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.

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!!!
www.craftsy.com

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!

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. :)

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.

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.

You Tube is your friend. That's how I learned.

I would definitely take the others advice on practicing on scrap fabric first. Eleanor Burnes has free videos or as slicksister suggested: You Tube.

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.

One of the problems I had when starting (and still do at times) is the ruler slipping. Those sandpaper dots help with that. Also, most of the tutes will give suggestions on how to hold the ruler so it doesn't slip. I've seen several suggestions so you just need to try them and see what works for you. As others have said, practice on old sheets or something similar. Then check to see if your cuts are straight and the strips are uniform width.

Great tips! My problem is same as the quiltsRfun's problem - rulers slipping or not staying in place, especially the long ones. Large clamps found in hardware stores, etc. are great in keepin the ruler in place. I usually put one at the end of the ruler and place my hand further up the ruler before using the rotary cutter. Works great for me.

Creative Grids rulers don't slip, they have grippers built in to the backs of them. I agree about the large cutting mat. Your cuts will be most accurate if you fold only along the original fold.

rotary cutting basics
 

If you can't find the sandpaper dots, I made my own once.....I cut squares of rough sandpaper that were about 1" square and then rubber-cemented them to the bottom of my big clear ruler. They work great and if you ever want to take them off, just do, and then rubb the rubber cement off with your finger. (More squares or dots are better than less, BTW!) I cut up to 8 layers at a time but I'm pretty experienced at this.

The article from the Quilting Board this week is on getting started and how to fold the fabric, etc. Can you find it? Of course, it isn't like watching a tutorial but it's a good one.

The best thing that ever happened to my world of quilting is that funny looking tool with suction cups on each end and a holding thingy in between (two cups upside down with the suction underneath, I can't remember the name of them and my sewing room is way outside and too cold to go find it right now); I use it for everything I cut out now. I got it at a booth in the last Paducah show I went to. I think I have even seen them at Jo Ann's.....

The absolute most important thing about using rotary cutters is SAFETY! The first thing I insist that my students form as a habit is to never ever lay that cutter down until you know that the blade is closed. And, if you feel unsure about your strokes, I would recommend a safety glove (a la Fons and Porter). Another good safety device is a ruler handle (attaches via suction cups) or a guard.

These devices are also available at hardware stores under the disguise of portable shower handles (at a much less expensive cost, too). Watch the Harbor Freight ads for a variety of sizes of suction cup handles.

I have never been able to find a product to keep my ruler from slipping. I've tried sand paper (pulls the fabric if I'm not doing it perfectly), strips of colorless tape didn't do a thing, those soft round circles you put under vases so they won't scratch furniture helped a little, but wore out after a time.

My husband was the one who freaked out about the rotary cutter (which I couldn't do w/o!). He bought me a long plastic wedge (looks like those things they put on highways to keep oposing traffic from crossing over, but only an inch or so high). These wedges have adhesive already on them and you take off the protective film and place it down onto your 6x24" ruler. If your rotary were to "jump" it would hit this wedge. You can get these anywhere that they sell quilting supplies.

Another thing he got me was "that funny looking tool with suction cups on each end and a holding thingy in between" mentioned above. It doesn't have any ruler etched on it, but I saw a man demonstrating it at a quilt show and he simply used the regular ruler to mark the cutting line (on the right side for right handers) and put this straight edge up against it on the left side, removed the ruler and sliced! This last gadget has a very high handle and nothing can slip as long as you press down on it.

Also, getting a large self-healing mat is a must in my book, too! Have fun.

Also, if you are going to cut strips, get a strip cutter mat. You merely place the blade in a slot and run it down the fabric and you have an instant strip without getting near the fabric with your fingers. Do be careful and ALWAYS close the cutter after EVERY cut. Never lay it down without closing the blade. (I used to charge my beginning students 50 cents every time I caught them leaving their blades open. They learned fast.)

If you can take a basic rotary cutting class from your local quilt shop, that would be very beneficial. I had been cutting with a rotary over three years and still got tips from the class. It was worth it for me.

You are right to be cautious about cutting...the suggestion of practicing on something like an old sheet is a great one...practice on that until you are comfortable with the cutter and rulers, folding fabric etc.

Another suggestion would be going into a quilt store and asking for a demo...or to take a beginner class.

