I use my rotary blade sharpener which is electric. It is loud but gets the job done. I keep an old blade case labeled old so if I am in a hurry I can place it in the case to be sharpened later. In the kitchen a sharp blade IMO is not an option I will stop what ever cutting I am doing to sharpen.

I used to be so bad about changing my sewing machine needles until I found this board. Before learning to quilt, I bet I sewed dozens of garments with the same needle! :shock: ...now don't you feel better? :p

Until they broke, got bent, or a got a burr - they were good enough!!!

You ladies sure made my day! I thought I was the only one dumb or stubborn enough to keep trying to cut fabric with dull rotary cutter blades. Duh...

I bought some of the titanium blades to try and just put a new one in. It leaves one thread on it's path.....yes, ONE thread!!! I'm going to have to change to another blade. I'm hoping that this was just a fluke. I'm not happy with the quality of this one!!!

I guess I'm just very cheap. I prefer to think of it as thrifty but I tend to try to get every inch of use from things. I have a rotary blade right now that I just chgd. but has a nick on it already. Got to go back & cut that one or two threads that don't cut the first time. What a drag!

Pat G, I'm the same way. I use my machine needles, until they tell me they need changing. There's no way, I'm gonna admit how long I've used the current one. :D Seriously, it still makes perfect stitches and the machine purrs like the day I bought it, so I see no good reason to throw it out, "just because." The Quilt Police would hate me! :thumbup:

I, too, wonder about changing needles just because. If it is still stitching well, why? Who exactly are these quilt police?

I do agree about the rotary cutter - the difference between enjoying cutting and hating it. How does one sharpen the cutter on their machine?