"Decorative" rotary cutter blades - -
 

Olfa has a pinking, scallop, and a wave one.

Have any of you used any of them - and if yes, what do you think of them?

I use the pinking blade to cut background blocks etc for hand applique to stop fraying during all the handling. They are cut oversize anyway, then can be trimmed with a straight blade to size when the applique finished. Works very well ... I got fed up changing the blades in the cutter so now have another dedicated cutter for the pinking blade.

I have the scallop one. I use it to edge my background block so it does not fray. It the numerous times the fabric is held it really helps.

I have the pinking blade and use it all the time for fraying type fabrics. Plus use it all the time for apparel fabrics as I like how the seams look pinked. I keep an extra blade sitting around so never run out when I need it most. Also picked up a blade that puts slits in fabrics such as fleece for when you want to put them together with yarn. Works well with any type of fabric that does not split apart such as leather, fleece, etc.

I use the pinking blade for fleece appliques (fleece on fleece). I also use the patented "skip-stitch" blade for poking holes in fleece for crocheted borders. They come in three different sizes (holes and distance between holes) and are available at skip-stitch.com. The fit on standard Olfa and Fiskars handles. For me, I find the pinking blade dulls quickly, and that may be due to the nature of the pinking design, plus the fact that fleece is hard on cutting blades. The skip-stitch blade lasts a long time, and I use it a lot for Project Linus.

I use then when planning raw applique for leaves. I also "pink" the edges of blocks that I have to add embellishments to. Anything that gets handles a lot before being "sewn" has the edge done!
Love them.
THOUGH there is no way to sharpen them so they get tossed before the straight edges.

I almost bought one but thought it would be used seldom.

I have the pinking, and wave ones. I do like them, but I now use an older mat, since I feel they chew up my mat a bit.

I have the wave one and had to be very careful not to take a shaving off my ruler when I used it.

I have the pinking blade. Needed to cut a couple hundred pennants to hang as party decorations. It worked perfectly. I do not use it for general cutting of quilt pieces. I found them just slightly more challenging to use with accuracy but with just a little extra concentration, it work beautifully.

I use the wave blade for finishing the seams of all items I make with fleece - baby clothes, blankets, hats, etc. I think it makes a nice finish, is not bulky or scratchy like a serger edge, and it looks nicer than just a cut edge. I also use it to cut the edge off of all fabrics prior to washing. It keeps the fabrics from fraying so bad in the washer and dryer. I love my wave blade and use it a lot.

I use the scallop one to cut the edge of fleece that I make for cuffs on Christmas stockings.

Decorative cutting blades
 

I have never used one since I read, I believe right here on Quilting Board, that they damage the cutting board. Cutting boards are way too expensive to shorten their life. I was thinking of buying one to 'pink' the edges of fabric to lessen all the fraying when washing and drying but just decided not to take the chance.

I was given the wave and pinking blades as a total surprise by a QB friend (thanks again friend! *wink*) and now have the scallop blade, too. I use all three for cutting raw edge fused appliqué shapes for art quilts. The cuts are much more organic and are perfect for leaves, flowers, just plain shapes, lots of things, real and imaginary. I have great fun using them. They make me smile. :o

And as for ruining my cutting mat...I simply turn it over and use the backside with the decorative blades. No big deal.

One quilt shop I frequent uses the wave blade to cut cotton yardage from the bolt. The same shop tears wide cotton backing to make sure the grain is visible for straightening.

I use the pinking blade on the cut edges before washing my fabrics and wouldn't want to do without it.

Have used a scallop and you do need to be careful that you don't nick edge of ruler and they are harder on cutting mat so use an old one or backside.

I use the Linking blade for cutting the fleece strips for the tie quilts. Sure saves my hand & fingers from the pains of cutting with linking scissors.

What is a linking blade? This sounds interesting.

I have the wave one but have never used it to cut fabric. I have used it for paper crafts, such as party invitations, pictures etc.

Darn spell check lol Linking blade

OOps! You meant the pinking blade?

I used the slotted blade. It's the blade that puts small cutting slots in fabric, sort of like unfinished buttonholes. I threaded trim through the slots.