I've also found that the surface you're cutting on makes a difference. When I don't feel like bringing my cutting table out, I put a board on my ironing board then the cutting mat. It doesn't seem to work as well even if I'm using a new blade. You'd think I'd learn!

Do you realize that Gingher cutters are either right handed or left handed? Are you sure you have the right one for you? I love the Gingher cutter!

Give the blade a shot of machine oil. My cutter also skips when my mat is badly worn. The blade cannot ride on smooth surface when the mat has worn lines. Check your mat. It could be the problem. S

Occasionally one gets a bad blade that skips one or two threads - even fresh out of the package.

Very annoying. (Even an Olfa blade can be a dud!)

Most likely you have hit a pin or something, just change the blade. Make sure you have only one blade in the cutter, I can't tell you how many times I have seen ladies put in 2. that solves the problem 99.9% of the time.

Being that it is a new blade, check to make sure that there is only ONE blade in. sometimes the oil on the new blades make it hard to see that it is attached to another one. also you can buy a glove that is made for using the rotary cutter.. good luck.

Make sure you have a good ruler.

I found I had problems with mine when I tried to do my cutting sitting down.

Sounds like you are so afraid of cutting yourself with the rotary cutter that you aren't pushing down hard enough. I get that...sliced myself before!!! I've tried several other ruler holders that get my hand off the ruler, but found them to be uncomfortable and didn't really work for me. I just saw this in an online magazine this morning and I'm going to save up for it - looks awesome...keeping fingers away from blades AND keeps your ruler from slipping. Check it out:

http://www.keepquilting.com.au/index...od&productId=2

As many others have mentioned, a new blade is a good idea too!!!

Not affiliated, just like the way it looks like it works in the video!!

i would say put in a new blade, but with reading your dilema again, i would say you are afraid to put too much pressure, in fear of cutting yourself....so, go get a 'cutting glove' which will protect your hand from getting cut, and put more pressure on the cutter....and like everything else in quilting, practice will make you better....good luck

Brand new Gingher rotaty cutter....way too expensive to have problems right out of the package...skipped everytime I tried to cut...bad blade. It had a chip out of it....very frustrating. Check your blade for nick(s), also check the area between the blade and the handle where it is attached with the screw. Sometimes lint or debris gets in that area. If you take it apart, turn your blade around and put the screw back in and test it to see if it still skips.
Sorry you are having this trouble. We have all been there.
D in TX

New blade, and check to make sure you don't have TWO blades in there. I did that and got skips.

I received a new rotary cutter in my Christmas stocking last Christmas. It was an EXPENSIVE one. I couldn't wait to use it. When I finally got a chance to use it I was so disgusted with it, I nearly returned it to the LQS that it came from. Before I did, I checked the blade that was in it when I opened it. I could not believe what a piece of garbage they put in that expensive new cutter. Changed the blade and all is well. I really believe that some rotary cutter manufacturers are putting junk blades in new cutters in order to assure that they get a blade sale too. Sign of the times I'm afraid, sigh.

Just my humble opinion --- try holding the cutter a little higher so that the angle of the cutter to the fabric is a little more defined. Your cutter will skip if your hand is too close to the mat when you cut because it is harder to control the pressure. Be sure to apply steady, firm, consistant pressure as you cut. Rotary cutting takes a bit of practice to get used to.

I had this problem for a long time and finally discovered that I needed to hold the cutter a little differently. Experiment with different levels of pressure and tilt it more sharply and see if that helps.

I would first put a new blade in. I just tried one of the Harbor Freight blades and am not impressed - they skipped threads right out of the package. Tried the second one in the package and it did the same thing. Also, sometimes your cutting mat can get grooves in it and that makes the blade not as effective. If you are afraid of cutting yourself, you could buy one of those special gloves you wear on the hand that holds down the ruler. I believe Fons and Porter sells one on their website. Hope this helps!

I don't know if anyone posted this already (or not), but I accidently put 2 blades on my cutter once and it wouldn't cut. Check & see if you may have 2 blades attached instead of 1!!!

Also -- how smooth (no cuts or grooves) is your mat?? a cut in the may will cause a skip.
Mim

You might need to put just a "little" more pressure while cutting. This happened to me when my hand was sore.
IdahoSandy

Saw a young man at a quilt show giving tips on cutting... he said to make sure you hold your hand straight up... that if you tilt it just the slightest to the right your cut will not be straight and you can skip... when I concentrate on holding my hand straight.. it helps... also a sharp blade is necessary... good luck.. just keep practicing..

had the same problem when i started using one. not putting enough pressure on it as u cut. just keep trying till u get the hang of it

a new blade will help and if you are still uncertain, get yourself a pair of gloves made for cutting.

