My 10 yr old granddaughter wants to make a quilt for her full size bed. She has done some sewing and made a same quilt with squares I cut. She really wants to cut the pieces herself. I'm concerned about her using a rotary cutter - am I being an over protected Grandma?

I would but only if you have given her very explicit instructions on how to use it, how to be safe and if you are standing there with her when she uses it.

I've taught young kids to needle felt...which is felting wool with a sharp barbed needle and poking the object a thousand times.

I believe if you explain safety to a kid and tell them how serious it is and how easy it is to get hurt then you shouldn't have any issues. I think once a kid realizes how serious it is they treat it serious. And make sure to monitor them, don't just give it to them and expect them not to possibly make a mistake. (not saying you would )

Also I believe there are some rotary cutters out there with a safety...maybe it would be a good idea to invest in one of those for her.

There are special gloves she could wear. My friend uses them in a class she runs with Brownies.

Let me see if I can find a link somewhere.

That is what I was thinking. Have her use protective gloves..

Here they are for sale on the mfg's site - I think that's a really reasonable price to pay for some peace of mind.
http://www.intruderinc.com/products....stant%20Gloves

It's cut resistant, not fool-proof. But it would hopefully be enough to prevent major damage (I say as I look at my missing finger tip :roll:)

I know there are others made of Kevlar. Yeah, that Kevlar.

eta: I don't know how thick these are, or if they're small enough, but they're made of Kevlar.
http://www.magidglove.com/Magid-CutM...partmentId=223

I should probably get myself a pair.

You can do your own search for CUTTING GLOVES KIDS and you'll get a ton of results.

Fons and Proter have the protective glove, but you can also find it a sporting goods and kitchen stores. May be less expensive from a non quilting site. Google Kevlar Gloves. I saw some X Smalls out there.

As a Nana myself, I would do the cutting instead. A full-sized quilt for anyone is a huge undertaking, especially a 10 year old's first quilt. She might get frustrated and quit forever. How about a quilt for her dolls? I did that with my granddaughter. I did the cutting and helped her with the sewing. The sewing alone is a big undertaking. Another (safe) option would be to mark the fabric and have her cut with scissors. I've seen too many accidents with rotary cutters in my day!

I agree. My friend taught a classroom full of second graders how to use rotary cutters and she got the ones with the auto retract blade, so that the blade was covered all the time except the part that was cutting at the time. Over the years she has done this not one child was injured in any way, so I think it's a good way for her to learn to cut her own material with supervision on the way to being independent. Have fun with her.

:thumbup: :D Thanks for the question. I also would like to get some for my DGD. BrendaK.

I have no little girls around but I would hesitate especially without gloves. I would either precut or teach her to cut the pieces out like we all used to do. Tell her you are teaching her the oldfashioned way. lol Kids sometimes like "oldfashioned" I remember when money was tight and I quit buying the staple around here microwave popcorn, I made "old fashioned " popcorn, that was all they ever wanted after that lol.

I've taught many 8-10 year olds to quilt, sew, rotary cut, and thread a needle without any problems at all. In fact, their hands probably work better than ours!

Jan in VA

The problem is ,if we do too much of a project, the child loses interest. They have to feel the pride in their workmanship. Pressure sensitive rotary cutters are great for kids to use. They are not like us, always in a hurry. They work very hard to "get it right". I have never had a child cut themselves, but I have had their mothers do it. I teach the cut as you go method. Cut enough for the time you are going to spend before you break for lunch,etc. Come back and cut the next batch. This saves the boredom factor as the process keeps changing.

I have a ruler with the rotary cutter attached --
the blade is pretty well protected -- and it doesnt slip and slide as much as a regular ruler.

At ten years old, I would feel confident in letter her cut if you have given her instructions on safety and used some of the suggestions offered in this thread. If you get gloves, be sure they are small enough.. gloves that are too big are more of a hazard than no gloves at all.

I would stay with her and watch closely at all times that she is using the rotary cutter.

One thing you will need is a cutting surface that is adjusted to the correct height for her.

Dont insist that she cut it all in one setting. Cut a little and sew a little, just like we would do. Make her take breaks. I have a tendancy to work too long and can get burn out. Dont want that to happen to her, want her to come back excited to go again.

NO YOU ARE NOT BEING OVER PROTECTIVE--NO 10 YEAR OLD SHOULD TOUCH A ROTORY CUTTER! In our sewing school NO ONE under 18 is allowed to touch one! she should learn to trace her patterns and cut her fabrics with scissors like every other safe kid out there.

in the 8 years of the sewing school the one and only accident was a rotory cutter accident-by a 19 year old- singing and happy while cutting her fabric- 29 stitches later-- and 6 years later- she still uses scissors.

I'd fall in this catagory. to this day I wear a protective glove - I'd rather take 2 seconds to put on on than risk a serious injury. I even retract my cutter ever time it down.

