Rotary Cutting Guide and Tips
Safety Comes First
Three rules in safety - the rotary cutter is extremely sharp.
- Always cover your cutter blade when not in use with its protective cover, it is a good habit to form.
- Make sure it is not left where curious children or anyone else for that matter, can reach it.
- Always cut away from you.
Cut away from yourself
Protect your blade and work
When using your rotary cutter, always use a self-healing mat. This saves the blades from wearing quickly.
Self-healing mat and rotary cutter
Never have pins on your mat or try to cut fabric which has pins in it. As soon as you roll over a pin with your cutter, you will have a dead spot in the blade which does not cut through the fabric.
Threads not cut due to dead spot in blade
Have a clear mat, free of other fabric and quilts, especially in the direction you are cutting towards.
Keep your mat clear of pins and fabric, especially in the direction the cutter is heading for. Wouldn't you hate to slip?
Rulers
Transparent rulers with accurate and clear markings are best to use. I prefer the type that clearly define up to 1/8" markings.
Ruler showing 1/8" markings
When first starting out, I recommend the 6" x 24" or similar ruler as it is the most versatile. It is advisable to purchase one that is in whole inches (eg 5" or 6" rather than 6½") as this makes it easier to work your measurements from either side. It is less confusing and you are less likely to make mistakes.
I recommend a small square ruler (approx. 8" sq) for your second purchase.
Small square 8" ruler
Before Cutting
Make sure fabric is well pressed before trying to cut your pieces.
Cutting
When cutting, stand over your work so you are looking directly down onto the ruler, rather than at an angle.
Keep the rotary blade vertical against the ruler, not tilted left or right otherwise the strip width will vary and the cut not made accurately.
Left: Correct (vertical) Middle: Incorrect (tilted left) Right: Incorrect (tilted right)
The blade side of the cutter, should be closest to the ruler.
Blade side closest to ruler
Place hand pressure on the ruler so the ruler does not shift as you roll the cutter along the edge. For long cuts position your supporting hand in the first third of the ruler while you cut along the edge, but only to 2 or 3 inches passed your supporting hand. Leave the cutter in the fabric whole you reposition your supporting hand. Repeat this procedure throughout the entire cut. Note: Be aware of where your fingers and knuckles are positioned, making sure they are not over the ruler's edge where the cut will be made.
To make long cut, cut just passed support hand, leave cutter in work and reposition hand before finishing cut.
When making a cut on folded fabric, align the ruler's guidelines with the folded edge, not the selvage or raw edges. Place the folded edge closest to you.
Align guidelines along folded edge
Always straighten one edge before beginning to cut your pieces. The cut should be at right angles to the fold if any, or the selvage.
Straighten one edge discarding piece on the right
To cut strips, the straightened edge should be to the left for right-handed users or to the right for left-handed users. Align the correct ruler mark on the straightened edge, support the ruler with your non-cutting hand, then make the cut.
Photo shows correct ruler positioning for a two inch cut strip
For wide cuts, two rulers can be used by butting them together and using in the same manner. Steady the ruler next to the cutter with the support hand.
Photo shows ruler positions for a 10" strip
Now you are ready to begin some of our online workshops and patterns.
Happy Quilting!
Author: Ruth Blanchet
