ROTARY CUTTING

Rotary cutting offers the quilter the ability to cut a large number of fabric pieces quickly and accurately. The basic equipment needed for rotary cutting is a rotary cutter, a special mat designed for use with rotary cutters, and a heavy plastic ruler. Rotary cutters come in two basic sizes. The large size rotary is recommended for all rotary cutting. The smaller size is optional and can be used for cutting and trimming. The mats for rotary cutting come in many sizes. The quilter should try to purchase the largest size mat that he/she can afford. The recommended size for most quilting work is 18" x 24". Cutting mats are marked in a 1" grid on one side and are blank on the other. Check the grid with a ruler to be sure that the markings are true before relying on the grid for cutting. There are many rulers and templates available to the quilter for use with rotary cutters. The most useful ruler for quilting is one that is 6" by 24". Rulers used for rotary cutting should be marked in with a 1" grid with markings representing 1/8", 1/4", and 1/2" of an inch. Besides the basic plastic ruler, there are other measuring tools for rotary cutting such as squares, diamonds, and wedges in various degree measurements.

Rotary cutters are extremely sharp and caution should be used when rotary cutting. Always close the blade or make sure that the blade guard is engaged EVERY time the rotary cutter is put down. Use the rotary cutter only with a specially designed rotary cutter mat. Using any other surface can damage the cutter blade, the surface, and can cause the cutter to slip while cutting. Devote full attention to the ruler and rotary cutter while cutting. Many a quilter has received a serious cut because of a distraction. Keep the rotary cutter clean. Lint and fluff can build up under the blade preventing it from rotating smoothly. Following the directions for cleaning that came with the rotary cutter. Change the blade in the rotary cutter as soon as it becomes dull. Finally, take EXTRA precautions when using a rotary cutter around children.

The assumption has been that everyone knows what a rotary cutter is. In case you don't, it is a cutting device, introduced to sewers in the mid-1970s that looks like an advanced pizza cutter. It must be used in conjunction with a special protective mat under the fabric.

Rotary cutter blades are very sharp. A fresh blade will easily cut six to 12 layers of fabric with very little pressure. Bearing down hard is not necessary and can do irreparable damage to the protective mat. I generally cut only four to eight layers of fabric because it is easier to measure and cut more times than it is to fold and stack layers accurately.

Every rotary cutter with which I am familiar has a blade guard. My recommendation would be not to buy any rotary cutter that does not have a blade guard. Make sure the guard is in place when the cutter is not in use. This protects both you and the blade. If you drop the cutter or accidentally cut across a pin, the blade often becomes nicked. Then it perforates more than cuts the fabric, an annoying process. The blades are replaceable, but keeping the guard in place can minimize the need.

When cutting, the blade side, not the guard side, goes immediately next to the template or acrylic ruler. Be sure to hold the cutter straight up against the edge of the ruler when cutting. Do not lean your cutter toward or away from you as this will result in uneven cutting and it will change the measurement of your strip.

Cut away from you, not toward your body. Watch those fingertips! Do not let them extend over the template or the cutting side of the ruler! After many cuts to my fingers I learned to use handles on my rulers and I have never been cut since.

A good way to check if you are hodling your rotary cutter correctly is to get of piece of old fabric, a scrap or a piece of linen.

Square off the end.

Now cut a 2-inch strip.

Wrong way to hold cutter

Correct way to hold cutter.

Take the 2-inch strip you just cut and lay on your cutting board. If

You notice in the picture above, the strip actually measures more than

2 inches. Holding the cutter at an inward slant caused this.

The picture above shows a 2 inch strip cut correctly, holding the

Cutter straight. If you have cut with an out-ward slant, the strip

Would have measured less than 2 inches.