Why is my rotary cutter not working for me ?
02-23-2023, 11:19 AM
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2023
Location: Ontario Canada
Posts: 73
Why is my rotary cutter not working for me ?
More of a what am I doing wrong question ?
bought a top of the line rotary cutter some time ago, used few times until the first second and third time it veered away from the ruler and ruined a strip of fabric.
Put away for a while, watched tutorials and people using it ever so effortlessly, took it out again...
nope, still the same problem.
bought a top of the line rotary cutter some time ago, used few times until the first second and third time it veered away from the ruler and ruined a strip of fabric.
Put away for a while, watched tutorials and people using it ever so effortlessly, took it out again...
nope, still the same problem.
02-23-2023, 12:26 PM
#3
Super Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Pacific NW
Posts: 9,444
If you're cutting away from yourself, you probably have a tendency to lean out away from the ruler.
Try "walking" your hand up the ruler, and you do it like this: Put your hand on the ruler (I usually place my ring or pinkie finger half on the edge of the ruler and half on the fabric). Push the rotary cutter up until it's even with your hand, and stop. DO NOT MOVE THE CUTTER. Hold it steady right there. Now on the hand that is holding the ruler - lift up the thumb only, not the other 4 fingers, and move it up right under your 4 fingers, and set it down. Once it is set in place, then move the other 4 fingers up the ruler. Think of it as playing itsy bitsy spider up your ruler. Once your ruler hand is set, then continue cutting with your rotary cutter until it is parallel with your ruler hand again.
It sounds complicated, but once you do it a few times, it gets easier and faster.
Try "walking" your hand up the ruler, and you do it like this: Put your hand on the ruler (I usually place my ring or pinkie finger half on the edge of the ruler and half on the fabric). Push the rotary cutter up until it's even with your hand, and stop. DO NOT MOVE THE CUTTER. Hold it steady right there. Now on the hand that is holding the ruler - lift up the thumb only, not the other 4 fingers, and move it up right under your 4 fingers, and set it down. Once it is set in place, then move the other 4 fingers up the ruler. Think of it as playing itsy bitsy spider up your ruler. Once your ruler hand is set, then continue cutting with your rotary cutter until it is parallel with your ruler hand again.
It sounds complicated, but once you do it a few times, it gets easier and faster.
02-23-2023, 03:30 PM
#8
Super Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Sunny Florida
Posts: 4,424
Be sure that you are sitting/standing directly in front of the ruler. Be sure you are UP and ON the ruler.
What size cutter are you using? I feel like I have more control with a 60 mm cutter.
A favorite helping hand tutorial for cutting. Check the position of her hand at about the 12 minute mark.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lgmT5BEc4M
What size cutter are you using? I feel like I have more control with a 60 mm cutter.
A favorite helping hand tutorial for cutting. Check the position of her hand at about the 12 minute mark.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lgmT5BEc4M
02-23-2023, 03:32 PM
#9
Super Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Sunny Florida
Posts: 4,424
02-23-2023, 03:46 PM
#10
Power Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Southern USA
Posts: 16,075
I took a class a long time ago from Omnigrid rep. She had us cut with different size rotary cutters. I found I liked the 18 mm size the best. I had more control and no problem at all going through four layers of fabric. And the blade are much less expensive. I liked the Clover brand the best for the small cutter. I do use the 45 mm but when I go back to the 18 I wonder why I have the 45.
