I'm a lefty and have no problem using a rotary cutter.
If your ruler is moving when you cut, they make little sand paper disks to put under your ruler so it doesn't shift.
Maybe your table is too high and you can't get the leverage you need. Try cutting on a lower table. Are you using a 24 inch ruler? Cut only 5/6 inches at a time, move your hand up the ruler where you will need to cut, cut another 6 inch section, moving your hand up to the area you are cutting helps you keep pressure on the ruler where you are cutting, this helps keep the ruler from shifting.

If I am reading this right you are only using a regular ruler? If you are that might be making it a lot harder. I almost away use a large cutting mat that has the slots in between it.You just line up the fabric then put the rotary cutter in the slot and cut. When you are using a small mat or a ruler it's harder to get a good grip with your other hand to hold the fabric in place. (Make sure your hand isn't too close to the blade of course). I am left handed also and I do think it makes it a little harder. I am especially hard on the blades because I basically have little coordintation.

Do you happen to have 2 blades on your cutter? Sometimes those are stuck together pretty well when taking them out of the package and it looks like only one when there are actually more. That would throw you off. Just a thought....

I am left handed, have the Gingher left handed roatary cutter, have the gypsy gripper on my ruller and still cut wonky.
and no I can not cut right handed at all.
It is so frustrating.
Best of luck to you figuring this out.

I am left handed. I have some problems with cutting. I've gotten better since I watched a tutoial and noticed I wasn't resting my little finger on the mat for stability.

The one holding the ruler.

I didnt read the entire post but just wanted to say that unless I am directly over the top of what Im rotary cutting, the whole thing gets "slide-y" on me and I cant cut straight. (I cant cut from an angle). AND I apply a good amount of pressure.

Have you tried switching hands, I am left handed but I cut with my right hand. Kim

I had similar problems and finally invested in several of the June Taylor slotted rulers. I have less slippage of the ruler and better conrol of the rotary cutter because it fits in a slot so it has a sort of a track to roll in. There is also more ruler area to lay your other hand flat for holding the ruler. I have lost far less fabrice due to slippage since buying them. The largest one (23" wide) that cuts single-folded fabric is $69.99 on June Taylor's website is $65.99 on JoAnns -- but with a 50% off coupon is less than $33.00 and is shipped in a big flat cardboard container which is great for storage. This one purchase has made cutting strips so much easier and my strips are right on. These are great tools for those of us that are rotary cutter challenged. I am very short and I cannot reach across the table when cutting without moving my supporting hand and that is when the ruler moves on me or I was getting "V's" in the middle of my strips making them virtually useless, unless I was cutting them into squares.

The June Tailor strip cutter is what you need to use. It's quck, easy to learn how to do, and accurate.

my sister is a leftie and can only use the rotary cutter in her right hand!

The Martelli people say it is VERY important that the cutting hand, arm, shoulder are directly behind the cutting line, with the body to the side. I still can't cut as well as he can, but I've improved! Another tip is holding the cutting hand low instead of above the cutting line.

I have not read all the way through, but if you are thinking of having your LQS do some cutting for you, why not ask them to help you use the rotarty cutter -- give a man a fish, vs, teach a man to fish.

glad to know I am not the only one who can not use a
rotary cutter thought it was just me I have decided to just forget it and do like our ancestors did use the good old sizzors

Haha you sound like one of my kind Cheers to all the quilters.


:thumbup:

There is a ruler that has a rotary blade within a unit that does the work for you. All you have to do is have the unit at one end of the material to be cut on your cutting mat and draw the unit down with the palm of your hand. Your fingers are safe and it cuts a straight line for you that was lined up from the ruler. Walmart has them for about $25. It takes a regular rotary blade. I love mine.

I'm right handed and get wonky cuts.

ABSOLUTELY the best way to cut strips, regardless of hand!!

Phooey on those reversible blades, or ergonomic, or pricey left handed, etc. rotary cutters.

Try the "original" OLFA cutter http://www.olfa.com/RotaryCuttersList.aspx?C=20 It is either left or right depending on which hand you use ...just turn it over so the blade is closest to the ruler edge. ( The 45mm is a good all-purpose size to begin with.)

YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!! Good luck.

Try a left handed rotary cutter, or the orig. Olfa can be used left or right. The blade HAS to be against the ruler to cut correctly.
Important - DO NOT use the lines on the MAT to measure. Use only the rotary ruler to measure your cuts.
Your ruler may be slipping too. Add gripper dots or strips to the bottom. There are demos online or ask your LQS to help you. Don't give up ! :)

Do you have some type of grips on your ruler to keep it from slipping...you know those little clean plastic dots...

