You might want to consider getting an Accuquilt GO! It is supposed to be much easier to cut fabric this way, and it cuts up to 4 layers at a time. Pricey, but I think worth it in the long run to be able to cut fabric to desired shapes at home. Here is the website:

http://www.accuquilt.com

Aside from the demo on the website, there are some helpful demos of the GO! on YouTube.

I know the ladies in my fabric store and always happy to cut my fabric any way I want. I would hope the LQS would too. I like Prism99s suggestion of the Accuquilt. It could help you too.

Another fibro quilter - I do not do those marathon sessions for cutting or sewing any more. It's one of those "lifestyle adjustments" the dr warns you about.

I use ergonomic tools - rubbery, large handled seam ripper, Fiskers rorary cutter that is easier on the hands, and a lipped ruler when possible. I also have a lumbar pillow on my sewing chair.

I use electric scissors to cut out pieces. I have lots of hard to find patterns and I sometimes cut out enough pieces for enough blocks to make a quilt. I piece one block and sell it and all the required pieces on Ebay, so I do a lot of cutting. Electric scissors save me lots of fatigue in my hands.

Michelle,
I am another Fibro-Quilter...Moonpi had the right ideas! I keep my cutting table higher than normal to make it easier, and fold the fabric narrower if possible.
I cut when I can and sew when I can't...Don't give in to the pain, we can't let it rule our lives!

Susie

I didn't expect there to be so many other ppl with fibro....just thought arthritis is more common. T G, I don't have that!
anyways, was just wondering, I have multiple chemical sensitivities, (MCS), are you guys, just as bothered,...or in other words,...does your fibromyalgia, really act up, after certain foods?
Yeah, you'd think, oh, that'ts easy, just don't eat them.
I tried that. Wasn't getting enough vitamin C, and nobody knew it.
I had blood in my urine for a year and a half.
Knowing that probably contributed to the blood, I just eat what I have to, and suffer like a monkey! :?

Food intolerances can aggravate many disorders, including fibromyalgia and arthritis. My friend's rheumatoid arthritis flares up after she drinks half a cup of coffee. She has been able to control her RA for 20 years by means of diet. Unfortunately, food intolerances don't show up on regular allergy tests and most doctors don't understand them. There are some good books available; check Amazon. The best way to identify food intolerances is to go on an elimination diet; however, this is very difficult to do correctly unless you do it under the guidance of someone trained in the approach, such as a naturopath.

I have fibro and arthritis both. I'm one of the few people who can trace fibro to its cause - my second bout of Lyme disease. Let's start another thread in chit-chat rather than hijack this one, ok?

http://www.quiltingboard.com/posts/list/18105.page ia a chit chat thread about fibro. It does seem more common than I ever realized. Unfortunately!

I too, have fibromyalgia. I've learned to adjust my lifestyle...including sewing and cutting around it. There are days I can't even get out of bed......let alone think of cutting and sewing.