New to Sewing/Quilting and have a Rotary Cutter Question

[wildekatza]

First off! I am new to the boards here and am excited to get started. I have been practicing sewing straight and can see the error of my ways....two things. Too fast and cutting fabric crooked.

Okay, so I have only begun sewing in EARNEST over the last year. I am not very good at it but I think most of my errors lie in my failure to cut fabric straight! I have attempted to use scissors, rotary cutters,rulers, pattern weights, pinning fabrics, tearing fabric -- you name it. My main question is this: I see everyone on YouTube and Jenny especially using a rotary cutter lickety STRAIGHT split and I cannot seem to get a rotary cutter to cut through a piece of fabric without my having to rock back and forth, causing it to shred and cut crooked the single piece of fabric and still 99% of the time I haven't cut all the way through the fabric the entire length, even if I stop to adjust the pressure as I go along. I am just attempting to cut straight lines at this stage of the game and cannot do it. I first thought it was the cheap brand rotary cutter I was using, so I spent more money and purchased the premium Olfa brand, but I have seen Jenny use my "cheap" brand on here several times without having to go back and re-cut or use scissors to get a cut all the way through. I am using a cutting mat (self healing by Olfa) and even pressure, even had dh attempt to use it thinking I wasn't pressing hard enough and he cut into my board the entire length of fabric cutting and STILL DID NOT CUT THROUGH THE single thickness of 100% cotton FABRIC! What operator error does anyone suggest next?
Help!

[K. McEuen]

You might try changing the blade. Sounds like a dull blade to me or one with nicks in it.

[pcbatiks]

Hi.......welcome to the forum. I'm wondering if maybe it's a bad batch of blades. Are the Olfa brand blades that you are using with the Olfa cutter? I don't think other blades will work on the Olfa cutter. Also check and see if you have 2 blades stuck together.........I think that happened to someone else here on the forum. The oil on the blades in the package can make them stick together. Hope this helps.

[Lisapc]

Change the blade. It just takes practice to cut through. Put some sandpaper dots on your ruler to keep it from sliding around.

[Quilted Fantasies]

I think you'll find your problem solved by changing the blades, as most have suggested.

I can't remember where I saw this tip but it helps me cut without the blade slipping.
Use your pinky finger to help stabilize the ruler by placing it just beside the ruler, like a stop. Also move your hand up the ruler as you cut. I cut about ten inches then move my hand.

Cutting with a rotary cutter takes a lot of practice, but keep at it. You're going to love it!

[nyscpa2be]

Also check to make sure that the blade isn't on too tight - I have a fiskars cutter, and the "nut" that is screwed on can go on too tight, causing the blade to not rotate.

[Joan@DebtofGratitude]

There's definitely something wrong here. I'm new to quilting (four months) and I have no problem getting very straight cuts with my rotary cutter and self healing mat. I even cut through multiple layers at once. My best advice is take your cutter to your local quilt shop and ask for help. Never underestimate the value of making friends (and patronizing) a nearby shop. They can help you a million ways you don't even recognize yet. Also, I saw a tip the other day to use a small piece of shelf liner (the rubbery, sticky kind) between your ruler and your fabric to keep from slipping. Mine does slip often (I think I press too hard) so I'm going to give it a try next time I have a project to cut.

[Claire Hallman]

Most if not all rotary cutters are made for either left or right handed cutting. Make sure you have your blade on the correct side depending on your handedness.

[maxwellthecat]

That happened to me when I first started and I changed the blade and my rotary cutting was fantastic. The only thing that was in my favor is my scrap pile got larger, lol.

[JCY]

Re: cutting fabric staight - Are you using 2 rulers next to each other to guide your cut? Or are you trying to cut following the lines on your cutting mat? - which is not dependable. First press your fabric. Then cut a narrow strip to make the ends even. Then use your 12" square ruler to position over the width you want to cut. Slide your 24" ruler up against the square ruler, press down. Remove the square ruler & cut along the edge of the long ruler. Press slowly & firmly. It takes practice.

Cutting blades: It could be 2 blades nestled together. This happened to me once & I couldn't figure out why it was making such a mess of my fabric. I use tweezers to separate the blades & pick them up to avoid cutting my fingers. Or wear the safety glove. Keep trying! It's worth the effort. JCY