I too am left handed. Generally I cut from the opposite direction of right handed persons. If you are cutting strips or squares in 1/2, 1/4" increments, try the June Taylor square cut ruler. It has slots at specific widths and the rotary cutter stays in the slots. It does require that you line the "0" line up straight on the edge of the fabric and hold it in place.
Good luck you will get there.

I really like the Martelli rotary cutter. I am right handed so I use the red one. For me it is much easier and not as tiring to cut alot of fabric. The black handled ones are for lefties! I got mine on Amazon, loved it so much I got another one to carry in my quilt bag to classes, and also the bigger one. After trying it, several members of my groups have gotten them! Good luck! Ann

You can get a ruler for left hand I am also left handed it showes you where to put the handle for left hand I line up my fabric on a line put my ruler on the fabric if I want to cut 2 " or what ever & line the ruler extending off the material on the mat & line it up then cut. it might sound hard but it isn't also you can go to your store & they will show you how . If I can help anymore let me know .

Get the slotted rulers. They are wonderful.

http://quiltbug.com/notions/rulers.htm -- scroll down the page to shape cut slotted rulers. There is even a video to watch.

My problem is not slippage, at least not so much. My problem is getting the fabric actually cut. Even with a brand new blade, even cutting single layers, I get a lot of skips, where the fabric just isn't cut. If I go back, then the 2nd cut doesn't quite line up. I have an olfa 45 ml that I use mostly. I work on either my dinner table or the kitchen counter, the height doesn't seem to make a diference. I end up either using scissors or for strips, tearing. Any advice here?

This happens to me also, but I can go back and forth in a slotted ruler to make certain all fabric is cut and it cuts on the same line.

I'm left-handed and I have no problem.
Swap the side that your blade is on. When holding my rotary cutter in my left hand, the blade is on the right side of the cutter. Hope this helps.

Also, try the stick-on sandpaper dots on the underside of your ruler. They make a HUGE difference and I'm sure you can find them at your LQS. The stick on dots at Lowes may cause problems because they are thicker and cause the ruler to raise which may, in turn cause you more problems.

If it weren't for precuts I would have quit quilting. That is until I found the June Tailor shape cut and the little sand paper dots.

Is your mat flat or worn? Sounds like it might be your mat of you've replaced the blade. Gosh, those blades are SOOOOO sharp, I can't imagine them not cutting through a single layer. Maybe just try more pressure???

I don't know whether anyone's tried it other than myself, but the Fiskars cutters are universal. You can have the blade to either side, just unscrew the blade holder and move everything to the other side. The retract button isn't movable, but otherwise it works fine and is a lot less than $52.

The mat is quite new, seems to be flat, can't see any particularly worn areas. I do use a lot of pressure....

I found that I was holding the cutter at too small an angle to the cutting board. When you do this, the nut can run on the ruler and make the blade skip areas. Make sure you have the cutter at 45 degrees at least. Ann

I have left handed scissor, left handed pinkers, and use them right handed. Yeah, I know, makes no sense. I just can't use them left handed. So I never waste money buying stuff made for lefties. I do just about everything except eat and write with my right hand, except use this rotary cutter.

I will try to find some of the sandpaper dots for the ruler. I have a 17 inch long clear one, the longest I saw in the store. I tried using the cutter after reversing the blade, and it makes a world of difference.

I had a good friend with the same problem and she was about ready to give up on trying to learn to quilt. No one ever noticed that her blade had not been moved from the "factory" side to the side for lefties. It really did make a big difference.

If this is a new blade, again I suggest looking very closely. You may have 2 blades in there as they tend to stick together. If it is a used blade, I have personal experience with skipped cutting. Usually it's because I have bumped into a pin and that has damaged the blade. Very frustrating!!! And as usual, it is a new blade that gets the damage, too. Add that to Murphy's list of Laws. I have the Taylor ruler, too, and it is great but I know what you are talking about with the "perforated" strips. I haven't solved that either but these are some suggestions anyhow.

I cannot cut straight either I have tried everything than I descovered the June Tayler slotted ruler which helps a lot. Then one day I went to Joanns with a coupon and bought a cutting system that looks just like the cutter I use for scrapbooking. It is great I am not home so cant look for sure but I think it was made by Dewberry with coupon price wasn't bad and after a little pratice it cuts wonderful straight strips

I am left handed and my Hubby bought me the Olfa yellow handle cutter. All you do is switch the blade to the other side of the cutter. It comes set up for right handed people. Good Luck. Karen

Have you tried the June Tailor shape cut rulers or the quarter cut ruler....Something like that may help you.