It sounds like you are easing up on the cutter when it nears your hand so you won't cut yourself. Get a glove to protect your hand and you will beable to concentrate on cutting fabric and not worry about cutting your hand.
Happy quilting!

I know it shouldn't matter, but I have taken the blade off and turned it around, inside out. It worked better. Probably had a nick I guess.
I too have had more than one blade loaded. When I take it off and turn it I can see how many blades are on.
I didn't hold the cutter properly at first. Seems the first finger should be extended. Someone else can probably explain better.

If you're using those inexpensive, generic blades, that could difinitely be the problem. I know that a lot of people are purchasing blades from discount retailers. First of all, they're supposively designed for cutting carpets. There's absolutely no quality control, most of them are made out of recycled steel, they cut unevenly, and they will eventually destroy your expensive mats.

Happy Quilting,

Scissorman

I use a lot of pressure when I cut, probably more than I need to BUT it works for me. Also I stand up so I lean directly over the fabric so I can get a lot of pressure on the ruler (just added sandpaper grips to it, who knew how much difference that would make????) and I cut quickly. Again, I've been using a rotary cutter since they originally hit the market and I know what works for me. You may have to get some inexpensive fabric like a flat sheet from a thrift store or whatever, and just practice cutting until you get comfortable.

Sounds like you have a nick in your blade.

Mine was skipping, and found out I had two blades in, instead of one!!duh!

Since you said that you were so afraid that you were going to cut yourself, could the pressure on the cutter be changing due to you changing it for fear of cutting yourself.

I have poor vision and I was always afraid of cutting myself, so I bought one of those handles with the the suction cups to hold the ruler on the material while my fingers stayed way away from it. It is great and I no longer am nervous when cutting. I paid about $16 for mine but I saw them at Menards the other day for about $6 or 8 dollars.

Even new blades can and do have nicks that you can't see, so don't be too quick to think you are doing something wrong. You are right to be careful. The blades are sharp, but not really any sharper than a good scissor blade. froggyintexas

how old is your matt. they get worn out too

Yes, it's called a Klutz glove. It is also available through Fons and Porter.

Don't laugh but I've see folks use the rotary blade on the outside facing away from the edge of the ruler instead of being directly next to the ruler.

Also cut away from your body, not toward.

Cut about 8", stop without lifting blade, let your hand holding the ruler 'crawl' up a few inches, then cut some more. It's hard to describe without showing you but you need to shift your weight on the ruler as well as the cutter.

If you are afraid of cutting yourself, try using the Gypsy Gripper. They have 3 sizes that I know of - regular, medium and mini.

Definitely sounds like a chipped blade. Sometimes it's so small you can hardly see it. Hope this helps.

Check your mat!!! I've been having a lot of trouble and thought it was the blade. The other day I told myself I was going to figure out what the real problem was. So I started watching where it was skipping. Bingo!! Anywhere thatthe mat was grooved, the threads would be pushed down into the groove and the blade would not cut when it crossed the groove. So I got out my new mat and now hardly any skipping. Good luck. Hugs, Sharon

Are you sure you just have one blade in the cutter??? Mine would skip and figured out I had two blades. They tend to stick together with the oil that is on them. No problem after removing one blade :oops: :oops: :oops:

I have had that problem with also the cutting mat is not
flat, check that out also.

I had a new, out of the pkg. name brand rotary with blade to skip.
It did the same thing to me...made me wait a very long time to ever start doing my quilts!!!!
When I finally broke down and bought a new one...world of difference and the "phobia" was vanished! ;-)

If your afraid of cutting yourself you can buy gloves that shield your fingers. Can't think of the brand, but know they are available.
I'd try a new blade. I have even had a new blade that had a nick in it, so try the new blade.

[quote=Farm Quilter]Sounds like you are so afraid of cutting yourself with the rotary cutter that you aren't pushing down hard enough. I get that...sliced myself before!!! I've tried several other ruler holders that get my hand off the ruler, but found them to be uncomfortable and didn't really work for me. I just saw this in an online magazine this morning and I'm going to save up for it - looks awesome...keeping fingers away from blades AND keeps your ruler from slipping. Check it out:

http://www.keepquilting.com.au/index...od&productId=2

As many others have mentioned, a new blade is a good idea too!!!

Not affiliated, just like the way it looks like it works in the video!![/quot

looks like something that would come in handy many times. I too will be saving up to purchase one.