I remember how scared I was of my rotary cutter when I first got it...back when they first came out....no one I knew had one to show me how to use it. It sat in a drawer for months until I finally got brave enough to take it out and try it. It is certainly a tool that has revolutionized the quilting world!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pETsJf2nNQE

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-...rotary-cutter/

Rotary cutters and mats are wonderful. So much faster and straighter than scissors. I still love scissors for cutting out curved clothing patterns, but for quilting I use the rotarys... Missouri Star Quilt Company has tons of videos on quilting shortcuts and cute projects, and you will see her use rotary cutters exclusively. Watch some of those and it will boost your confidence.

You asked if there is a book that gives good rotary cutting instructions. I used Better Homes & Gardens' Complete Guide to Quilting to teach myself how to use the cutter. It even gives left hand instructions. All with illustrations, of course.

I now keep a roll of double sided tape in my notions box to put on rulers and templates for slipping.

Good Luck!!

There is no rule that says you MUST cut more than one layer at a time.

If you are cautious - it might take a bit longer to cut only one or two layers at a time, but it really is okay to do that.

Two things I would recommend. I have four different quilting rulers and the best one is the Omnigrip, not Omnigrid, but Omnigrip. It really doesn't slip and buying the rotary blade sharpener is a good investment.

You need to make a lap quilt or something small with some older fabric and when you get braver use the rotary to make a larger something, and braver, braver and before you know it, you are on the march. LOL

I, like you, was worried about using the rotary cutter, and I avoided it at first....having my sister cut my fabric for me. I got braver, bit by bit, and realized it just took practice. What also helped me is the June Taylor Shape Cutter, which cuts strips that are straight...or at least mine were...even when I was a beginner. I couldn't cut out fabric for a quilt without it. It is so handy for more than strips. For example, cutting four inch squares is easy....cut a four inch strip..or three of them at once, and then turn the ruler and cut four inches again.

At any rate, if I can get comfortable with a rotary cutter, you can. (and I have no eyesight in one eye....) I have been quilting for a little over 3 years.

Good luck. With a little experience, you will become confident. You can do this.

Dina

Leah Day has a tutorial on her sight that shows you how to straighten the folded fabric for cutting so that you are on grain when you make that first cut. I think you can find her by typing Leahday.com.

Invest in the 24" TruCut ruler and their ergonomic rotary cutter for your major strip cuts. The cutter rides on a lip and can't wobble around. http://www.graceframe.com/site/rotarycutting Find a cutting buddy. DH and I do all our cutting together we double check measurements and each holds one end of the ruler. I keep my fingers on the far end of the ruler (out of the way) and he runs the cutter!

shelbie i wished you lived closer to me, im in alberta, i would love to have you cut for me. lol i too am a new quilter and i hate cutting. yesterday i am at a quilt class and we are making wonky trees and i am supposed to cut the blocks mirror image of one another, but when you don't know the terminology and the instructor just keeps going guess what i ruined about 30 8" blocks. and her solution oh just use them like that and fussy cut you will loose some fabric but thats ok. well me being like i am i had to re-cut them. i figure i may as well learn how to do it right if i am going to learn how to do it. to me the instructor seemed to gravitate to the people she knew and the others just didn't get the attention they needed. oh well i am stuck now at home with a bunch of blocks made and not sure where or what to do with them as i didn't get the instructions required to complete the project and i am not comfortable asking what the next steps are to complete it are as people tend to look at you like you have 2 heads because you can't follow the instructions. but unfortunately i was re cutting blocks when others were learning the process so i was left out of the step by step stage. sorry for venting but after spending $100 on fabric and 6 hours in class i am no farther ahead and feeling frustrated. so that is my pity party for the week have a great one and thanks for listening.

Does the pattern have a name? Maybe someone here can walk you through the rest of it...or maybe you can take a picture of what you have and someone might have a solution of what to do with the blocks.

Dina

I still only cut two layers at once because my wrist are not strong and you have to press and line up to many thickness. Use old sheet or something like every one is telling you. Hope you get it done and you will be on your way.

wow thank you so much that sounds just like me. show me once im good forever explain it to me and i have to ask a dozen times did you mean this or that. glad to know i am not alone. no one has ever said they have the same issue as i do before. i drive my husband crazy with questions. so thank you very much makes me feel alot better. have a great day i may have to write you again for a boost. lol

hi dina, its called wonky trees i will send you a copy of the pattern and explain to you where i am at and if i have trouble maybe we can go from there if you don't mind. that would be a great help to have a sounding board if i run into trouble, or should i say when. lol i am technically working on a couple of small quilts for my grandchildren right now and they are my first that i have attempted on my own but i still have had a great deal of help from a lady here on placement and things. although i don't want to wear out my welcome so to say by bothering her with another project when i still haven't finished those. thank you for your help so far i really appreciate you just listening. take care rachelle