Can't get started!
 

Anyone else really dislike cutting? I have so many ideas I want to try but my cutting is always so bad it puts me off! I bought a bunch of jelly rolls to try scrappy bargello, where you sew them all together in a tube and then cut them into 2.5 inch strips, but I am terrified of ruining an entire jelly roll with my awful cutting! I love sewing binding on by hand-anyone want to swap skills :o Haha!

Too bad you aren't closer - I love cuting. What makes your cutting so bad - does your ruler slip? If so there are a couple of tricks, if you can keep your pinkie finger off the ruler but right next to it, it will keep your ruler from slipping to the left and don't forget the walking your hand up your ruler as you are cutting.

The other thing I found (I use it mostly for odd shaped templates) is TrueCut Non-Slip Adhesive Rings that you can put on the back of your ruler to keep it from slipping. These are the best that I have found - I am not associated with them but love them.

HI, I would see if you can take a beginning quilting class. One of the first skills they teach will be accurate cutting. How to keep your ruler from slipping, walking your hand up as you cut etc. Well worth the price of the class. Also, there are lots of cutting aids out there. The ones that come to mind are the June Tailor shape cutter rulers. It's a large piece of thick plastic with slots at intervals. Your cutter rides in the slots and helps you make a straight cut. I'm pretty sure you can get them there.

The sad thing is that I have already done the beginner's course! I am okay cutting small pieces like a fat quarter, but if I try to strip cut a WOF fabric they always seem to be buckled and I don't really know why as I use all the sensible techniques I was taught about walking your hand up etc. I am always astounded when I watch tutorials and the tutor casually zips their rotary cutter over a huge length and stack of fabric and comes out with perfect pieces! For me the whole process is painfully slow and disappointing! I think I will investigate these cutting aids and non slip products as I suspect part of the problem is that I don't notice the tiny movement in the ruler.

Do you have a close friend, husband partner teenage son who could help. If not accuquilt could help but expensive. Other way is to buy ready cut kits.

Is your fabric folded correctly? If your strips are buckled, try watching Leah Day's Youtube tute on folding fabric. She helped me get straight strips. The only thing that I do different, is after I get the first fold, I carefully press a crease and then fold it again, making sure that I have it hanging straight. If you watch her this will make sense. I also put little sandpaper dots on the back of my rulers to keep them from sliding. I don't know about the other product that quiltstringz suggested, but I'm sure it is close to the same thing.
I also have a Shape cut ruler and it does help a lot, especially if I am cutting up a bunch of strips.
I would also suggest practicing on a throw away fabric...cheap stuff that doesn't matter if you throw it away. Practice is the best thing.
Good luck. Gina

Wow! I have never heard of aqququilt, just watched a couple of youtube clips, looks fabulous but pricey! I am going to investigate these other videos and products you have vall very kindly suggested...fed up with wasting my pretty fabric!

I agree with Mike's girl - check and see if your fabric is folded correctly. That is the most frequent cause of the "v" in the middle. Harriet Hargrave does a thorough job of explaining how to make sure your fabric is on grain and folded for accurate cutting. It does take some practice.

Cheers, K

I've started using the Quilters Slidelock for cutting strips and I LOVE it! It holds the fabric and ruler in place and also protects your fingers from the blade. I think you can google Quilters Slidelock for more information.

I use the Slidelock too, more for safety but it really makes my cutting much more accurate. I have the Go and Go Baby and use them for most of my cutting.

I would take a rotary cutting class. This had to be taken in some LQS's prior to a beginning quilt class. Cutting does improve as you go so if you start doing it more often you will get better. Also I block my blocks now which has made my piecing more accurate. For strips I was not accurate until i got the june tailor shape cut. I has vastly improved my skills and I highly suggest that ruler much cheaper than buying an accuquilt or sizzix cutting system for accuracy. I also have those little plastic dots on all my rulers, and my long ruler has the lipped edge which I love

Have you considered using one of those June Taylor Shape & Cut things? I really struggled with cutting at first, and this saved my life. I cut fearlessly now....as long as my rotary blade is sharp, that is. :)

Dina

Hmmm, guess that suggestion got made already. Blush... It is a good suggestion though.

Dina

Folding your fabric correctly is the first key to getting straight cuts. Make sure there is no 'bubble' at the fold and then smooth and press. Put sandpaper or rubber dots on the corner of your ruler. Or, get a couple of spring clamps to hold your ruler in place - or all of those! Another tool you might want to check is the Quilt Cut. It's a bit spendy but holds your fabric tightly clamped in place, all the rulers are an integral part of the unit so they don't slip at all. Can do straight or just about any angle cut you might need.