With previous quilts I have cut out every freaking piece indivually with scissors. When I first started quilting I tried the rotary cutter and sucked at it. Later picked up a better rotary cutter and rulers and watched YouTube videos. Been going okay so far. Started out cutting the strips for the binding. So I've been trying to consider strip piecing or cutting when making quilts now. But if its a weird shaped piece then I'd go with the template.