Rotary tricks?
 

I noticed that my strip cutting tends to go off track. No matter how much I try, the ruler will move the slightest or I’m so afraid of moving the ruler that I stray away from it. I try to use major muscles and push the ruler down as much as I can. When I watch people on YouTube, they make it look so effortless. Is there a secret to using the rotary cutter that I don’t know about?

Thanks for any help.

Donna Jordan on Jordan Fabrics uses a 5 pound weight on the end of her 6 inch by 24 inch ruler. You might try using a heavy object at the top of your ruler if you don't own a 5 pound weight. Watch one of the Jordon Fabrics tutorials on YouTube to view Donna cutting with her 5 pound weight.

I had that very same issue until I purchased a Quilter’s Select 6x24 ruler and haven’t had an issue since. They work great. I liked it so much I bought the 6x12 and a square one. Sharon

I agree. These are the best rulers I have used. Zero movement unless you pick it up to adjust. You can not push it around.

If you’re going to cut with only one fold I second the idea of using a weight on the far end. I also like to double fold my fabric and use a shorter ruler. There is some excellent advise from Prism99 on this thread about double folding.

https://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f...r-t264611.html

I use Quilter's Select rulers, and I also use my hand to stabilize the ruler. I put my thumb and my pinkie at the left edge of the ruler, on the fabric. I splay the other three fingers on the ruler. I cut, moving away from my body, only until the rotary cutter reaches the highest point of my hand, meaning the farthest away from me. I don't ever go farther "north" than my hand. I stop, freeze the cutter - meaning don't lift it, don't move it, freeze it - and walk my hand, itsy-bitsy spider style, up the ruler. Stabilize the ruler with thumb and pinkie again, and repeat.

I have the 24in Slidelock ruler guide - it seems to work as advertised, once I learned it just sits on top of the ruler and not up against the edge of the ruler. I also use the June Taylor Shape cutter. You just have to fold the fabric so it fits - if you cut width of fabric it would be fold into 4ths so you are cutting 11 inch lengths, at least on the one I have. There are other larger ones, not sure of their size. But my favorite is using the strip dies for with my Accuquilt GO.

All the hints you have received are great.....a good ruler that doesn't slide on the fabric, a weight to hold down the end if you are using a long ruler, keeping part of your hand on the fabric and part on the ruler to hold it steady. But the best thing that helped me with the issues you are having, was to slow down! Those people on the you tube videos just place their ruler, put that cutter in place, and zoom off. Zip zip zip and they are done! You don't have to do it that way. Just slow down a bit, press firmly but not so much that it won't move with the cutter, and go only as far as your arm will go comfortably. Once I slowed down a bit, my ruler didn't slide and I didn't get away from the edge of the ruler. I focused on what I was doing and felt safer and more in control of the rotary. I also fold my fabric and use my 6x12 Creative Grids ruler most of the time.
Good luck! And remember, you will get better with practice.

I purchased an oowhee slip free ruler at a quilt show and have been very happy with it. When strip cutting, I also add the Donna Jordan idea, and place a 5 lb weight on my farthest end of my 24" ruler, I find this too helps alot.

When I have to do long cuts, I use a 5 lb weight on the end of my ruler, and for shorter cuts, I use my Slidelock ruler. Between the two of these things, I am much better at my cutting. Oh yeah, and slowing down also helped.

I’ll take a look at weights and rulers. I forgot to mention that I’m using Omnigrip. I thought this ruler was a good one. It has texture on the back that’s probably supposed to prevent slipping. I’m also wondering if it’s my form- my wrists aren’t straight or I’m not positioned in front of the board at the correct angle. Thanks for the help. I’m off to the kitchen to shop for rulers and weights.

Thank you. I do try to go slow. Sometimes I’ll reposition my ruler hand half way across.

All wonderful suggestions and don’t forget to change the blade on your cutter on a regular basis as well! A sharp blade will cut much better than a dull one.

You can add grip dots or sand paper dots to the back of the ruler. These also help with slipping issues. I also sub-cut yardage pieces into smaller pieces. If I need 4 quantity of 2 inch strips, I will cut a piece 9 across the WOF. Then cut the 9 inch piece into the strips.

The other suggestion is to make sure the rotary cutter fits your hand. Some may be too big to have proper control. You can also try a smaller even 28mm cutter. A friend uses one for cutting. Personally, I like the 60mm cutters.

This is one of my favorite tutorials...ever!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfvKE0Y6npk

I do a combination of what Peckish and Rhoda K do. I have rubber dots that I put on the 4 corners of my rulers. Picked up the latest batch in Walmart in the hardware section. They are a little thicker than the ones I had originally purchased at my sewing machine shop and JAF but these work just as well.

I can add one other thing.... use a rotary blade. It should not take extraordinary pressure to cut unless you are cutting more than about 4 layers.

This is how I too solved that delima. The Quilter Select rulers are the best on the market but worth their weight in gold when cutting strip and holding onto the fabrics. This was the easiest solution to an ongoing problem

One important thing I found in my case (when I thought my cutter was dull) is to make sure I am "pushing" the cutter straight out from my shoulder. I make sure not to pull my hand toward the left or the right for the cut. Huge difference when I though the blade was dull.

