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Stitching & Crafting Room:  Cuttiing mat woes.....  |
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LakeOntarioFarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
933 Posts
Brenda
North Rose
NY
USA
933 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 07 2010 : 04:27:23 AM
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I have had a cutting mat for probably 15 years now. Never could quite get the hang of it! I think I just could have used someone to show me how to use it.
I dug it out this week, because with all the quilting and sewing I've been doing, it would really save me some time to rotary cut.
Well. It is not going good. My roller knife keeps wandering off to the side if I don't pay attention. If I do I am cutting just slightly under the ruler, which means that I am not getting an exact size that I need. I do use an easy rule with it.
The blade is new on that.
I am wondering if I need a new mat?
If so, what are the best ones? JoAnns is having an online sale right now.
Any tips on how to use it?
Maybe I just need to practice more?
I have become an expert at cutting with scissors, but could really use a time saver now! 
Thanks all!
Brenda
FarmGirl # 711
Nothing we achieve in this world is achieved alone. It is always achieved with others teaching us along the way. Lee J. Colan
http://theviewfromhere-brenda.blogspot.com/ |
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dutchy
True Blue Farmgirl
4427 Posts
4427 Posts |
Posted - Jan 07 2010 : 04:50:28 AM
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Maybe try it on some scraps first till you get the hang of it. It really IS easy to use. Mine has a built in ruler. But guess yours does too, duh ;) Can't you go to a fabric store and have them show you how to use it??
Maybe a trip to the sale isle on JoAnn IS a way to go, lol
Hugs from Marian/Dutchy, a farmgirl from the Netherlands :)
My personal blog:
http://just-me-a-dutch-girl.blogspot.com/
Almost daily updates on me and mine :)
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cinnamongirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1682 Posts
Carrie
Canada
1682 Posts |
Posted - Jan 07 2010 : 08:01:50 AM
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Brenda I do not think it is your mat especially if it is new. Sounds like you might be moving your ruler. By the way what kind of ruler. Yes it does take practice to use the rotary cutter and its easy to damage or dent rotary cutter if it is always hitting the ruler.
Perhaps where you are cutting is a insufficent light issue.
I honestly don't see how your mat could be an issue unless it is damaged somehow.
http://cinnamongirlsthreads.blogspot.com/ |
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mtngirljon
True Blue Farmgirl
539 Posts
Jonnie
Webster
Texas
USA
539 Posts |
Posted - Jan 07 2010 : 08:34:26 AM
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Hi, ya'll. All the suggestions here so far are really good. I also thought about the ruler slippage. Is the cutter attached to the mat? If they are all separate, you can put little pieces of sandpaper on the back of your ruler to hold it still. I got some little dots of it at the quilt shop a long time ago, but I've also just used little scraps of it attached with double-sided tape. something else to watch is are you holding your cutter at an angle. You need to make sure that you are holding it straight up. And practice practice practice!
Jonnie
Farmgirl #648
"Turn your face to the sun, and the shadows will fall behind you" - Maori Proverb
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Karrieann
True Blue Farmgirl
1900 Posts
Karrieann
Northeast
Georgia
USA
1900 Posts |
Posted - Jan 07 2010 : 10:18:30 AM
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...if your mat wasn't stored flat or hung, it may be the issue, but it sounds like you just need to practice and practice. It took me a lil while to get it just right and watch the shift of the ruler.
Hang in there!
:o)
Karrieann ~ Farmgirl Sister #766 (29 Sept 2009)
My etsy: Yesterday's Scraps, Tomorrow's Treasures http://www.etsy.com/shop/2TomorrowsTreasures |
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LakeOntarioFarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
933 Posts
Brenda
North Rose
NY
USA
933 Posts |
Posted - Jan 07 2010 : 1:29:38 PM
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Well it sounds like I do just need practice! ;)
I will be doing that the next couple of days and see what happens.
And, I was so hoping I needed to go shopping for new mat! :D
Brenda
FarmGirl # 711
Nothing we achieve in this world is achieved alone. It is always achieved with others teaching us along the way. Lee J. Colan
http://theviewfromhere-brenda.blogspot.com/ |
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Sheep Mom 2
True Blue Farmgirl
1534 Posts
Sheri
Elk
WA
USA
1534 Posts |
Posted - Jan 07 2010 : 2:45:15 PM
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I agree with Jonnie - it sounds like you may be holding the cutter at a slight angle which forces the blade under the edge of the ruler. I don't know what type of mat you are using but I love my Olfa mat - the green one. I have a small one and a big one. I not only use it for rotary cutting fabric but for cutting wood veneer with a craft knife. I have a set of round weights that I use rather than pins to anchor pattern pieces when rotary cutting t-shirting. What size cutter are you using? I have better luck with the large blade type than the small one although I have both, I use the larger cutter for most projects.