I'd say follow the above and at the end of your sewing time - make the offer to cut the rest before your next session IF SHE WANTS. This way, she's gotten some good experience and has pride in the project, and you get to save some frayed nerves!

olfa makes a rotary cutter that you have to squeeze handle to keep the blade out. 45mm. if you use one similar it should be safe. i know that it can be worrisome but if you explain carefully should be OK even for 10 yr old. good luck

olfa makes a rotary cutter that you have to squeeze handle to keep the blade out. 45mm. if you use one similar it should be safe. i know that it can be worrisome but if you explain carefully should be OK even for 10 yr old. good luck

Ten is a great age to learn...just teach safety first! The gloves are a great idea. You may also wish to try the suction handles to hold the ruler and keep fingers out of the way.

My DGD made a quilt 4 kids but we used the scissors. She's 12 now and I'm not comfortable with turning her loose with the rotary cutter... I'm not comfortable with ME using it :)... I do like the idea of the safety gloves and $12.99 is not a bad price... I've seen them in LQS for double that...

I think part of it depends on the child. My 2 boys are so different - I would never have let my oldest anywhere near a rotary cutter until he was about 15, but I would feel totally comfortable with my youngest, who is 10 right now. And yes, I would explain carefully and then watch carefully.

i don't think you are being overprotective at all--
it is WAY better to be safe than sorry, isn't it?
When you least expect it---who knows?
there are plenty of ADULTS that shouldn't have one!

Thanks so much. Love the glove idea. Madison has made a small lap quilt and a few other things and knows this will take time - she wants to do most of it so she has ownership. I do the suction handles for the rulers.

I'll let you know how it works. Hope to get the fabric this week.

Here's one more option for Ruby - if what she's cutting is mostly strips. More $$$$ but it's your choice.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-129427-1.htm#3450099

NAYY.

I teach sewing & quilting to 9 year olds to adult each week in an after school program. We allow even the 9 year olds to use the rotary cutters after instruction and with supervision.
They are usually more careful than the adults. Stress the importance of retracting the blade every time before laying the cutter down. We usually have to help them hold down the ruler while they cut. This allows "supervision" in a non intrusive way. Good Luck.

both of my granddaughters were able to use the rotary cutter at 10 yrs old. i just stood over them and made them really "look" at what they were doing. if their attention started to wander i would have them stop work and do something else for a while.

just like jcquilts says : cut a little, sew a little. have fun grandma.

Great that she wants to start young. I taught my DGG. Lay out the rules. Make her wear shoes (in case she drops it). Mine were only allowed to cut if I was standing beside them. Any broken rule...she had to stop...and she had to do the dishes the rest of the week. I taught six of them and I never got out of doing the dishes...and none of them got cut. Have confidence in her and she'll be confident. Make the rules simple but unbreakable for her safety. Enjoy!!

fons and porter has the quilting gloves

Why not introduce her to 'charm squares' for her first quilt.

I don't think you are being over protective at all those cutters are scarey sharp and can do long term nerve damage depending on the severity of the cut.

That being said you know your gd better than us. I have a 17 yr old I wouldn't let near a rotary cutter because to him everything is a game, but my 12 yr. old I would let use the cutter because she is cautious and careful, and she understands its not a toy.

Now, if it were me I would do the cutting just for the fact that is she gets the measuring and cutting wrong it might discourage her from finishing the quilt. My cutting is horrible as a result there were 2 yrs between my first and second quilt. If you cut them straight for her she will be happier with her end product.

I cannot wait to see her quilt have fun passing on a tradition. :)

My husband has a glove made to clean fish without cutting your hand. It's made of metal mesh . Bet it would work

just make sure you get her a pair of the gloves that are for protecting her hands while she cuts. that and with you by her side should make a safe cutting enviroment; just tell her she always has to do it like that and no solo cutting

I have her cut it out with a scissor if she wants to do it herself. Heard of too many horror stories from adults who really hurt themselves.

My GD was 10 when she began rotary cutting with me. Just stand close by....she'll do great! :-D

they make protective gloves so if you slip, you will not cut yourself ... I would purchase a pair for safety ... how about a strip quilt from WOF where you fold the fabric and make 2 1/2" strips ... half the cutting

Never too young to learn to quilt! You already know the importance of safety and you can teach her. It will be a gift of a lifetime!

Write out some safety instructions about where to put hands etc. whilst cutting. Then tell her that you will give her a safety test. Demonstrate to her as to safe practice and then supervise without hovering and she will surprise you.Of course, make sure that the tools are sharp. I really believe that people have more accidents with blunt tools when they have to push and shove to get things working.
I find if I emphasise, to the kids I teach any sewing to, that they have to use a proper quilting ruler and that the thinner rulers are dangerous, they are very safety conscious.

I don't think you are being an over protective grandma. I wouldn't let a 10 year old use a rotary cutter. Having said that, it really depends on the level of maturity and capabilities of a child as to when they could handle one. I allowed one of my grandchildren to use a rotary cutter at an earlier age than another, because I could see she was more capable.