a lady at Joann Fabrics suggested rotary scissors to me. Regular scissors were hard to use after awhile so I purchased spring handled scissors. They were easier but it is still hard to get as straight as I want to be. The rotary scissors are a little expensive considering you need a surface board, measuring board, cutter and blades.
Any suggestions???? Does anyone have one??? What kind and do you like it??? I really don't want to spend too much.
Thanks for your replies.
2007-05-21 18:47:29 · 15 answers · asked by cruisingalong 4 in Games & Recreation ➔ Hobbies & Crafts
I have scissors and I have rotary cutters (plural). Each has its purposes.
Will you be piecing by hand or by sewing machine? In either case, the actual stitching line is *far* more important than the cut edge of the fabric. It's now routine for machine-stitchers to go-on-automatic and stitch a set width from the cut edge. This makes precision of cutting critical for them.
If you're doing this for relaxation, rather than as production sewing, hand-piecing may be preferred, in which case the marking of stitching lines becomes critical, let the margins fall as they may, as long as there's enough for sturdiness.
If you want portability for cutting, scissors are still the primary choice. With rotary cutters, there's also a necessity of clearing a largish flat work area.
If this is for relaxation, don't cut everything all at once. Make a list of what needs to be cut and check items off as they're completed. Then you can continue from where you'd left off later, without taxing your wrists on a cutting binge. The older rotary cutters have been known to promote carpel tunnel syndrome when over-used.
I have several mats and three rotary cutters. One is just used for paper. The one that gets used most often for fabric is the smallest one and is packed in a zippered bag with a 4"x6" mat and a 4" clear ruler/square.
I also have a 3'x6' mat under the tablecloth on the dining room table. It's been years since I've used it as a cutting mat, but it's out of the way where it is and that's something.
If you can afford it, I recommend getting a ruler/square as large as your usual largest block (including seam allowances. For most people, this would be 12.5" square. Get a cutting mat larger than that and one rotary cutter. Even if you did everything else with scissors, it'd still be a good investment just for doing a final trim to get blocks to precise size before joining for a top or whatever. The rotary cutter is a blessing for trimming blocks "to size".
2007-05-21 22:29:07 · answer #1 · answered by h_brida 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Dear hubby bought me a Fiskars cutting machine. It has a ruler and rotary cutter attached to the ruler. The blades are replaceable, and along with a cutting mat, I can make straight lines easily. A separate rotary cutter is also great for making cuts that I don't want to use the machine cutter for. (Don't remember what it was called, its not actually a machine).
The cutters are an investment, so if you are going to do this longterm, it is well worth the money (and I'm a cheapskate with a tight budget!)
Are you in a quilting guild or taking any classes? If not, it would be very helpful to do so if possible. Taking a class or having someone to ask questions will save you a lot of frustration. There are tons of free quilting patterns on the internet, just search for free quilting patterns. Hancock fabrics website has some, and I think I remember Jo-Anns fabrics website has some too.
Good luck and welcome to quilting!
2007-05-22 03:15:10 · answer #2 · answered by Janet T 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you want your quilt to come out straight, then it would be wise to invest in the right tools. By using regular scissors, you inadvertently lift the material from the cutting surface and not cut out each piece exactly. The more intricate the quilt, the more chances that it will come out crooked because the more seams you have, the most likely your measurements will be off. You see, if you are off by say 1/8th an inch, with one seam, it won't be bad but if you have say 10 seams, you'd be off by 1 and 1/4 inches and that could be awful for you after all the work you put in.
Would a doctor use a dentist's tools for surgery? NO! Hence a quilter wouldn't use a another's tools either.
Hope this helps.
Oh and I love, love, LOVE my rotary cutters and have two sizes plus am teaching my 11 year old to use them carefully too.
2007-05-21 19:21:38 · answer #3 · answered by califdreamer_2000 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A rotary cutter isn't very expensive, and it's definitely a worthwhile investment for cutting a lot of fabric. The board (you only need one, really, a cutting surface that won't be scarred by the rotary blade) is a bit costly, but it should last for years. Replacement blades are frequently on sale at Joann's.
