How about getting one of those goof up gloves and teaching him to use it? I saw that on Fons & Porter TV show. They alwasy wear the glove when cutting.

I think a 9 yr old with some supervision can do more than you think.

I've cut myself often with scissors. they are not fool proof.

My grandchildren wanted to quilt and I signed them up at a local quilt store. They would not allow the children to use the rotary cutters and I decided that was a good idea. It's too easy to 'jump' and cut yourself.

I think it depends on the child and their individual maturity level. That being said, I would perhaps instruct first, thoroughly going over the safety issues, make sure that he uses Klutz Glove from the very beginning so the safety habit developes from the very beginning, and only allow him to use it under your supervision until you are comfortable with his skill level. I think you should also allow him the experience of learning how to use sharp fabric scissors and the safety issues with them as well. Your child wants to learn. It's up to you to provide the best instruction that you can and to let them grow in confidence.

Have him learn "the old fashion way" first... with scissors and a fine marking pencil. Accurately cutting with scissors will go a long way in learning to cut accurately with a rotary cutter. Safety first is a must.
My dgd started sewing at 5 and she is 12 now and still does not use the rotary cutter.
The other thing is to purchase a clutze glove ... this is a chainmail glove that if the cutter slips and hits his hand, he won't get cut. Investment is about $30.

My dad always carried a pocketknife while a young boy and knew how to use it. He always allowed us to use tools, but with safety in mind. Don't be in a hurry or careless.

You can't believe how many children come to school and don't have any idea how to use scissors. Many third and fourth graders do not know their left hands from their right hands. Those things are not on the standardized tests by which the kids live now, and teachers desperate to teach to the test becasue they are "accountable" for the test results, just assume the kids' parents taught them at least that much. False assumption!

I am not for letting small children use rotary cutters, but please don't assume they know how to use scissors. froggyintexas

I would cut it for him with him observing and being trained in safety issues. I honestly think scissors would be a great teaching tool, however, could end up with wonky cuts.

I started sewing when I was 8 and had to cut my own pattens with scissors (for one reason no one had even heard or dreamed of rotary cutters, what is another story!)

I actually learned to sew on a Singer FW (and wish I had that machine today).

If he wants to do it all himself, why not let him pick our a jelly roll or charm pack at the store. That way it was HIS decision. I would supervise all sewing.

I also have the klutz glove for my grandchildren to use. My 14 yr old granddaughter know how to use the rotary cutter but know she has to wear the glove and have supervision but lets her do her whole project her self she also can run the long arm machine to quilt her quilts that she enters in show. 8 yr old grandson this summer got interested in sewing and cutting so I have a glove for him and let him try cutting on scraps to see how it worked. that satisfied him for now. 3 yr doesn't get to touch the cutter only blunt nose scissors and cuts threads for me.. I enjoy having them in my sewing room and it lets me sew while they are here and gets them involved.

Excellent "job" for the 3 year old.
My dgd was "homeschooled" when she was 3 and grandpa didn't have a clue as to her "school work" - letter recognition, counting, coloring.. so he had her cut out the coupons in the paper... she was a very skilled scissor user when she entered kindergarten. he also put her on the computer at that time too... ooops she clicked on something and we got a nasty computer virus... he then put limits on what she could click on ha ha...

I agree with supervised rotary cutting and possibly the "Klutz" glove if you can find one that fits.

shortly after my grandson turned 5, he announced to me, while i was sewing, that he wanted to learn to sew.

the first thing i did was unthread an older machine. i set it up on a table and showed him how the foot peddle worked to control the speed of the needle. i drew some lines on a piece of typing paper and gave it to him with the instructions that he needed to practice how to sew straight.

while he practiced I cut some 6 inch fabric squares from a couple of fabrics i had in my stash.
then i threaded my almost new Janome, put the foot peddle on a box so he could reach it, showed him how to get fabric in position, explained the presser foot and the buttons he would need to sew, and put it in the slow speed. i sat down beside him and let him go.
some of his first seams were wide but for the most part they were straight. he made a small lap quilt top by sewing the squares together,

well, we didn't stop there. he wanted to quilt it on my "big" machine. grandpa got two chairs and a sturdy board, set them in front of my gammil and my grandson quilted it. we took lots of pictures of that day. what a great time making a memory.

he doesn't want to sew and do nothing else, but when he wants to he knows how.
i am a retired school teacher --- if a child expresses an interest in learning how to do something--you must start right then. if you wait their interest may be turned away and sometimes they never get it back.

