While I have not cut myself with my rotary cutters (yet), I have run over my finger with a sewing machine.

Quilting can be a dangerous sport. :-)

Hope you are feeling better..just the thought of cutting myself with the rotary cutter makes me shiver. My only time i cut myself was when i first got my rotary cutter.i thought i better show my teenage sons how sharp it is...i got a bit of material and started cutting and somehow dont ask me how the blade nicked my thumb and it felt like a red hot knife going through..luckily it was next to my nail so it didnt go very deep as the nail stopped it from going further..my sons to this day tease me about it and ask is there any other lessons i can give them! It must have worked as to this day which is several years since then my rotary cutter has not been touched and it sits on my sewing table in the lounge...

the guard on my 24 inch ruler is one you stick on. JoAnn's had them and other stores should. come in different lengths. i had my hubby cut one longer one and i used it on two rulers also.
here is one site with one
https://www.danemco.net/secure/sewezquilting.com/?a=VP&id=147]https://www.danemco.net/secure/sewez...m/?a=VP&id=147[/url]

This site might help.
http://www.softexpressions.com/softw...afetyShlds.php

We used to have the computer in my sewing room and one day when I was in the other room, our son, then in his early 30's and a computer geek was there to help his dad (not a computer geek) "fix" the computer. Well, son saw my rotary cutter laying on the cutting table (I had forgotten to close the blade :oops: ) and he started playing with it running it between his fingers and he had cuts between each finger where it meets the palm of the hand. He then asked me "Hey, what is this thing anyway?". He has since learned not to play with "my toys" and we have put the computer in another room.

See, it is not just hazardous to the wellbeing of the quilters any more.

Oh my word...that is horrible ...I did the same thing a few years ago..but it was to my finger...almost cut it off....I could not use my rotary for awhile..because I kept thinking about the day I cut it!!!! Are you okay? :-o

My cousin let her index finger sit just enough over the edge of the ruler that she sliced a chunk off as she zipped the rotary cutter up the ruler! It required several stitches, so she always wears those special gloves now! (They're available at Fons and Porter, I know, but probably other places, too!)

I know how that goes, I dropped mine off the cutting board, hit the top of my foot just over my big toe. DID NOT feel good!!!! Have the scar still.

Sorry to hear you got hurt. I hope you are feeling better.

Some common sense rules.

1.) Don't cut fabric when tired.
2.) Don't cut too much fabric. 6 layers max.
3.) Make sure the blade is sharp.
4.) If you are sitting down, make a protector quilt to put on your lap to keep your legs free of danger. It don't have to be pretty, just a couple layers of fabric to keep that edge away from your skin.
5. ALWAYS cut away from yourself.
6. Watch your fingers, 1/4 inch (6mm) over the edge of your ruler can make you just a bit shorter on one digit.
7.) Put the rotary cutter down, make sure it's retracted. I like my offset handle Olfa 60mm. Let the handle go, the blade automatically retracts.
8.) There is no number 8.
9.) Wine and rotary cutters don't mix. Iron instead.
10.) Maybe if you can't stand for long periods of time, get a tall stool to lean/sit upon.
11.) If in doubt, refer to number 1.

tim (all ten fingers of him) in san jose

After having a scalpel seam ripper come out of its sheath and stab me right through my notions bag I found a neat carry case that was the notion of the month at our fabric store quilters club. I too find it safer and easier with a good handle on the ruler, my preference is the new ruler gypsy stlye as they stay on the ruler better and it slips less. That rotary cutter must have slipped big time to hit your knee as most of us dont cut on our laps! Hope it healed well