fussy cutting?
 

I bought some cute chicken fabric and want to cut the chickens out in a 4-1/2" square and make them the center of a block. I tried using a June Tailor 4 1/2 " ruler that I bought for something else and a rotary cutter, but boy, does that little ruler move around, no matter how firmly I hold it. It's maddening. Too, using the rotary cutter is awkward around 4 sides and difficult on corners. So I'm thinking it may be easier to draw around the ruler and cut the squares with scissors. How do the rest of you do it?

Yes, if I were having a lot of time consuming trouble with cutting with the rotary, I definitely would use the scissors instead! Rotary cutters can't fit the bill all the time.

I have often done as you suggested.....draw around the ruler with a pencil, then cut out the motif. But you don't necessarily have to use scissors. With a drawn line, I sometimes use my favorite ruler to get the straight edge for my rotary cutter. Then I lift & reposition the ruler for the next side. It's a little bit more work, but I think it saves time over using scissors. Of course, sometimes using scissors is better.

Also, to mark the motif being fussy cut, sometimes I make a template from a piece of manila folder, cutting out the center in the size and shape I want (including seam allowances of course). Then I position the opening over my design and draw my lines. The folder paper is heavy enough to use over and over. And when I've finished marking all the designs, I slip the template into the pattern package to save for another time I want to make the same quilt with fussy cut pieces.

I almost always use scissors when fussy cutting. For me is is faster.

I put sandpaper dots on my ruler and use a turntable mat. Even though I'm cutting small squares (I'm currently cutting 3.5" butterfly squares) I use a large turntable and roll up the excess fabric on the cutting board, so everthing turns when I rotate the board.

I put that vinyl stuff on the bottom of all my rulers. Reduces slipping. It's hard to beat stickon sandpaper though. Your ruler stays put.

There are little tabs you can buy and put on the underside of your template to keep it from sliding/scooting so much.
Also if it is the same chicken you can use a dry erase marker on the top of your template to roughly mark the shape of the chicken and then align each square up.

I bought the vinyl stuff and put on the bottom of all my rulers. Love it. Now I can see thru all my rulers. And it holds them still.

Thanks to all who have responded! I will get a backing for that little June Tailor ruler but for now think I'll draw my squares and cut with my long ruler (the one I love and use for everything!) as someone suggested.

I have also found it helpful to use my small rotary cutter for this type of work, rather than my 60mm, either my 28 or 14mm

little sand paper dots or plastic dot that go on the back of the ruler help. Someone also mentioned making their own by using a hot glue gun and placing small amounts on the ruler back. most rulers will move if you don't have something to create friction to keep it from moving

I have some smaller square rulers and generally rough-cut my fussy bits. Then I square them up using the smaller rulers.

That would be my suggestion, too -- in addition to adding dots of some sort to your ruler. But I've also been known to trace the design & cut it out with scissors.

I cut out a section larger than I want and then use a square ruler to center the motif and trim it to the size I want.

An alternative to the bought sandpaper dots is: clear nail polish sprinkled with salt, I let mine dry overnight on my island. It works great in my opinion.

I haven't checked my rulers but I am pretty sure that I have a 4 1/2" square that is great for fussy cutting.

I use my square template, draw a line around and cut with scissors. Sometimes scissors are just right. Love the sharp pizza cutter idea, but all the fussy cuts i do, nope. I use the scarp scissors. :0)

You guys are so smart. Some really good ideas for how to make sure you cut the same motif with every piece.

Out of sheer frustration once, I coated the bottom of a ruler with rubber cement, thinking that since it was a little tacky when dry, it would work well. It took under 5 minutes to dry and clings like nothing else!!!! I love it and use it often. It simply DOES NOT MOVE when in place! After many uses, it loses its tackiness due to lint sticking to the cement, so you just rub it off with your finger and re-coat.

That's the answer! Works all the time! I do a lot of fussy cutting and it is perfect. Edie

Me too - I have sandpaper dots on all my templates and rulers.
I use a Fiskar rotating square mat for anything 6" and under. It takes up less space on my table and thus maneuvers easily. I buy them with a coupon at Joann's.

I use the Creative Grids Fussy Cut & Squareup Ruler. It has grippers on the back, all of the Creative Grids rulers do. I threw my old Olipha ruler away...

What is the name of the "ViNYL STUFF" all of you are talking about and where do you get it?

:thumbup:I use invisagrip from quilt in a day and love it.

Thanks so much to all of you!

I learned much here today. Putting sandpaper dots, rubber cement, nail polish with salt, or something similar on the bottom of rulers to keep them from moving, especially the smaller ones. And I appreciate all the methods of fussy cutting suggested.

I drew lines around the chicken(s) and cut the squares with my long ruler and rotary cutter. I think I messed up, though, because I drew lines with an ordinary pencil, then stupidly pressed some of the blocks before erasing the lines. They may be permanent from the heat, even though I've erased them as well as I can.....also erasing is not good since it stretches the fabric. Live and learn! ;-)

I intended to just center the chickens in blocks made of strips but then decided to do an attic window, which I've never done. I'm adding sashing to give the windows more dimension (I hope); funny but when you look through the camera lens, the "windows" are so much more obvious. If it turns out at all as planned, I'll post a photo.....eventually.
;-)
Thanks again for everyone's comment!

Marilyn

Ditto on the smaller cutter. I've had one sitting in my drawer unused for several years and finally thought to try it to cut some small squares -- gosh, what a difference!

wow...you guys are great!!! I also have had so much trouble and never thought of these ideas. Where do you get the sandpaper dots? craft store? Hardware store?

You could also use quilters template plastic to cut out a square that is the size of the block plus 1/4 " on each side i.e. a 4 inch square that will finish as a 3 1/2 inch block. I have a small board I glued a sheet of extra fine sandpaper to and put my fabric on that and trace around the template, then cut with a scissors.

Where do you get sandpaper dots?

I use a rotary cutter and scissors well not at the same time for fussy cutting ..lol

Has anyone here tried these? http://www.benfranklin.com/item/craf...BF00087644-001

This is how I would do it as well. Drawing the square and using scissors.

Me too!!! I also agree with those who suggested a turntable mat, or just a small mat that has the ironing surface on the other side because it, too, can be easily rotated. You might be able to find a very solid turntable at a thrift store. A lot of people used to have them for TV's before the flat screens came along. That type of turntable can also be coated with rubber cement to keep your mat from sliding around.