dull! dull! dull!
 

Some activities are easier for me when I remember to replace or get sharpened the following when they get dull or nicked!

Rotary blades - and I wonder why it's a struggle to cut when I have table knives with sharper blades on them?
Pins - they come in a variety of thicknesses - thicker ones are harder to push - real thin ones can bend
Needles - don't know where or when I got the idea that they would never get dull!
Scissors - even my Ginghers have gotten dull - and that was only cutting fabric with them!
Seam rippers - many styles are comparatively inexpensive
Thread cutters on sewing machines -
x-acto blaces (for cutting template plastic)
Single edge razor blades -
Box cutter blades - for opening up our boxes of goodies
Pencil sharpeners - (and pencils)

We really do operate in a sharp-edged and pointy environment!

Sharp tools (that are supposed to be shart) really are safer than dull ones!

I feel the same way, then when they're sharpened or replaced I wonder why I didn't think of it sooner.

I could always kick myself when I finally change the blade in my rotary cutter. And I always think "why didn't I do this earlier"? LOL I should know better by now!

Then there are the brand new titanium rotary blades that you nick the first time you use them. Two of them...first time used...Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!

"Rotary blades - and I wonder why it's a struggle to cut when I have table knives with sharper blades on them?"

You are too funny! Now when I wonder if I should change blades I will think of your quote.

Oh boy can I relate!!!!

Ditto! I think we've all been there, at least once!!!!

It seems as though whenever I replace my rotary cutter blade and I think why did I not do this soon. Then the inevitable happens I nik my hand with it and I realize yes the new one is sharp.
:o

I have done that too! Gotta remember to sheathe that blade when it's not in use!!!!!

My pins are plenty sharp. Can't even begin to count the times I'm stabbed myself, while trying to smooth out already-pinned fabric! :p Maybe I need to be sharpened. :D

Yep, even the kitchen knives need to be sharpened to work well. Had a big family BBQ last weekend and I was cutting off the corn on the cob - figured it was easier on everybody if I cut it off for them ahead of time. I was actually "sawing" it off and my DH walks by and grabs my knife and runs it through his sharpener and then I was able to just slice it off - no more sawing. DUH!!!

:p Mine would have made some comment - about why didn't I ASK him to sharpen the knives? Usually, he is really good about keeping the knives sharp. Every once in a while he makes some statement that I think is ridiculous - they are in the category of - gee, if you didn't use them for anything they would stay sharp longer. I usually try to avoid sawing through wire, granite, sandstone, etc. while I'm using the knives!

I do consider the kitchen knives "mine" - even though other members of the household use them.

I agree with all of you, but I wait until I absolutely can't stand running my rotary cutter over a cut more than once, then I change. But usually it is only one spot of the blade that leaves just a few threads uncut.....and I try to convince myself that I can tolerate it.

I sharpen the blades before every cutting session and during. If you sharpen a sharp blade it lasts a long time. This sharpener makes it fast and easy: http://www.sewforless.com/item/Grace...Fcqe4Aod2lAASg It won't remove a nick in the blade though. I get a nick I toss the blade.

I toss pins when I have to push them through fabric. Pins should glide. I use Clover Patchwork Pins. I use a pinmoor on every pin, I detest pin pricks. I usually use a new needle everytime when handsewing mostly because I can't find the one I used before. LOL. DH takes care of the better kitchen knives. For utility knives I toss and buy new. I'm not a make do type person if it isn't necessary.

Ever seen the t-shirt with the saying "Runs with Scissors"? That would be us.

Yup, I can spend scads of $$ on fabric but when it comes to the bare bones necessity of a sharp rotary blade......I know I've waited too long to change the flippin' blade when I could chew through it easier than use the rotary cutter.

Bellamy you are the first person who I have heard like myself throws out pins when they don't glide through fabric. I made the comment on Friday and pele were shocked I hers pins away.

I also discard pins that won't go through fabric easily.

One thing that will never get dull, bear, is your keen wit. http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/s...ic/biggrin.gif

I would have complained - oops - change that to - notified the store and the manufacturer that there were quality control issues with those pins. AND returned the whole package of pins to the store.

