in the unlocked position, knocked it off her table and got a nice big slice across her unprotected bare foot!!!!!! :shock: :shock: :shock: She had to be rushed to the emergency room and had many, many stitches!!!!! After I read that I started locking my cutter before I lay it down!!!!! 8-)

I resemble that cut. No ER visit for me, but the cut bled like a stuck....well, you know what I mean. NOT a pretty sight. But it failed to cure me of leaving the dang thing unlocked. (Sort of like I've tried to make myself sick of homemade chocolate chip cookies without success, too. Some people are just not quick to learn!) :oops:

Jan in VA

Just like any other Sharp Tool, one must be careful with it. I've never done anything to myself with my rotary cutter (yet) but I have done painful things with kitchen knives.

And then there was the time, a long, long time ago, that I managed to sew my hand with a sewing machine...not my finger, but my hand. LOL

If you truly hate your rotary cutter though, scissors work and if you plan it all out, you can cut multiple layers with those. It won't take all that long, and not nearly as long as hiding from your rotary cutter. *S*

Jan, you're just too funny!!!! :lol: :lol:

I seldom lock my rotary cutter when I put it down - bad habit. However, every so often, I pick it up and it's locked!!
Turns out my DS locks it every time he sees it. Probably because he recently stuck his finger on my X-acto knife in my scrapbooking tote.
He doesn't "do" blood or pain very well. :)

You know if you really don't like the rotary cutter, use scissors!

It might take a little more time. The first quilt I made was before there even were rotary cutters and I used templates and scissors.

If you use the correct rules you should be OK. You will have a problem if you use a rule that is too thin - because you run the risk of cutting your hand or fingers. Also, get a rotary cutter that automatically retracts when you have no pressure on it - Kai cutters are an example. This will minimise the danger of accidentally cutting yourself. If you make sure you keep your hands behind the tool and cut away from yourself, you have less risk.

I'll do your binding if you do my cutting. Where do you live? ;)
I'm not afraid of cutting, I just have to do it in stages because of
my carpal tunnel. I LOVE doing binding. :D

Someone sure did a bunch of cutting on your Avatar quilt. It is gorgous

Exactly :!:

I'm with you Cathie!! I keep putting up & taking down too, and it drives me crazy! Would love a designated sewing room, but it's just not possible in this tiny motorhome.

I only flip out if I make a big mistake. That is why I won't cut fabric if my kids are around me! I will mess up every time. I think I just have too many things going on and wind up not really thinking about what I am needing to do. You should think about the GO! It will cut your fabric accurately.

I dont really LIKE the rotary cutter....I dont fear it, but I dont really cute well with it at all. I actually like to use scissors.

IM afraid of the rottery cutter. I have cut myself twice and that's 2 times to many. I might get over my fear someday but for now . It's good old scissors. takes forever but i still have all my fingers

How complicated are the patterns you are planning on making?

I love cutting with a rotary cutter. Love it. Love the sound it makes whooshing through 4 layers of fabric. I love the 'first cut' to start a project.

maybe you should invest in one of those gloves that Fons & Porter uses on their show. I am sure they would have it on their web site. :)

It's okay, I think my MIL has that fear too! She always gets me to "help" her start cutting a new project...which means I end up cutting all of it! :-D

I love my rotary cutter and have also cut myself several times. I hate it when I bleed on my fabric!!! I never leave it open when not in my hand as my cat always helps me with all phases of my quilting and I certainly don't want my helper to cut himself.

Not at all.

I love cutting with the rotary cutter. When I don't have time to sew but need to get all touchy-feely with my fabric I cut squares for I Spy quilts. I find the cutting process rather soothing, actually.

I love my rotary cutter also. The best advice I could give is to TAKE YOUR TIME and pay strict attention to what you are doing. Once you and your cutter develop a relationship and you trust each other you, too, will love your rotary cutter. Its a wonderful tool ... you just need to have a healthy respect for its power.

Also, be sure to use the same ruler to cut an entire quilt. Surprisingly, rulers sometimes differ slightly in measurement, and just that slight difference could throw your quilt off.

I did for a little while. I was down to just one stick type rotary cutter and I do much better with the ergo dynamic ones where the blade is lower instead of on the end of a stick.

My solution to "rotary cutter fear" is to use one of those suction cup handles on my ruler. It keeps your hand totally out of danger and also applies even pressure on the fabric keeping that last bit from moving when you get to the end of your cut. I purchased mine at Harbor Freight for about 6 dollars, much better than the ones at the LQS.

I was one of those emergency room casualties. I still sometimes cringe when I pick my rotary cutter up but wouldn't give it up. I like to think it has made be more respectful of a great but dangerous tool.

I have a fear more of running out of my scraps to use the rotary cutter on.. I think its patience, and practice that provides ease into using the tool.. You can do it, you can do it.. I think I can, I think I can... oh oh, been around my 3 year old grandson to much this weekend, hehe.. :-D