It's easier to replace a rotary blade than to get scissors sharpened frequently. And it's much easier on your hand. I do a lot of sewing and couldn't do without a rotary cutter.
2007-05-21 18:59:53 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
First of all, welcome to the world of quilting! Always glad to help a beginner.
To use a rotary cutter, you will also need companion tools. The green mats are self-healing, & will last longer than any other brand. They need to be stored flat, & away from any sun or heat source or they will warp...ask me how I know!!!
Also they come in a variety of sizes, & can be fairly inexpensive if you catch them on sale.
A clear, non-slip ruler is also a great tool that you will need to invest in. I prefer the ones that have a lip on the end. Most of my tools are made by Olfa, but with a bit of experimenting, you will find your own preferences. Look for sales flyers from Joanns, Hancock Fabrics, Hobby Lobby, & such, but you can also find them at Wal-mart, but they offer no coupons or discounts.
Your cutting surface should be kitchen counter high, to save on your back while you are standing.
A word of caution: Treat your rotary cutter as you would a weapon, because the blades are very sharp. Always cut away from your body, and mind those fingers when holding down your ruler!
Practice on some inexpensive fabric until you get the hang of it. The time you save using these tools are well worth their cost. Have fun!
2007-05-22 05:25:40 · answer #5 · answered by sewinginsanantonio4 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
a rotary blade is about 15 dollars and well worth it, it stays on the line, you need the cutting mat and a clear plastic ruler that is about 4 inches wide so you can hold it down well, you will get a good cut , straight and faster than sissors without the hand fatigue. joanns had one on sale for half price last week, the kit, keep your eyes open, walmart also sells them. my mat is 2 ft by 3 ft, and the ruler is 4 inches by 2 ft and the rotary cutter is a good sized one, if you get a tiny one you make a lot more wear on the blade though the small ones are great for cutting small blocks. its really worth the investment if you are going to make quilts.
2007-05-21 19:16:48 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you are sewing by hand you can use scissors but to br really accurate you do need a good rotary cutter, at least one ruler & a mat. I suggest Olfa rotary cutters-omnigrid mats & onmigrid rulers. It will run you a little but yu will LOVE the difference. I'd also encourge you to take a being class in how to use all this. Have fun @ sew on!
2007-05-22 04:55:21 · answer #7 · answered by Anne R 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Everyone up there is right, a rotary cutter is the best investment you can make if you are going to be making quilts. You can cut your pieces a lot more accurately in a lot less time with a lot less fatigue. One suggestion I would have is to purchase some cheap material along with your cutter, board and ruler and practise before you move on to the material you are going to use for your quilt... it takes a bit of practise to get your technique down and you don't want to ruin your good material. Good luck, and have fun!
2007-05-21 20:01:16 · answer #8 · answered by Zorlinda 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Seriously, buy the rotary cutter and all the other extra stuff you need with it. It may seem expensive now, but once you use it, you'll never regret it! Once you get it, you may want to test it on some scrap fabric to get the hang of it. Btw, rotary cutters are great for cutting fashion patterns too. Good luck!
2007-05-22 02:26:19 · answer #9 · answered by N 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
((Jack))I know how terrible it is to bear burden like this. I feel so very sorry for you. It seems that this had become quite a problem. Think of the money you are wasting on good lap dances that never get to be finished! I can only see a couple possible solutions to this. 1- Tell your friends that you think the pansies project is not classy enough for the club. You can tell them that you think something more like "a garden of panties" would be much better. You could even get the strippers involved by donating panties for you all to sew together onto the patches! 2- You can break into the club and steal the quilt. Your friends will think that their work was so *great* that someone could not resist taking it home with them to enjoy. 3- You final option is to tell your friends that they suck, and you have seen better needle work for 4 year old children. This will probably result in a beating you will never forget, and being banned from your club. I do not recommend this, as it takes a long time to sample all the clubs in an area and find a really good one. I mean who wants to sit through 100's of crappy lap dances when you know what you like where you are?!?! I wish you the best my friend....
2016-04-01 01:52:10 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