Those Pesky Little Details
you know the ones ...
most often overlooked ... cause problems, consternation and total confusion ... until it finally dawns on you ... i was getting weird cuts using my rotating cutting mat. a bit wavy on the edges. nothing that couldn't be hidden once sewn, but definitely not right. i tried all sorts of things to solve the problem. scrubbed it clean, clean, clean. changed blades. modified the surface i had the mat laying on. swinging a dead chicken around my head, counter-clockwise, while hopping on one foot. then it finally dawned on me to take the top mat off ... who knew that minuscule little dust bunnies and threads collected between the two layers of a rotating mat? i assume most or all of you knew. but it never occurred to me that such a thing might happen. scrubbed both layers clean on both sides. problem solved - at last. i really need an emoticon that smacks itself on the head! https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/cool.png |
Except for the chicken part, I prefer a good dance on top of the mats, I think we have all been at this strange place if we have flipped at least on mat. You have given me my laugh for the morning. Thanks bunches. Now do I have to find a loose chicken around here?
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Originally Posted by juliasb
(Post 8397660)
Now do I have to find a loose chicken around here?
mine all got dizzy and wandered off. https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images...es/biggrin.png |
Cluck! Cluck!
Sew now this chicky knows to check the mat! One more reason (excuse) for those off cuts. LOL! |
Never thought of that. Bet the dead chicken helped. https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/wink.png
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I watched a demo by Pauline Rogers who said use the smallest rotary cutter you can. The bigger the cutter the more the fabric moves in front of the cut. She recommended the Clover 18mm size. I tried it and the cutter does cut up to four layers just fine with less forward movement of the fabric. Every little tip helps when cutting the expensive fabric.
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I never thought of dust bunnies there.
I did find some felt in the feed dogs of y sewing machine that I dislodged with a straight pin. |
Originally Posted by PatriceJ
(Post 8397641)
i really need an emoticon that smacks itself on the head! https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/cool.png |
No wonder I love this Board!
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thanks. i will almost certainly need that many more times in the future. https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images...es/biggrin.png
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When using the rotary cutter, make certain your arm with the cutter goes out from your shoulder. Not across your body or out from your body. Makes a huge difference.
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Originally Posted by Onebyone
(Post 8397680)
I watched a demo by Pauline Rogers who said use the smallest rotary cutter you can. The bigger the cutter the more the fabric moves in front of the cut. She recommended the Clover 18mm size. I tried it and the cutter does cut up to four layers just fine with less forward movement of the fabric. Every little tip helps when cutting the expensive fabric.
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Originally Posted by oksewglad
(Post 8397733)
I like the small cutter when cutting mini blocks..yes less drag. Although the smaller the cutter, the more wear and needing to be replaced.
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I really need to just go ahead and buy a better mat. The one I've been using for my cutting was already designated once as not suitable but it landed on my cutting table when I needed one I didn't care about any stains from a particular craft project.
I've gotten really good at replacing my needles/seam rippers/sharp things as soon as they bug me -- except for rotary blades. I'm still working on my thought processes, buy in bulk when on sale and replace far more often than I do. Blades might seem expensive, but compare $5 for a blade to $100+ for your fabric, plus a premium on your time and frustration. Blades are cheaper than I am... just gotta get it into the routine a bit better. |
I change blades at first skip. It will only get worse so why the frustration of using it anyway? I have about as many rotary blades in my stash as I have spools of thread. I see a sale I stock up knowing I have that many and more in my stash. I prefer cutting with a sharp blade so I do.
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Iceblossom- Consider getting a Quilters Select Mat. They are fantastic!!!
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One of those things that we all neglect until we have a problem.
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Originally Posted by SusieQOH
(Post 8398538)
Iceblossom- Consider getting a Quilters Select Mat. They are fantastic!!!
I second that. The QS mats have memory foam in between the layers. The mat is a dream to use. I have had mine for several years and can't tell where I cut on it. One tip to keeping a mat happy is not to use much pressure when using the rotary cutter on any mat. A sharp blade and good cutter don't need much pressure at all. I like the QS rotary cutter. It's weighted so I don't have to press much at all. In fact all of QS products seem the best of the best. |
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