Game Changer
 

I just learned this a few months ago when I discovered Jordan Fabrics on utube...wow what a game changer for me especially cutting anything longer then a foot.
Great reminder about a dull blade, I am so stubborn about changing blades but what a huge difference once I break down and just do it.

I have the 24in Slidelock ruler guide - it seems to work as advertised, once I learned it just sits on top of the ruler and not up against the edge of the ruler.


I won't make straight cuts without the Quilter's Slidelock. I have the long and short sizes. The ruler will not move when the Slidelock is placed on it and you will never have to worry about cutting your fingers. I bought mine before it became the Quilter's Slidelock, it was called Rule Steady from Australia. No one here ever heard of it then and some even gasped at the price. But me being me I got it, used it and never looked back. I have since bought the Quilter's Slidelock ones, same thing but sold in America.
Also for basic rulers you will love Quilter's Select rulers. They do stay in place with just a little pressure.

I have the slide lock rulers that grip the fabric and have a handle on the top. The handle really help with not cutting your fingers. You also want to make sure your blade is not dull .

You can use a slide lock on top of your ruler. Holds it down a lot better. It's nice to have bothe sizes

Have you tried using non-slip disks on the bottom of the ruler? They keep my longarm rulers from sliding. They're not expensive and are available on Amazon:


https://www.amazon.com/BBTO-Adhesive...-crafts&sr=1-2

Another vote for Quilters Select rulers. They are amazing. No sliding at all. So worth the investment!

This is the weight I use...works great!!

https://www.walmart.com/ip/ProForm-P...Shell/27407260

I have all of the rulers and gadgets mentioned above and have found them all to be helpful, but the best thing that I did was purchase a roll of anti-slip stair tread tape at the hardware store. I applied narrow, short strips to the back of my rulers. I cut pieces about 1/4" wide and 2-3" long and space them out along the edges, top, bottom, and, if needed, the center area of my rulers and templates. No matter where I place my hands, there is a gripper close by and my ruler never moves, no matter how many layers I am cutting. A small roll will do many rulers and is much cheaper than the thin specialty dots sold at the quilt shops.

One more little tip. Make sure the blade is straight up against the ruler and not on an angle. Please consider a cut glove when cutting.

Most of my advice is already in the thread from other people. The one tip I'll add is the way you hold your rotary cutter. If I extend my index finger along the top of the cutter, my cuts are much less likely to stray from the ruler. I do this with all styles of rotary cutter.

You might also want to try a different style of cutter handle. Lots of people swear by Olfa, but I don't like them at all. My favourites are Martelli and Kai. Everyone is different, so it's good to play around and find out what works for you.

I was taught to put my hand down so that the pinkie and ring finger are off the ruler and on the fabric so the ruler can push against the ring finger instead of just trying to push it down on the fabric--especially on those long rulers where just pushing down will make it "spin" some. And to "walk" my fingers up on the 24" ruler as I cut. Works pretty well.

a rotary cutter pushes the fabric ahead of itself when cutting. Always use the smallest rotary that will do the job. I use size 18mm for double layer of long cuts. It does make a difference.

1. Do hold the cutter straight up, if we aren’t conscious of that, it could be held at an angle & cause problem.
2. Quilters Select products are “the best.”
3. Found by making 2 cuts - from center to the top, then from center to bottom isn’t a bad plan.

I know it sounds weird but it works for me. Cut along the ruler not pushing against the ruler. Think of the ruler as a guide. Yes the blade runs against the ruler, but it doesn't push the ruler. Don't try to get that blade under it. It also helps to walk your positioning hand up the ruler, don't try to pin it down in one spot, it pivots, everytime.

I have a Creative Grids 6 1/2 x 24 Ruler and I like it very much. It has sticky things on the back which holds it in place while I am cutting long strips from my fabric. I see plenty of people mention Quilters Select rulers. Are they the same as Creative Grids? I also bought a package of True Grips at Hobby Lobby and put them on my 2 1/2 x 18 ruler. Worked out very well. I'm in the process of putting them on all my rulers that I use often.

Quilter's Select have a thin transparent type texture coating on the back. Somehow my small square one got in the washer. A warm wash with Tide rubbing against the clothes didn't take harm the coating at all. I let it air dry and good a new. You can buy Ordif grippy non slip ruler spray and it works great for non slip rulers. I use that on all my non Quilter's Select ones.

I got the name wrong on the spray. It's Odif Grippy Non Slip Ruler Spray. I got mine at Walmart.

You can also use basting spray on the back of your rulers, it's very effective and you can still see through the ruler. It comes off with alcohol.

You can also use old fashion Rubber Cement - a light coat on the bottom near your cutting edge is clear and will not allow the ruler to slip. Learned this trick at a long arm class. For my longarm rulers I coat the entire bottom but for my cutting rulers I just put it in a few spots. Wen it looks yucky, it peals off easily ready for some fresh rubber cement.

Thanks for all the tips!!!

I’m going to have to go through some trial and error here and I’m glad to know I’m not the only one.

You've already gotten a lot of great suggestions and I've tried most of them, but I want to throw one more out there. Using a hand weight on my ruler was a game changer for me, but my best go-to non-slip trick comes from Bonnie Hunter - I use NexCare Transpore transparent surgical tape on the back of all of my rulers and templates. It works great, you can see through it, and it's easy to remove.