cutting issue
 

When cutting fabrics, how do you keep the ruler from sliding a tad? Anyone have any tips? Would appreciate and ideas. thanks

I put True Grips on the bottom of almost all of my rulers. Made a big difference.
http://www.nancysnotions.com/product/true+grips.do

The True Grips work really well.

Thanks alot, they will definitely help.

Press straight down on the ruler and move your hand along the ruler opposite the cutter blade as you are cutting. A lot of people use all sorts of things on the back of the ruler...sandpaper, glue dots, rubber cement, etc. There are also some good non-slip rulers out there if you're in the market for a new one. I like the Frosted Advantage ones by Olfa.

I use shelf liner from the Dollar store. Cut off a tiny bit and stick it on with double stick tape. I put on bottom of ruler and top so my arthritic hands have something to grip onto. I just randomly place them. Really works well. That piece of liner will last me the rest of my life!

My ruler has a lip that I put against the bottom of the mat. Helps to keep it straight.

I also use a ruler with a lip on the end. It's an "O'lipfa Lip Edge Ruler". The other ruler I like a lot is the Quilter's Rule. I have the 12 1/2" square and the 6 1/2" square. They have grips molded into the ruler and I've never had one slip.

I just use the non-skid shelving. Cut myself a strip. Lay it between the material and the ruler. have not purchased the True Grips from Nancy's notions but am told they're good. I just have so much of the non-skid shelving, I use it. you can get it for as little as a dollar for a yard.

I have the ruler with a lip also, but sometimes something with me and ruler slips. I used the little plastic grips and I've heard that some folks use little pieces of sandpaper.

I use Invisi-grip. It works well.

Two things:

I use Steady Betty ruler strips. They're little pieces of foam and they grip really, really well.

Second, I do the same as Ghostrider. Put your left hand on the ruler and with your right hand, start cutting at the bottom of the ruler, moving up and away from your body. When your hands are even, stop cutting. Do not lift the cutter, just hold it there, and walk your hand up the ruler, keeping pressure on it. Do the itsy-bitsy spider thing. Repeat the process until your cut is finished. The trick is to not have your cutter hand pass up your ruler hand.

Hope this helps!

I put True Grips on the 4 corners of each of my rulers........this is one quilting notion that is worth its weight in GOLD because the rulers just do not slip or move.......Most LQS carry these,,,,,,,,which are made by the Grace Company, and also available on their website....

Good Luck!

I use basting spray on the back of my rulers, then wipe with a paper towel and it will stop slippage. You can still see through your ruler. If you get too much build up, you can use fingernail polish on it, it will build up from the fabric itself.

I know I've said this before but I love the Quilters Slidelock ruler! It will not slip and your fingers are always protected from cutting.

I use the true grips also and when cutting I cut with my right hand, my left hand holds the ruler with one or two fingers off the left side of the ruler. Also, don't cut all at once, cut, then move your hand up the ruler and finish cutting.

I tried the round sandpaper discs and still had slippage. I started using rubber cement and have never tried anything else. I can just rub it off and reapply when needed. Of course the drawback is the drying time. I apply it at night and it is ready to go the next morning.

I use a ruler with a lip at one end and put a stripe of rubber cement at the opposite end. I've tried little pads, but they raised the ruler up from the fabric and I wasn't able to grip it well enough.

I use sandpaper sticky circles, but I also keep my little finger off the edge of the ruler on the table/fabric and move my hand down the ruler as I go....only cutting portions as long as my hand then creep fingers up(like a spider) and continue cutting w/pinky off edge......just the way I do it...might help

I bought plastic dots for the undersides of my rulers. Can't remember if I got them at a store or online. The ones I have are not True Grips. I like the way these dots work. I put one in each corner and one in the middle of the long side of my rulers.

I am also going to try the hand walking itsy-bitsy spider thing next time I cut.

