getting discouraged with cutting fabric Please Help

[Paulleygirl]

For the life of me I can't cut my squares straight, about to throw it all.......I have multiple rulers, put tape on them so they don't move ( but they still do ) , Don't know what else to do.....Help

[grammaterry]

Re: getting discouraged with cutting fabric Please Help

how many layers are you cutting. I find it is difficult to get my fabric to lay straight without moving if there is only one layer.

[Paulleygirl]

Re: getting discouraged with cutting fabric Please Help

I have tried 2,4,6, It seems like I heard someone mention a certain kind of ruler but I can't remember what it was

[pcbatiks]

Re: getting discouraged with cutting fabric Please Help

Creative Grid rulers are great. They have no slip areas embedded on the backs of their rulers. Another question.......are you sitting down when you cut? It's very hard to cut accurately sitting down. I learned the hard way when I first started quilting.

Here's the link for Creative Grid. Creative Grids USA ® They can be bought online, at quilt shops and quilt shows.

[JaniceR]

Re: getting discouraged with cutting fabric Please Help

I had trouble with slipping when cutting too until I bought a Quilters Slide Lock. You press down on it while cutting and it "locks" the fabric in place so to speak and it has stopped my slipping problems.

It comes in 2 sizes,14" and 24". $36.55 for the 14" and $46.55 for the 24". I have both and do use both depending on what I'm doing. I tried one and then ended up with the other size too. I love mine.

Just a thought if you want to try one to see if it helps you too. Their web address is: Quiltersslidelock.com

Good luck! I know that problem is very frustrating!!

[shirleyknot]

Re: getting discouraged with cutting fabric Please Help

And that is why I still love my scissors. I refuse to spend any MORE money on expensive rulers and cutters in the HOPES they will work for me. I'd rather buy fabric so I can actually make quilts.

[amandi]

Re: getting discouraged with cutting fabric Please Help

I had trouble cutting too when I first started but after my mom watched me cut, she told me to make sure I have a sharp blade in my cutter and not to press so hard, I started to just glide my cutter along the ruler without pressing down and now my cuts are great.

[scooter15650]

Re: getting discouraged with cutting fabric Please Help

Is your ruler slipping when you cut your squares? You may have to change how you are holding your ruler when you cut. I measure what size I want then place my hand on the ruler with my fingers spread to stabilize the ruler when I cut. You don't want your hand flat but raised up on your fingers. This is always worked for me. I hope I explained this ok. Good luck

[Carolnnc]

Re: getting discouraged with cutting fabric Please Help

Two things that helped me. I pour full strength starch in a pan and I dip my pieces in. I hold up the fabric to let it drip dry a little and then lay it on a beach towel to dry. When dry I press with a hot dry iron.
I went to Walmart and bought a couple of bottles of Elmer's Rubber Cement glue. This is the gross glue you used in school that was tacky, sticky and you could roll up in a ball. I took all my rulers into the garage (due to smell) and "painted" lines of glue along the backs of the rulers and let them dry for a day. The ruler WILL NOT move when put on fabric. After quite a bit of use I do sometimes roll up the glue and reapply. I too press down to hard on the ruler and use the rotary cutter like I need to cut through the table
Before I tried this I would cut squares of freezer paper, iron them on fabric and cut. I did get almost perfect squares but it was to time consuming.

[DeniseSm]

Re: getting discouraged with cutting fabric Please Help

I couldn't cut straight either when I first started. Don't give up. There are tools and tips and techniques that will work for you.

The easiest, surest way to cut straight is to invest in the Creative Grids rulers. I know they cost more and they rarely go on sale, but they work and are worth every penny you spend

[bhaggerty]

Re: getting discouraged with cutting fabric Please Help

Creative Grids or Quilters Rule are the best rulers for no slippage.
Sometimes they have the QR on Overstock.com

[lots2do]

Re: getting discouraged with cutting fabric Please Help

I love the Creative Grids rulers too. I have heard that there is something in the first aid section of drugstores called Nexcare that you can put on the back of your Omni rulers to cut down on slipping. Also, creep your assisting hand slowly up the ruler, don't swipe your rotary cutter up fast..cut slowly. And every few cuts, straighten up your cutting edge again because your fabric will naturally shift. Find some old pillowcases or sheets to practice on, if you can.

[iluvbaking]

Re: getting discouraged with cutting fabric Please Help

I primarily use a 6x24" ruler to cut strips and then down to squares. Saw a video on successful cutting and tried the tip to not only hold ruler with finger tips but to insure you kept your pinky finger on the fabric, not on the ruler with the rest of your fingers. I was so much more successful.

[Midge]

Re: getting discouraged with cutting fabric Please Help

Don't give up! You can and will improve. If you can't or don't want to replace your ruler with a Creative Grids brand, try the Nexcare tape or rubber cement. They help a lot. But the thing that will help you the most is improving your body mechanics and hand position and movements as you cut. Check out YouTube for videos on cutting. Also you might try the free Craftsy class by Gail Kessler "Piece, Patch, Quilt - Basic Quiltmaking Skills. Lots of helpful info there. There is also a class by Debby Caffrey called "Cut To It". That class is the best and most detailed info on cutting correctly that I have seen. Others may have suggestions, but if I can do better, so can you.

[latterberry]

Re: getting discouraged with cutting fabric Please Help

For the life of me I can't cut my squares straight, about to throw it all.......I have multiple rulers, put tape on them so they don't move ( but they still do ) , Don't know what else to do.....Help

I "accidentally" found a way to keep my rulers from slipping. When I was spray basting, a bit of the overspray landed on my ruler leaving it just a bit tacky. It then didn't slip on the fabric at all.