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Rotary Cutting Fabric
Beginning quilters are often perplexed by cutting their quilt pieces. Sometimes they don’t realize until it’s too late that how you cut the fabric even matters at all. It’s easy to do when you know up front how to cut your quilt pieces.
It begins with understanding what the fabric grain is. Fabric is woven in two directions, creating the lengthwise grain and the crosswise grain. The lengthwise grain (straight grain) is parallel to the fabric’s selvage. It is the strongest grain.
The crosswise grain runs perpendicular to the selvage. It is more stretchy than the lengthwise grain. The final type of fabric grain is the bias. It runs diagonally between the selvages. The bias has the most stretch and will easily distort.
Start by washing and drying your fabric. This helps to eliminate shrinkage after your project is complete.
Until you get comfortable with cutting your quilt pieces, there are some tricks you can use to build your confidence.
Use tracing paper to transfer your quilt pattern pieces onto a thick cardboard. Make note of whether a quarter inch seam allowance is included in the pattern or not. If not, add it to the pattern on the cardboard. Cut out the cardboard pieces to make a template.
Next, find the lengthwise grain of the fabric. Remember, it is the strongest grain. Place your template on the fabric’s lengthwise grain, right side up.
Trace around the template using a washable fabric pencil or marker. Continue tracing until you have the number of pieces required for your quilt.
How you cut these is up to you. You may use scissors, but if you have a lot of cutting to do, expect your hands to tire. A rotary cutter is an easier way.
For a beginner, it might take some getting used to. When you get more experienced with your rotary cutter, you will learn other time saving techniques, like lining up each template so one smooth cut across will cut a strip of blocks at one time.
Be sure to use a self healing rotary mat for your fabric cutting. Otherwise, indentions left by previous cuts might jeopardize the integrity of your quilt pieces.
When you get even more comfortable with your rotary cutting, you can stack fabric to cut pieces. It is recommended that you stack no more than four layers to cut through at a time, however. Avoid the temptation to add more. Even the most advanced quilters have difficulty cutting through more layers.
Many quilters have moved away from scissors and now favor the rotary cutter. One reason for this is that it saves your fingers. When you cut a lot of fabric with scissors, the repetition of cutting can cause pain in your hands, wrists and arms. A rotary cutter puts more work on the wheel than your own hands.
Another reason for the preference of the rotary cutter is its precision. It is easier to cut fabric, even up to four layers, when the fabric is lying flat. When cutting with scissors, the quilter generally must lift the fabric, which often leads to cutting away from or into the traced template.
The key in cutting fabric, especially for beginners, is not to get in a big hurry. Pay attention to the selvage (which should be cut away and never be used as part of the fabric).
Keep your patterns on the strongest grain. Account for seam allowances and take your time when cutting. Taking a little extra time initially to pay attention to these little fabric cutting details will save you time and grief.
The rotary cutter can be a dangerous tool. ALWAYS close the blade after EACH cut. Go slowly and concentrate on keeping the blade against the ruler's edge.
If the thought of using a rotary cutter makes you cringe, Use Machine Quilting Grip Gloves -Medium They protect hand from the rotary blade.
Wear it on either hand. I use mine every time I pick up my rotary cutter. It's a great insurance policy.
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 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 in 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 rotay 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.
Safe Rotary Cutting
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.
Rotary Cutting Basic Shapes
Strips - Take the finished width of the strip and add 1/2" for seam allowances. For example, 2" finished width + 1/2" for seam allowance = 2 1/2" width to cut.
Place the plastic ruler on the fabric so that the cut edge of the fabric aligns with the markings on the ruler for the desired strip width. Following the cutting directions described above, cut the strip.
After several strips have been cut, it may be necessary to even the crosswise edge of the fabric again. This is a normal accurance cause by slight shifting that will occur when cutting the fabric.
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