Blessings, Sheri
"Work is Love made visible" -Kahlil Gibran |
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gramadinah
True Blue Farmgirl
3557 Posts
Diana
Orofino
ID
USA
3557 Posts |
Posted - Jan 07 2010 : 7:05:41 PM
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I have had my ruler so long I have shaved off the edge with my cutter I also check that the blade is tight before I start. The cutters that retract are easier to get a stright cut. The first one I got was just a cutting wheel on a stick and I made a hugh mess of things.
The mat is not the culprit I would say but the ruler or cutter is.
Diana
Farmgirl Sister #273 |
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coffeemom
True Blue Farmgirl
160 Posts
Melody
Carlinville
IL
USA
160 Posts |
Posted - Jan 07 2010 : 8:06:05 PM
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Hey Brenda!
My favorite brand of mat is June Taylor. I can follow the measurments easier also. I had a terrible habit of hanging on to stuff way beyond it's life span. Now, as hard as it may be, I pitch it and buy new. Try to catch them at Jo Ann's when they have 50% off. If you are not used to using one, you need to practice cutting muslin. Make sure you are standing up and over the mat. When you place your ruler on your fabric, have 4 fingers on the ruler, and the pinky on the mat next to the edge of the ruler to keep it from slipping. My favorite ruler has a lip on the top to keep it in place also. Hope this helps.
Melody
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Red River Hen
True Blue Farmgirl
183 Posts
Nancy
Ardmore
Oklahoma
USA
183 Posts |
Posted - Jan 07 2010 : 8:50:20 PM
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Well I am glad I am not the only one with cutting matt woes!!! I have brand new stuff and only tried it once and thought I needed a surgeons hand to use it! I REALLY need to get the hang of it so I can make quilting squares not only for myself but to also sell in my antique booth! Thanks for all the guidence!!!
~Count your blessings instead of sheep~ (Bing Crosby) ~Nancy~
SANTA BRIGADE
http://santabrigade.blogspot.com/ |
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2quilter
True Blue Farmgirl
127 Posts
Patricia
Greenwood
IN
USA
127 Posts |
Posted - Jan 10 2010 : 4:06:14 PM
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Rotary cutting at first for me was a challenge because I'm a southpaw, and all of the rulers are usually with markings upside down for my use.... I use a rotary cutter that my grandmother gave me probably 15 years ago that is no longer made...at the time it was made by Dritz....it's blue, and at the time it was the only one on the market that retracted the round blade as soon as pressure was removed. I have since bought others, but the old blue Dritz retractable is my favorite (this one predated the newer ergo type handles)
As to your issue, some cutters are funny and you might have your blade in upside down...make sure you are holding the cutter absolutely straight (up and down) when you are cutting, make sure you are applying sufficient pressure to the ruler to keep from it sliding.......if you've had the blade in it for a while, also try dabbing a tiny, tiny dab of sewing machine oil on the back of the blade (between it and the plastic back side) to help lube it up....make sure the cutter is put together properly as some of them have a little washer type thingy on them and if they get upside down they can throw you off as well....
Also, don't try to cut too many layers at once (about 4 is about all you should do...I frequently do only twosies)..and the mat can really make a difference in my opinion...I use those green ones -- olfa I think is the name? I used to have a white one and it got all gummy and made my cutter track crooked ..so yes ladies, the mat can make a difference...
When life hands you scraps, make quilts! |
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createmyworld
True Blue Farmgirl
295 Posts
Beth
Akron
PA
USA
295 Posts |
Posted - Jan 10 2010 : 5:01:19 PM
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all of the ladies tips sound great.... I want to add about leverage... I always get down on my hands and knees on the floor with my mat, ruler and rotary, as I find putting all of my pressure from that position keeps my ruler and cutter from slipping...
www.createmyworld.etsy.com
http://createmyworlddesigns.blogspot.com/
http://www.soopsee.com/profile/createmyworld/
"He who works with his hands is a laborer, he who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman, he who works with his hands, head and heart is an artist." -St. Francis of Asisi |
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quiltingfarmergirl
True Blue Farmgirl
180 Posts
Barbara
Cato
NY
USA
180 Posts |
Posted - Jan 10 2010 : 6:49:09 PM
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I have The Gypsy Gripper that attaches by suction to my ruler when rotary cutting. I first saw it used in an Amish quilt shop in Lancaster County, PA about a year ago and ordered one for myself from the Clothilde catalog. It is a handle that is really securely attached and gives great control of the ruler. I also purchased a clear plastic non skid backing from Joanne's that attaches by static cling to the ruler that cuts down on slippage. Very few frustrating mistakes anymore when rotary cutting. Brenda we live pretty close to each other...I could make a field trip if you still need some assistance!
Barb |
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2quilter
True Blue Farmgirl
127 Posts
Patricia
Greenwood
IN
USA
127 Posts |
Posted - Jan 11 2010 : 5:53:37 PM
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oh, I thought of one more thing....some ladies sit while using the rotary cutter/mat, while others stand up. I stand up because I get less movement that way.....give that a try as well....
When life hands you scraps, make quilts! |
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Stitching & Crafting Room: Cuttiing mat woes..... |
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Cuttiing mat woes.....
