I cut away from myself but have cut both horizontally and vertically, depending on where I'm standing. Do what's comfortable (and safe :) ) for you.

This how I do it too. Also, with four cats around I close the cutter before I leave the area. I'm afraid one may jump up on the table and knock the cutter off. It would ruin my hardwood floor.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXGIbHH1Ydo video tute for beginners

I'm safe to wait until Christmas. She is a gardening nut, absolutely lives in the garden until late November, then Thanksgiving and Christmas preparations and decorating keep her busy. She doesn't break out her quilting and hand embroidery projects until after Christmas.

Can't agree more about the "closing" after every cut -- if you start out reminding yourself every time, it will get to be an unconscious habit.... and PLEASE - wear REAL shoes while cutting.....if for some unknown reason the cutter slips from your grasp - or you forgot to close it and knock it off the table - you won't be in the ER because the blade fell on your unprotected foot !!

It depends on what I'm cutting. Large strip cuts will be vertical and away from me. Small cuts are a toss up. I'm going to get one of those rotating mats recommended in other threads.

The Gypsy Gripper is a good tool to help beginners gain confidence while rotary cutting. My LQS uses them in their beginner classes. It's easy to move the ruler, hold it down in position, and cut. I use one if I know I'm going to be doing some tricky or horizontal cuts.

Sounds good to me - - - :o

Away from yourself and in a manner not likely to injure your hand - i.e. keep fingers etc. behind the blade, not in front.

A friend of mine cuts with her right or left hand. She teaches quilting, and can't be running to the far side of the table to do cutting in front of students.

I have tried cutting with my left hand, using only fabric that is not so important. If I make a mistake on that, I won't care. Trouble is, I don't have enough opportunities to do the practicing, and I am still afraid to try it on my good stuff. Also sometimes I'm just lazy. It's so much easier to just do it with my right hand.

I haven't read everyone's answers -- but here's my view: It's according to table space and size of the project. I just trimmed a 108" wide backing and had to cut from right to left (horizontal?). Usually I cut vertical -- from my belly to the top of the table.

If you go to www.youtube.com and type in "how to use a rotary cutter", you'll find a ton of videos on how to cut. :) Have fun!