I LOVE my Martelli Rotary cutter and their mats. The Cutter is ergonomic and blade has been used for a year (almost daily) and still isn't dull. Their mats NEVER warp and you can bend them and stand on them and they don't break (not that anyone does that, but they don't warp from heat or sun and don't seem to get threads caught it the mat like some other mats.

hi everyone, i hope someone can help me out there. i'm looking for long-arm quilting service to get a couple of quilts quilted. i also need the binding put on. i have bad arthritis in both hands with surgery on both and i just can't hand stitch a large quilt.would appreciate any help. thanks and everyone have a great week-end.
puglover1

[quote=Cathysews]Martelli is an Ergonomic cutter and it is supposed to be easier for Arthritics. I have a niece with MS who really loves it .. makes it much easier for her to cut.


I do love my Martelli rotary cutter! Yes, it's more comfortable to use than my Fiskara rotary cutter!

You can buy blades at Harbor Freight or any hardware store that carries carpet cutting blades. I paid $1.49 for 2 blades. They fit my bigger cutter[45].

Ahem, do I detect another gadget seeking behavior? LOL!

I use a Fiskars ergonomic rotary cutter. It works so well for my damaged thumb, that I have never tried another. (I cut a tendon in it as a kid.)

I love rulers. I am making a collection of just about every one I can find.

Gadgets can be costly. I sometimes start a "wish" list and if I can wait for when 'on sale" or can find a coupon for 40% off. Now through the holidays Hobby Lobby runs them regularly. And you can print them on line. Jo-Ann Fabrics do the same.

do u guys like the gingher rotary cutter better than the ergo cutter??

You can see the Martelli rotary cutter in a demo video here:
http://www.martellinotions.com/productvideos.asp
Just scroll down to the rotary cutter video. It keeps the wrist in a neutral position so is ergonomically more correct. A lot of people with arthritis, etc. find it easier to use. It does take a little getting used to, but I like it. You may be able to order it online cheaper on eBay.

Looked, Ebay has them at about $25, does that sound like a good price? for Martelli cutters

I have Olfas and love them, I also have the retractable Ablade one.

Check into Alto's Quick Cut (I think that is waht its called) They have a video on line. I am going to see it at the quilt show next week and plan on buying it if it's as good as they say (about $200.00). I love the AccuQuilt but it is so limited unless you have all the templates and that would run over $1000.00 and you still may not have what you need. I haven't heard anything on the Sissix yet. But doesn't that also need templates?t

I like this Alto cutter, wouldn't want to carry it to retreats and classes, then I think I'd like to try the Martelli cutter, and I'm still sold on anything Gingher, seems to be never ending sharp, scissors, rotary blades.
You do get what you pay for.

I also liked the Ausie handle for holding the rulers, also looks good, but again, hate to carry to classes.
I think I have a couple sets of things, some helpful at home, others convenient to take with to classes.

Does anyone use the purple handle gypsy handle on rulers? I have the tiny darker purple suction cup ones for the tiny rulers also. I too seem to collect lots of rulers. Figure if I find a pattern I want to start, maybe I'll have the ruler now for it... closest quilt shop is 40 miles away.

How do you 'baste' your quilt? Don't you love quilt terminolagy, with Thanksgiving so close..basting takes double meaning now.

They used a big one at the quilt shop I used to work at. I found myself taking it off when teaching a class because it seemed like it covered up the numbers that i needed to use.

Love the Olfa. But like the Fiskars and Clover also.

Hi.. I have a Kia cutter and love it. It stays closed until you press on it to cut and then immediately closes after you are no longer cutting with it. It can be used either right or left handed which makes it nice too.

i was talking about the gypsy handles

Dritz Kai rotary looks good..I should have that one for class, or the Olfa release handle. Both 45mm I could buy the Gingher blades to put into the release style handles.

That IS an option, 45mm blades fits each brand handle, so you get the option of what you like for a handle, but have the 'stay sharp' of the Gingher quality.
You get what you pay for, and by the time I paid for replacement blades, the Gingher was the better value lasting all year and I make a lot of quilts.
I do have a blade sharpener, but I don't think it gives me more than half the life of the blade back, not like a new sharp blade. If you find you have a nick, it's simply worth replacing the blade.
Gingher has one nice feature for blades, the replacement comes in a case you put the old blade in for disposal, no chance of accidently cutting yourself, or it cutting through a garbage bag.
I also have an old medicine bottle with child guard cap I put old sewing machine needles in or bent pins, so again, I don't have them polking through or stabbing me.

I wanted to share about some things I learned at a quilt retreat. Here is the link from this yrs Natl. Teacher: Sharon Shamber http://www.sharonschamber.com/shopping%20cart/Store.htm
Bought 21 DVDs & 13 patterns.

and next yrs Natl. Teacher Deb Karasik http://www.debkarasik.com/
I have her book & DVD ahead of time.

If you can go to local classes, that is wonderful.
If you can go to a State Quilt Show, usually full of venders, few hundred quilts on display & National Teachers along with local state Teachers, even a bigger bonus.

