...all of the above and also when cutting make sure the pressure of your fingertips(slightly bent and spread out like legs of a spider) are moving up parallel to the rotary as you cut...cut, stop, creep up fingers, keeping rotary blade in fabric,cut til blade just passes fingertips, then stop.....etc.. Also little finger of hand holding ruler should be off ruler, up against edge of ruler holding it in place....sounds complicated but really becomes second nature after awhile.