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Rotary Cutter Fear
I have several pieces of material to start a quilt, but I'm afraid to lay out and cut with the cutter and ruining the material. I have read several articles how to layout material. Is there a book that will show exactly how to fold and lay out to get ready for the cut? It has been several years ago since I made a quilt and at that time it was cut piece by piece with scissors.
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The craftsy classes are good at helping with all aspects of quilting. Check out their site for the class that is closest to what you want. They often have sales too!!!
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Do you have a good size cutting mat? The larger the mat, the fewer the folds. I would look through youtube videos and see if there is one on folding and rotary cutting. I keep my fabric folded as it is on the bolt and then fold it once more. I bring the factory fold to the selvage edges and line them up. Lay a square (I use my 15 inch)or good size ruler on top of the fabric with the lines on the ruler along the folded edge. You want the ruler line against the fold first to prevent V shapes in the strips you are cutting off. Trim off the ragged edge first before cutting your first strip.
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Practice cutting on some scraps or old pillow cases or sheets. Rotary cutter is there to make your life easier not to complicate it more LOL. Just bite the bullet and go for it. What is the worst that can happen? If is only fabric. Just watch your fingers, rotary cutters are realllllly sharp. Good luck!
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You can always draw a cutting line and cut on the line. This will help you get over the fear of miscutting up your fabric. I have made many miscuts in my years of quilting. They are tossed in a scrap bin and used for something else. I will continue to make miscuts and you will too no matter how careful you are. It's part of the quilting life. :)
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I agree.........practice on your scraps or an old sheet but NOT on the good fabric until you feel at ease with the rulers and the cutter!! Also, get a lot of those sticky backed sandpaper dots to put all over your rulers so they do not slip on the fabric......nothing worse than a slippy ruler!! I only cut fabric 2 layers at a time....like it lays coming off the bolt. I find it is too easy to get the bends if I start folding and cutting 4 layers.
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Do you have a quilting buddy that likes to cut? This would be the perfect time to have her over for some personal help. I love to cut and am fast and accurate and I never mind helping out other quilters who are hesitant. I frequently trade cutting duties for attaching borders (which I do not like). Your local quilt group or LQS might also be able to help you get started.
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You Tube is your friend. That's how I learned.
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I would definitely take the others advice on practicing on scrap fabric first. Eleanor Burnes has free videos or as slicksister suggested: You Tube.
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Just take your time and make sure that the fabric edges are lined up - once you have gotten used to cutting with a ruler and rotary cutter you will never go back to scissors.
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