When using a rotary cutter, for some reason I still cant get my cuts straight. seems like the fabric stretches or my cutter goes astray. But my lines are not square! Im getting pretty frustrated. Any advice? JoAnn

Make sure you have a good ruler and plant it firm before you cut and have your rotary cutter on the right side of the ruler. I have seen a Youtube about this so you could actually see what I am talking about. I'm sure someone will be able to explain it better.

Two things:

1) Do you use the ruler grippers? If not, then I suggest it highly. If you don't want to buy the little sandpaper ones you can cut some out of sandpaper from your house and glue on.

2) When you fold your material before cutting - make sure that it lays flat, no wrinkles what so ever. Line the bottom up on the mat line and sort of flatten out then place ruler and line that up.

Hope this helps.

I use sand paper dots on my rulers, when I didn't the ruler would slide so much of the time I was almost too fustrated to sew !! Also practice with your rotary cutter and slow down until you get a good cut. It takes a little while to learn how to use the ruler and rotary cutter. Slowing down until you get the hang of it is extreemly helpful.

Rulers also slip when there is too much pressure from the rotary cutter from the side. Practice holding the rotary cutter almost straight up, just running it along side the ruler rather than forcing it against the ruler as you cut. i also use the sandpaper dots and love them...it's just not easy to reposition the ruler by sliding it, but I guess that's the point, isn't it?

Starch. My cuts always come out better when I starch the fabric heavily.

Try moving your arm from the shoulder, rather than from the wrist or elbow. More like, extending your arm as you cut. hard to explain, but I know that I can Feel the difference and my cuts don't move the end of the ruler to the left. I recently purchased a ruler with built-in sandpaper doo-dads - wanted to replace my 24" ruler with all the yellow markings - and I am really happy that I did. It Works beautifully! now I need to buy the stick-on's (because they're clear) for my favorite ruler.

Only cut one layer at a time until you feel more comfortable using the cutter.

It may take a bit longer, but if you do make an error, less fabric is wasted.

I enjoy cutting, but I still have better (straighter cuts and more accurate measurements) when I only do one layer at a time.

If you can try and find a video on youtube where you can hear and see the process at the same time.

If you have a quilt shop near you...why not run in and ask them to demonstrate the proper way of cutting. I know many people are more visual and seeing the process makes it so much easier. If that's not available to you try the youtube venue to help.

Good Luck

The best advise I have received is the "slow down" method :wink: . It has worked wonders for my accuracy and cutting abilities. Try this and I am sure you will see success.

Keeping your blade straight up against the ruler is necessary :wink: If your wrist/hand turns in/out you will get a wobble in your cut.
Try setting up your fabric and ruler so that you are cutting in a forward motion (the ruler is vertical to you)
I find sometimes that when I cut with my ruler horizontal to me, I can get wonkier cuts :wink: :D:D:D

All good suggestions so far. Take it slowly and it does take practice. I like the sandpaper dots for stability - I also found that I like cutting on my ironing board (big board) as the height is better.

Cheers, K

You can buy some Invisigrip to stick to your rulers. No more slippery rulers.
Also, try to position your hand on the ruler so that your pinky is just outside
the ruler. That keeps the ruler in place.

Good point - I've also seen the recommendation to use the narrowest ruler you can - so if you are measuring 2 inch strips, use a 2 -4 inch ruler, not a 12 inch ruler. The pinkie off the ruler does work - seems to stabilize it, so there isn't as much slippage.

Cheers, K

always have a sharp blade. roll the cutter along, you don't need a lot of pressure. actually, one layer is harder to cut because it can slip more easily. are you using the 45mm ruler?
the 60mm is great for several layers but harder to control with only two or one layer. always cut away from you. side cuts, horizontal cuts for the other side, etc. can get you in trouble--not just bad cuts, but dangerous. ruler size to suit cut size is an excellent suggestion. use a 12" long ruler whenever you can, not the 24". practice cutting 1 1/2" strips & then you can use them later on a strip quilt. won't matter if they are a little wonky. I will improve !

Ditto!

I find that my ruler tends to slip when I don't have good leverage. Standing over the ruler works best for me. I also do not try to do a full range cut in one motion. Instead, I firmly hold the lower half of the ruler and cut about half way, then I walk my fingers up to hold the upper half and cut the upper half. For really long cuts, I even distribute the weight into thirds.

When I need 4 strips @2.5" each, I cut one strip at 4x2.5=10" I trim the 10" in half and each 5" in half again. This seems to help with getting wonkier as I go.