If you can go to a National Quilt Show, and the hundreds of quilts to drool over, dozens of venders, and if your lucky to get into a class with Natl. Teachers don't miss the chance.

This yr, I went to our State Guilt's State Quilt Show, 2 Ntl Teachers: Elsie Campbell & Frieda Anderson. Then our big Quilt Guild (covers 1/2 ND & eastern MT)Sharon Shamber.
And went to Sisters OR, Outdoor Quilt Show, no teachers.

Make sure you take a camera, most Natl & local teachers will allow photos, and make sure you take lots of notes.

Quilter's often "settle" for the lower end fabric, but have hundreds of yards in
their home stash. Don't settle for a lower end fabric for price, only to stock
pile it in your stash. Use up your stash, or donate it for charity quilts, or
sell it on ebay. Then buy quality fabric (no matter where, brand names that
"feel" firm, not flimsy, can't see hand through fabric when looking up at the
lights). Now, do a project and finish the project before starting the next
project.

Ok... we take classes, learn from our quilt guild, and attend retreats full of
classes, and end up with UFOs. Notice your calendar, the space between a class
or next event, use that time to finish these projects you've started in a class.
ALWAYS go home from a class or retreat, and work on your projects ASAP within a
few days that first week, before you forget what you've learned, and get
frustrated and it becomes a perminate UFO.

About Machines:
This tip is good if your thinking of investing in another machine. I personally have a Denim Pro & Audry for small machines I use for piecing. I have Ellegante II, embroidery machine usually humming along beside me, but it's my only machine that drops feed dogs, so I quilt on it too. All 3 are Baby Lock. Research, ask others personally don't rely on company printed statements from "customers". I did this, and found many who had Pfaff, Bernina & Baby Lock, said the BL was more user friendly. Then I did a consumer report, to find that BL I got more feet & hoops for about $5000 less than the other two brands with comparable same machines. Now I've never heard of "Juke" until this class, and this is what the Natl. Teacher said, which makes sense, I've been to classes watching other sm. machine vibrate/bounce so much it shakes the whole table for other quilters working too.

""Juke" is a work horse of a tiny machine, low cost, make sure feed dogs can drop, or if your using your Juke only for domestic machine quilting, have the feed dogs disengaged. Most small machines are not heavy enough, and they bounce, and often we complain about the tables in classes or our guild location. But a heavier machine will not bounce on any table." from Sharon Shambers class

I have a Husqvarna rotary cutter that I bought probably 15 years ago when I went to one of their classes with my sister who has 2 or 3 of their "whiz-bang" sewing/embroidery sewing machines. I just started using it and find that I like it as well as my Olfa cutters. It has a lock on it, but the blade retracts when not in use and it opens when you press down to start your cutting. I also found that it has 2 settings..1 for light cutting and 1 for heavy cutting. I have never seen another Husqvarna cutter, so don't know if they still make them or not.

Patsy; Think you have a treasure there, I've tried searching and can't find where they sell them any more.

That's kind of what I thought! I think my sister also bought one..I should talk her out of it! She is heavy into her embroidery machine but doesn't quilt so her arm might be twisted. By the way, she had an old Viking 120 that she bought at Goodwill for $15.00 and she gave it to me! It is what I take to my quilting classes. She's a keeper for sure.

Nancys Notions has a discount in their catalogue, and free shipping right now. I checked around and it was the best price, even less than from the mfgr. I waited for mine from April until September, but got an apology from Nancys and a certificate for $10 to be used on anything before 12/31. Just trying to figure out what.

This is true. I also checked this out on Snopes.

VERY IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ THIS.

Anyone using Internet mail such as Yahoo, Hotmail, AOL and so on: This information arrived this morning, direct from both Microsoft and Norton . Please send it to everybody you know who has Access to the Internet.
You may receive an apparently harmless e-mail titled Here you have it or Just for you. If you open either file, a message will appear on your screen saying: "It is too late now, your life is no longer beautiful...."

Subsequently you will LOSE EVERYTHING IN YOUR PC, and the person who originated it will gain access to your Name, e-mail and password. This is a new virus which started to circulate on Saturday afternoon. AOL has already confirmed the severity, and so far no anti virus software is capable of destroying it. The virus has been created by a hacker who calls himself 'life owner'.

PLEASE SEND A COPY OF THIS E-MAIL TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS, And ask them to PASS IT ON IMMEDIATELY!

THIS HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BY SNOPES.
http://www.snopes.com/computer/virus/hereyouhave.asp

I just looked at a few sites and also snopes and it says it is a hoax! There's a big red dot beside HOAX. I typed in life owner and a lot of different sites popped up.

I the rotary cutter that has a shape blade. I have all 3 sizes of Olfa and use the 45mm most. I also have I think it fiskers (gray and orange with ego handle). I use that a lot too.
You are not suppose to use your mat to measure your strip is they need to be acurate. I cut out a king size quilt using my mat to measure and it was a mess. If you need to cut a strip large than you 24" ruler, place your cut edge on the right (for righties) and then use your square up on the cut edge to measure the width of your strip. Put your 24" against the square-up and move square up away enough to cut the strip.
I have a shape cutter and would love it more if it went to 12 1/2". I know there is a bigger one but I don't own it. Elenor Burns (I think it is hers, she uses it) has one that only cuts 2 1/2" strips I would love to have one of those.

