Today I want to share a simple tip to help out when you're using your rotary cutter. I'm sure that this is sewing 101 but I'm a lazy sewer and I used to just line up my ruler and slice away at fabric in any old direction that suited me. Well, sometimes rulers slide and blades can end up cutting what they shouldn't so here's what I do to help protect that precious fabric from getting snipped where it shouldn't.
I always square up my fabric against my cutting line on my mat and then I lay my ruler over the main piece of fabric, using my ruler to "protect" the piece I don't want cut. This way if my blade accidentally slips then it will slice the fabric I don't care about and not the piece I need complete.
Lastly, remember to apply pressure towards the top of your ruler. I always find that if my ruler is going to slip it happens when I am nearing the end of my cut. Applying pressure closer to the end of the cut helps me keep my ruler firmly in place. It's just another way I've found to preserve my fabric when I'm cutting.
Hope this helps! Do you have a Tip, Tool or Technique that you'd like to share? Email me to guest post on Triple Threat Tuesdays.
I tend to rotary cut with the same orientation that you use but I've heard that the ruler is more accurate than a mat for measuring. I can't figure out how to do that and still protect the fabric from stray cutting. Ideas?
ReplyDeleteGood tips!! I would also add to always close your rotary cutter when not in use - Leah of Burgundy Buttons dropped an open one on her foot and has a great pic of the four stitches she had to get - luckily the same day she had a pedicure! So at least she looked good!
ReplyDeleteI wear a thimble on my opposite index finger from the hand I'm cutting with, learn the hard way when the rotary cutter slipped and almost cut my finger off!!
ReplyDeleteOuch! Glad you didn't lose your finger. I'm going to have to try your thimble trick.
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