I'd like to add:
1. Make sure you are cutting from a height that works for you. Sometimes people think they can accurately cut sitting down. I can't.

2. Use your ruler to measure and not your mat. Mats are rarely accurate.

3. Always use the same ruler (or at least brands) for your cutting. There are differences.

4. Don't use those clear silicon dot things to stick on the bottom of the ruler. You just end up with wonky cuts from where the fabric stretches around those (ask me how I know). Sandpaper is a better option.

I'm sure other people have some more advice as well.

the best remedy i have found is the j t shape & cut ,worth it's weight in gold to mefor the diff.it's made
dar

I agree with all of the great advice that you have been given. The one thing that I found is that I have to stand for all cuts!

Have a good sharp blade and don't use too much pressure. There are days when I press so hard the fabric shifts.

I too had this problem when first starting out, I got some invisagrip and it helped, but what helps me the most is the June Taylor shape cutter. I am on my way to getting one that has a 1/4" slot also. I love these and it makes it so easy to cut and stay straight.

All suggestions are great and just what I would have told you. Also, the plastic rulers do wear down and then you have a slight moon shape. This may happen because of too much pressure on the ruler. I don't know. But be sure your ruler is very straight. Check it against your ruled cutting board. Also, I was told you "square up" my fabric after several cuts. Hope this helps.

Very good point. I do the same.

I have the same trouble, I have the sandpaper sticker dots they do not cost at lot, i have also bought some rubber dots at the quilt store, they help. I also bought a handle that you can buy at walmart etc, that you can put near on above your bath tub. It looks like a handle about 12' long with rubber grippers at each end, you move a little lever on each end of the handle and than lay it on your ruler, move the little levers and and it will stick to the ruler. They cost about $10. You can also buy them at your quilt store but they will cost twice that much. They do have small one that are great for using on your small rulers at the quilts stores. At walmart they will be in the bath room department.

After the post a few days ago about the June Taylor ruler I got mine out ( got it 4 yrs ago but only been quilting since summer....so not too bad ). I am having a blast cutting squares and strips.It is the way to cut and will always use it now whenever possible.

JoAnn,

Have you tried using a suction cup handle? I got some from Harbor Freight that they use to hold and pick up panes of glass. I find that the handle helps the ruler to stay planted. Also it saves your fingers from getting sliced.

Marie

The best thing I've found is a bathtub safety suction handle from Harbor Freight for the big rulers and a mini-clamp for smaller rulers.

Just bought on Joanns, stedy betty strips, for $1.79. It only takes 1/4 inch cut at each corner of ruler, but works wonderful. Thats for the loose rulers. The rest of the time I use my Alto quilt cutter 2. it has a bar that locks the fabric down and the ruler attaches on the bar that keeps it steady as long as you hold it down. Love it.

I use the sandpaper dots on my rulers, but have heard recently that the ruler grippers are great.

Check out the tutes on the Missouri Star Quilt Co. website. That is where I learned to cut with a rotary cutter/

Others probably have a better understanding of this than I do, so, Others, please feel free to chime in. If your fabric isn't folded with the straight of the grain, you can get a "bend" where the fold is. It isn't always straight just coming off the bolt, even though it's got a fold line. You might check that.

Another thing you might check is the nut that holds the blade in your cutter. If it's too tight or too loose, your cuts can get wonky. When I change a blade I tighten the nut fairly tight & then back if off a little. And be sure to remove the blade periodically & clean out the lint.

Stick some non - sliding dots or dots of sandpaper on the underside of your rule. Make sure your blade is sharp. Don't try to cut through too many layers at once. Put even pressure with the fingertips of your hand pushing down in centre of the rule. Don't lay your hand flatly on the rule. Hope this works for you. If you need more assistance, you can buy a suction cup that is like a door handle, to put onto your rule and press down on that.
One other lady showed, in a recent post, how she uses clamps to hold the rule down.

You can also buy the gripper handles at Harbor Freight and Walgreen's for about $3.

I have tried the plastic dots and I didn't like them, just my opinion. I will try the sandpaper dots as so many have great things to say about them.

I have a ruler that has a "lip" on the end which attaches to my cutting board. It is great! Got it at Hancock Fabric.

I find cutting single layers more accurate than multiple ones. I prefer to cut with a 45 mm blade. I cut curves with a 28 or 18 mm blade.

If the table you are bearing down on has any give to it at all, it will affect your cuts.

Sorry if somebody else already offered this tidbit....I haven't read them all.

Another tip is to make sure your fabrics are starched well. It helps with the distortion.