Radiana

I checked the new tips page looking for help but I didn't see anything there concerning why I'm having trouble cutting my fabric. I put in a brand new blade in my rotary cutter and used a brand new self helaing mat and it seems that almost every cut I make skips a spot or two along the way. I'm not cutting too many thicknesses either.

Thank you to anyone who can give me some advice.

ctack2

Could it be the angle you're holding the cutter with?

amma

Are you holding your cutter straight up? The blade should glide alongside of the ruler.
If it is at an angle, you may get skipped cuts :D:D:D

Boopers

Your new blade may have a nick in it. This happens a lot when you run into the corner or edge of your ruler. To avoid this, start your cut on the side of the ruler, cut back to the corner and then roll on to the end.

ctack2

Or is there a burr on your template/ruler?

quilting cat

Have you had success with the same kind of mat in the past? I had to return one mat that was too hard.

litacats

are you putting enough pressure on the rotary cutter. I know that sometimes when I am cutting out it seems to miss bits here and there so I have to run the cutter over them a second or even a third time. but this normally only happens when I am cutting quite a few layers

pennijanine

I have done this myself, many times. I found that if I changed the angle of my cutter to straight up, it worked much better.

Radiana

You know I probably nicked the new blade because I know that I sometimes run into the ruler. I just now cut some more fabric though and it cut fine. I was extra careful to keep the blade straight, I think I may have been cutting on a bit of an angle. Thank you all so much for your advice.

AliKat

Hi Radiana,

When cutting don't start and the end of the ruler but slightly above the end and then go back to the end - but not past it - and then go forward to finish the cutting. This prevents nicking your ruler and your blade.

ali