Totally agree! The Quilter's Slidelock ruler is the best way I've found to immobilize a ruler while cutting with a rotary cutter. It works better than anything else I've tried, including Invisigrip on the back of all my rulers. And it will protect your "ruler" hand without having to constantly put a glove on an off. The safety feature is just built into it, because of where you have to hold the ruler.

Yes!! The Quilter's Slidelock is the best. No strips, no tape, no grips. Just a simple tool that works. And most important, it keeps me safe from rotary cut accidents. I don't cut with a rotary cutter without it. I have two sizes.

I just bought a "glass holder" from Harbor freight for $3.00. they use it to hold glass when installing a window, works great and they come in a nice small size or larger if you have larger hands! Love Harbor freight, bought magnetic bars to hold scissors/ ripporrs and never lose them now, also bought a magnetic bowl so I can just toss pins in, all of these items are under $5.00!

I use these and they are great, no sliding

http://guidelines4quilting.com/GripStrips.html

Ditto for me...grips as well as 'walking' my hand up the ruler with a finger off the side to help keep it lined up. Another suggestion is using spring type clamps from the home store. Look for them in the tool section.

Someone mentioned using sticky sandpaper on the bottom. Of course you need to cut them down to a manageable size. I've tried the clear rubbery looking things and they worked sort of and then I purchased the already cut into circles that looked like sandpaper which worked much better. I'm going to save my money though and go out into my garage as I know I have lots of the stick-on sandpaper to use.

I use rubber cement - just along the cutting edge - when it looks icky, I just rub it off and reapply.

I have the grip dots on the underside of my ruler, and I also use a Gypsy handle on mine for safety. I tend to put the handle down near the far side of the ruler, and then place my elbow on the ruler as well. So I'm kind of leaning into the ruler. Seems to work for me, and I've never cut myself yet with the rotary cutter (touch wood!!).

Great Idea sewmary. I'm a big fan of the dollar store :). I use the dollar shelf liner to keep my pedals in place. I also use the "shape cut" rulers. Never giving THOSE up. Perfect every time no slip. Ive sprayed fabric adhesive. Every works pretty well-but I'm going to give the shelf liner a whirl. Also the non-slip mats for underneath area rugs. It's pretty much like the shelf liner but bigger.

I use sandpaper disks. I used to use the clear stuff that adheres to the ruler, but found that it was almost as slippery as without, so my friend talked me into using the disks and I don't have nearly the problems with the ruler slipping. It did take some getting use to because the ruler doesn't just slid along, you have to pick it up slightly to move it, but once you get used to it, you will love it.

I have True Grips on most of mine. They are clear, so don't interfere with seeing the fabric or lines on the ruler (because invariably they land where I need to meaure). They do help, but aren't perfect.

Recently saw the Quilter's Sidelock, I think that looks awesome and would try one had I not recently bought the Martelli no slip strip ruler during their redline sale.

For the price we are paying for fabric, combined with how much better patterns come out with precision cutting, having the right tools is worth it!

I found I slipped way more using an Olfa mat.

I switched to the Fiskars mat, and have much less slippage.

For large rulers - I recently got the ruler and cutter combo where the cutter is built in (Nancy's) or (Quilt in a Day) - but on other rulers, I use a spring hand clamp to clamp it to the table. Smaller rulers, I am still experimenting - have used the little felt pads from the dollar store (sold to keep doors from banging), and the green shelf liners. Small strips of shelf liner also help if you have a gap in an embroidery machine hoop.

Marysewfun

SewMary, great idea thanks for sharing. I usually do as ghostrider, just walk my hand up the ruler as I cut.

Oh Marysewfun-love that idea of yours using the spring clap-I am going to give that a try for sure-thank-you.

I haven't tried the True Grips that Sunnie recommends, however, I have put the small circles of sandpaper on my ruler with good results, so the fabric rarely moves.

I use the small sand paper dots, and they work well for me.

One more suggestion, if someone hasn't already noted it. Use which ever method on the bottom and get a handle for the top. Using a handle on the top allows you to lean on the reuler and thet helps with movement. Also, there is no moving of the hand which can result in cut fingers.