Before you buy a mat, think about what color you cut most and don't buy a mat that color. I have a blue mat that I never use because most of my fabric is blue and it make it hard to see the edge of your fabric. In my studio I have the big mat (36X60")from JoAnns that goes on craft table they sell. I bought a hollow core door and 4 adjustable legs from Ikea to make a cutting talbe. I added molding around the edge (sticking up just enough to hold mat in place). I bought a piece of hard wood that was 8" X36" and had a friend of mine router groves the length for all my rulers (or at least most). This is a one end the mat comes next and I still have a small area at the end without any mat that I can stack whatever.

I love my Olfa rotary cutter, as I can cut with either hand. Omni-Grid and Omni-Grip rulers too.

Patsy, sorry, when I clicked the link in this message, it comes up a green dot & truth??? That's why I posted it, as help warning people, not to be a haux. Sorry, I'm still confused...how I get a green dot, you get a red dot?

Susan49, thank you for the idea of the table. I have the fold down table from JoAnns, which I like just fine. What you talk about must be larger, I think I'd love the space to the side especially.
Then I use a simple acrylic desk file holder for my rotaries, 3-4 per file slot. I've seen the ones with the grooves you buy, which I'm assuming is what you had made, they look nice. Also the ones that mount on the wall, cutting mat can slide behind, threads on pegs to one side, slots to the other for rulers...this looks nice for the smaller rulers but larger ones I'm sure would be too big, except maybe instead of mats behind it, the larger rulers, dah...
But I very much like the idea of a larger table "space" I'll have to hit hubby up for this idea. Then I could get the iron cover for the JoAnns table to iron the 'big' yds of fabric or final pressing of finished larger quilts.
I'm having my father who does wood projects build the square iron board that fits over regular iron boards, bought that pattern through Nancy's Notions. Hate that point on the iron board for ironing even pre-washed fabrics.
But then it does come in handy for clothing..still iron some things. I really need to reorganize my sewing room to be more efficient, something I guess develops over time and "adding" gadgets and stash.
Again thank you, and sorry to Patsy> still confusing to me.

thanks! How do you get free shipping? I have the ruler in my cart but it says $6.99 shipping.

stevendebbie, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you by posting what I found. I just went back to snopes.com and typed in life owner and it was the first subject that came up, along with others, and I clicked on it and got the HOAX and red dot again. I'm confused too! What I read is that this was a hoax from a couple of years ago and it's been changed a bit and resurfaced. Go figure! Like my husband said, people that come up with things like that could probably make big bucks doing something productive instead of coming up with a virus that could ruin a lot of people.

There is a "slider" plastic with a needle hole, put this on your machine,
eliminates static, and she uses 100wt Silk thread (22-25 stitch/inch) to quilt.
3 strands of thread should float through the eye of your needle.
5 strands of thread lined up next to each other is the shortest stitch you
should use, and never more than 8 threads wide.

Also friction discs, place one in where your bobbin is, and controls static and jumping.
Both where available from Sharon Shamber.
I like & use both.
However, she also sells Quilt Halo, and encouraged using 2-3 halos balanced stacked together to create enough weight to control your free motion quilting on a domestic sewing machine (not long arm).
I've since found a couple tools that 'hold' the fabric better, have weight, and convenient handles to guild and also open one end to easily place around the needle. The Halo you have to work under the needle as it's a closed circle. I have 3 of these type items, and prefer the one's open end & handled.

I also prefer the gloves with rubberized nubs to hold fabric. I've tried the finger glue/sticky, don't like that your sticky until you wash. I've tried the rubber finger tips, but can't pick up pins with them. Gloves are easier to pull on /off.

SUPER find Never mark a quilt with chalk, these new Frixion pens work beautifully,
disappear completely with the iron. The pens are from 'Pilot', found at Office
Depot or Office Max or Staples. Red, Black, Blue. Chalk from pounce gets dust into your machine, requiring maintenance after a little use.
These Frixion pens where amazing

Martinelli 90 degree cutter. I once cut an over 2000 piece quilt for my mother in one night - no cramping. Love this cutter!

Other favorite "tool" is a battery operated mustache trimmer. Hold it upside down and run it along seams that need to be removed! Voila! Seconds, not minutes to remove seams.

Didn't know Gingher has a rotary cutter????? Where do you buy one?

Can you share more about your cutting shaver? I've got a lot of fuzz left over from cutting flannel. I can't figure out who to get it off.

Thanks

I bought a Gingher rotary cutter. I am not at all impressed with it.
I like my Olfas a lot better.

i got mine on ebay, still waiting for it to arrive = got the gingher rotary cutter plus gingher seam ripper for 25.00

I like the Olfa 60mm best. I have a 45mm, but keep having to recut over and over. Don't have that problem with the 60. Does anyone know where I might get a blade sharpener for the 60mm? The blades are so expensive.