You cut away from yourself in case you slip. Fold your fabric until the width can fit onto your cutting matt. I lay my extra yardage on the table so there is no drag to distort the folded fabric. Make sure the selvages and the folds stay lined up. Trim the first edge off and discard. I place my ruler on the fabric and make a little teepee with my left hand on top of the ruler. Make sure that all fingertips and thumb are well back from the ruler edge. I use my right hand with the rotary cutter to cut away from my self along the ruler edge. Close the rotary cutter and gently pull the cut piece to make sure it is cut all the way through before moving the ruler.