Simplicity rotary cutting machine--trick for strip cutting
 

I have had the deluxe Simplicity rotary cutting machine for awhile now, but hadn't gotten around to using it.
I got it out this morning to cut some strips for a quilt I am making and was sorely disappointed. Then I went to this board and searched for comments on this machine and everything I was experiencing was confirmed. I could not get it to feed the fabric completely straight and accurately (even after using spray starch). However, I noticed that paper would feed through the machine with good accuracy, since it is stiffer than fabric. I decided to try ironing freezer paper onto the back of my fabric and feeding it through the machine. Voila! It worked wonderfully! I think it helped also that I had a inch or so of paper at the beginning and at the end (beyond the fabric) so it had an easier start with just the paper. I realize that the freezer paper will add some to the cost of the project, but now I can use the machine for cutting strips for quilting (at least until something better comes my way). I would not recommend anyone getting this machine for the purpose of cutting strips for quilting but, for anyone else who already has this machine, I hope this will help them get some use out of it.

Thank you for the tip! I have had this machine for quite a while and just did not like the results at all. I put it away and purchased the go cutter and just love it. Now waiting on my studio cutter which my husband ordered for me this weekend. He is so good to me he felt like I needed the larger cutter ,so now I guess I will have the go and studio. Thank goodness they now have adapters so the go dies will work with the studio! I will give this a try with my Simplicity cutter it seemed like such a same not to be able to use it at all.

Thank you for sharing your tip with us :) :) :)

I got one as a gift when they first came out. I was never able to get the strips to cut straight to use in a quilt. I used it once to cut strips for a rag rug and then it sat on a shelf for almost 2 years. I sold it to a lady only after I thoroughly explained my displeasure with it. She still wanted it so I got a little cash and an open area on my shelf!

I use it for strip cutting for fabric crochet, braided rugs and it's great for cutting strips to cover the rope to make fabric bowls. It isn't for perfect strip cutting, not for me anyway.

I also purchased this machine, was so excited to not be wasteing any more money on wonky strips. Well didn't waste money on wonky strips just wasted money on the machine. I love my June Tailor rulers. I have put this machine away. Thanks for the tip maybe sometime in the future I will take it out and try what you suggested. BrendaK

that's a great tip. thanks for sharing