I agree with two factions here: (1) to get your son used to using a sewing machine, pinning, piecing, placement, values and color combinations, have him use leftover pre-cut strips and scraps PLUS precut pieces (precut by you) as needed. Get him hooked on the CRAFT first and work through the technical issues along the way

(2) I also recommend using a rotary cutter that automatically closes when you put it down. With my 6-year-old grandson, My hand is lightly on his as he cuts NLT 12" pieces of [whatever]. BUT MY GRANDSON, with things like this, is VERY focused, VERY safety conscious (thanks to his mom and dad) and DOES NOT FOOL AROUND when working in the sewing room. He does not fool around in his Daddy's Workshop, and he does not fool around in Granddaddy's workshop. My sewing room tools and machinery are no less dangerous and I also stressed it's a SEWING room, not a PLAY room.

(3) Between safety and technique lessons, be sure to allow a good amount of Design Board Play. My granddaughter (age 4) and grandson (age 6) have "designed" their last two quilts from blocks I've made. I do the work, they do the block arrangement - we work through balance, symmetry and math this way. When they were even younger, I let them arrange squares on the design board, not just to let them play and discover color, but to get a real personal feel for the energy of the/my sewing room; once they feel it, they get it and the respect it. I have never had a discipline problems with either or both of the kids in my sewing room.

depending on how attentive he is, I would let him. Does he pay attention to direction and is able to focus on what he's doing? If so, try teaching him the proper way to use a rotary cutter:
1. always wear a rotary glove (at least until he's an adult :))
2. the cutter must be in the CLOSED position except for when you are actively cutting. Investing in the self-closing cutter works great for this one.
3. Teach him hand placement on the cutter (the angle/pressure to use) and the hand placement on the ruler.
4. you may want to invest in the plastic finger guard that can go on rulers.
5. At his age he must be supervised at all times while using the rotary cutter.
6. if he fails to follow any of these rules, he loses the privilege to use the rotary cutter.

I agree!! :D

Ditto on this one.

My GD just turned 10 and I let her cut but while I am supervising her. I first do a couple to show her and than let her try it. She does a good job at it.

I think it depends on the maturity of the child. Perhaps let him practice on small squares and such and if he is responsible to listen to rules and abide by them he may be ok.

If you feel really uncomfortable than do it for him and let him learn by watching and perhaps let him try later on.

You know him and his level of maturity/responsibility better than anyone. Do you trust him with the rotary cutter? Is he likely to follow training and safety rules? Is he insisting on using it, and if so, why so adament?

If you're not comfortable with it, don't do it. Teach him the rudimentary skills of measuring and accuracy with scissors, and the rotary cutter can happen when it's time.

Wow -- here I am, the oddball again! I was baking bread when I was 10, I used a deep fryer about then, too. I was cutting wood when I was 7 -- my brother started before that. My brother had his first gun (not a bb gun either) when he was 6 and was helping dad in the garage about that time, too. I was putting the hooks on my own fishing pole when I was around 8. If you teach them RIGHT how to handle stuff, explain what can happen and watch them closely, then they'll be okay. kids today are protected so much they don't know how to act. JMHO

I let my 5 yr old GD guide the fabric on the sewing machine going very slowly. I do the foot pedal because she can't reach both at the same time. She helps with the laundry too. Last week her mother discovered that she washed a load of clothes by herself. I think we would all be amazed at what kids can do.

