star619

I have been quilting since 1982, and am well acquainted with the "trace the plastic template method". When I first got my rotary cutter, I was so excited that I didn't read all of the instructions carefully. And IT WORKED! I was so impressed with speed and accuracy that when I saw a red streak on my all white fabric, I couldn't figure out where it came from... Yep, I had sliced of the tip of my left forefinger, and never felt a thing. I was impressed again! LOL!

CAS49OR

Well Star, that is one way to learn just how sharp those darn blades are!

JanieH

Thanks for the information on Mr. Okada and Olfa. I always like knowing "the rest of the story"!

Annie68

Yes, add me to the "been around a long time" list. I think the OLFA rotary was the first new quilting invention that peaked my interest when it went on the market. What a time saver! Interesting info.

SouthPStitches

I too started before the rotary cutter. Learned to make templates from cereal box card board. Traced around wrong side of fabric with a pencil, cutting out each one and leaving 1/4" allowance by the pencil mark. Odd that I never got carpal tunnel then but I sure have now....

Just goes to show you, know matter how long you've been quilting or living, you can learn something everyday from QB. I'm 50% Norwegian and was certain that OLFA was a Scandinavian Company too. "Ya"....I too was so wrong!

crtwelvecats

I helped my ex MIL cutting them out with templates and scissors back in the early 1970s but never sewed any together until I did my own in the 1990s. I still used a pattern by bonesteel that was templates. It hangs on my wall in each place we go since it was he first quilted thing I did.It is actually a wallhanging of houses going up a hillside, Mistakes and all. In 1997 took a class with a friend and learned about the rotary. Yeah.

Jingle

Yes, I started by cutting out quilt pieces with scissors. Hand quilting also, after technology with the rotary cutter, rulers and quilting sewing machines, my quilt making has really taken off. I started in 1965-66.
Thanks for the info.

Marysewfun

Hooray for the QB - there is always something to learn! :-)

Marysewfun

burchquilts

That's what I always thought, too... ditto Fiskars... And yes, I used to sew with scissors & cardboard templates! My first rotary cutter (which I still have & still use!) was a revelation to me! And thet beginning of my love of quilting tools!

momjoy6

I agree on the ease of the rotary cutter. If our mom's would have only known how easy it could me they would have come up w/it sooner. It CAN be scary though when you almost cut your thumb off. But all in all it is much faster.