Hey - if they don't know about it, they can't fix it!! They still may not fix it, buy you can probably get your money back!

Bearisgray you forgot one, How can I sharpen my mind. Do I just replace it, or live with it? There are some days where my mind just doesn't seem to work right? Does anyone know a solution. As for as blades, I just ordered a rotary blade sharpener from Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/css/order-...=gno_yam_yrdrs, cause that blue manual one is a joke. I know none will handle nicks, but I can't see spending that much to replace blades constantly. I need to do better at not nicking it.

I have read recommendations that you put in a new needle at least every time you begin a new project. Probably the same for rotary cutter blade ... I have to admit I am too frugal (cheap) to do that because I really don't realize how dull the needles or blade have gotten until I change them. I keep thinking I can get a little more mileage out of them.

The usual recommendation for changing needles is after 8 hours of sewing. For me, that's much more often than at the start of a new project.

Everything does work better when it is sharper. I too wait too long to change a rotary blade, then wonder why I didn't do it sooner.

After SO sharpened all the kitchen knives (didn't tell me he had) and I sliced and diced my finger, decided to stick with my sewing room. At least there I know what's sharp and what isn't:D

You said it all....I agree...

I give MY kitchen knives the same respect that I give my sewing scissors -- my husband was not permitted to use either.

I think it's okay to cut through the paper on a stick of butter or to cut through the plastic around a ring of bologna or a brick of cheese. He doesn't.

The sharp mind - there are times when I think mine has turned to mush!
The sharp eyes - I know I haves issues with mine - I am so grateful that I am living in a time when surgical intervention and glasses are available.m (How come I can spot a garage/yard sale sign, and DH 'never' sees them??)
The sharp tongue - still working on that one -

Is this the electric one? I ordered one too. Should be here Wednesday.

What did you run over? Isn't titanium meant to be very hard? When I cut fabric that is the only thing on my cutting mat.

Just for fun (after my husband just sharpened it) I used the pizza cutter! Wow! Cut like going through melted butter. I'll still just stick with how they're suppose to be used, though.

Ditto, ditto, ditto and on and on too many times.

I just picked up some carpet cutting blades at harbor freight for $1.99 for two blades. Worked great. Now I will change blades more often.

I can relate to your statements completely. I just ordered a Fiskar's scissor sharpener for $7.14 from Amazon. We'll see how that works out, but for that price I was willing to take a chance. I have a pair of Fiskar's shears that are only for fabric and so far, after five years, they still perform fantastically. My kitchen is another place that drives me bonkers when my knives are dull. I bought a camping knife sharpener from L.L. Bean when we were in Maine and it is without a doubt the best sharpener I've ever had. I'm in the process of teaching myself applique and if there was ever a time when a sharp pair of scissors was needed it is now. What's that old saying about not being the sharpest tool in the shed? I believe that might apply to me. So if it is any consolation know that there are a lot of us who like sharp things and hey, I run with scissors.

Oh yeah, I just hate it when I am cutting and the blade goes cut, bump, cut bump. I just know that cut will never ever be even. I love your post

Been there, done that; then when I realize the blade may be dull, I hit myself over the head and say "dumb blonde". I don't mean to offend any blondes out there, but until I reached high school, I'd always been a blonde, from platinum to dishwater blonde over the years, so I qualify.

Yes, I agree with all of these. Wish I could replace the thread cutter on my sewing machine without taking it into the shop. It needs to be done right now and I'm putting it off because of the distance and time involved taking it in.

I keep me a large ball of aluminum foil and I run my rotary blade over it and it shappens it right up. I truly can relate to the pins and the needles. I really think America as a whole is falling down on quality in a lot of ways because they are trying to cut cost. For what I paid for my Gingham sheers, they are still cutting well. I have had them for four years.

Thanks BettyGee, for the hint on scissor sharpener I was going to ask how to do this. So I guess I'll do like you have done & order myself one & hope it really works. I need one for an old pair of heavy steel scissors I got at an Estate Sale.