My 7-year-old friend wanted to make a quilt, and she ended up doing everything but the pressing and the binding. I cut the first strips and she decided that was something she could do. Which she did with very close supervision. She also quilted it on my long arm, also with very close supervision. She was a very mature 7-year-old, but with a lot of patience and attention, any child who shows interest and can follow direction carefully can learn to do just about anything, including the use of "dangerous" tools.

If you turn him loose witha rotary cutter be sure he has one of those gloves to wear that you can't cut thru. Otherwise I would stick to scissors.

My granddaughter made her first quilt this past summer but I cut the pieces. She thinks she is ready for a rotary cutter so, toward the end of the process, I put in an old blade and let her cut measured squares from paper. Since the paper isn't as likely to slip, it's a way for her to get used to the feel of the tool. We talked about how to keep fingers out of the way but even so, I think we'll wait until next summer (age 11) before I let her do any serious cutting. It depends to some extent on the child and how well they follow instructions.

I totally agree, I had a bunch of kids from Boys and Girls club making quilts for project Linus including my teenager. I had them wear klutz glove and also the cutting mat that lets you cut every 1/2 inch (can't remember the name) in the slots. Safety first. My first daughter was killed 15 years ago with a shotgun that was supposedly empty, so I would never, never, put a child in danger, however, they have to learn sometime, and who is better at teaching them safety but you.

From my recent cutting experience, I'm not even sure if I should be using a rotary cutter! How about some pinking shears with cutting lines that have been drawn out with a disappearing pen?

my gdaughter is 11 and i let her use one while i supervise. so far so good

ditto

So they can get a drivers license at age 16, but are not allowed to use a rotary cutter until they are 18. They can get a job that uses a box cutter at age 16............Hmm.
;-)

me too

I agree.

Obviously you have to use common sense and base your decision on what you know of your child. My nine-year-old daughter uses the rotary cutter, the iron, and her own sewing machine all by herself- while I supervise, and watch to make sure that younger siblings aren't going to interfere.

No rotary cutter for my kids. I have to be extra careful myself. I would either give him precut or let him cut them out with sissors. After all, that is part of it.

I let my nine year old DGD sew on my machine and she's been bugging me to let her use the rotary cutter. The ladies at LQS told me absolute not and I think I agree with them.

If he is truly interested, I would let him learn all he can. Be overly cautious and stand right there while he is cutting, but please don't take the pleasure of learning something new away because you are afraid. He must not be. And maybe he won't enjoy it after all

I'm teaching my grdaughters to sew, they are 7 & 10. I let the iron, but not allowed to use the rotary cutter yet.
The older girl is using a Janome Jem and her sister, a Singer 99k
hand crank.

I've noticed that some children seem to lose every bit of common sense they had when small as soon as hormones start to appear. Sibling fights, flailing hands & tears, stomping feet & cuss words. That behavior was what kept my rotary cutter in my hands.

DGDs had great presence of mind when home alone with dog who had seizures. I still wouldn't take the chance of one of them having a hissyfit with a rotary cutter in her hand. It simply wasn't worth. Now they are both old enough to have jobs and can buy their own.

buy one of the metal mitts and let him cut. The fewer roadblocks you put in his way, the more likely he'll continue

Do you let him cut his own meat? If so, how is the rotary cutter any more dangerous. Kitchen knives are much more dangerous than a rotary cutter, yet we teach children to use those from a young age. Teach him to be careful, the same way you did when teaching him to use a steak knife.

i would do it for them that young and when i would let them start would get the protective gloves they have to protect their hand.

My son at 18 used my rotary cutter on my ironing board cover. He thought it was a pizza cutter - like that makes a difference! :thumbdown:
I think it is really up to their maturity. Obviously my son and his friend were not mature enough to use it. I think when he saw me slice the tip of my finger off was his wake up call. He now is very careful and does not use it on my ironing board or pizza.. 8-)