News - JNY International Trade Co., Ltd. (Ningbo FTZ)

Home > > Rotary Cutting Basics

Rotary Cutting Basics 2012-06-07

In the past, each piece of fabric that a quilter used had to be carefully measured, marked and then cut out with scissors one at a time. It was a time consuming process. Today, we have these wonderful instruments in our quilting toolbox called rotary cutters. This article introduces you to the basics in rotary cutting.

When you look at a rotary cutter, it looks a little like a pizza cutter. The blade on the rotary cutter is razor sharp. Because of this razor sharp blade, the rotary cutter is a tool that demands to be handled with care. When not in use, the protective cover should be utilized and it should be locked away so that children cannot touch it.

Rotary cutting is quick and makes accurate cuts. You can cut several identical pieces of fabric at the same time by layering the quilt fabric prior to cutting. The rotary cutters themselves come in different sizes but I personally find that the ideal cutter for cutting quilt fabric is a rotary cutter that has a 45 mm blade. I find that the 45 mm cutter has a more comfortable handle than the handle on the 28 mm cutter. The rotary cutter with a 45 mm blade also cuts through more layers of fabric with ease.

To protect your cutting surface, you should invest in a self-healing rotary cutting mat. The mat not only protects your cutting surface but also reduces the wear on your cutting blade. Ideally, the mat should be 18 x 26 inches or larger. The cutting mat that I use most often is a 36 inch by 24 inch mat. This size mat gives me a lot of space to work with when I am cutting my pieces. The cutting mat should also be marked with 1 inch grid markings and 45 degree bias lines. These lines assist in proper fabric placement while the fabric is being cut.

The plastic ruler that initially will be the most useful to own is the 6 1/2 inch by 24 1/2 inch clear plastic ruler. It is the best ruler to use when you need to cut fabric into long strips. Since the first step in many quilting projects involves cutting strips, you will find that you be using this ruler time and time again.

There are various clear template squares out on the market ranging in size from 2 1/2 square inches to 12 1/2 square inches. Having square templates of various sizes are nice to have but are not necessary when you are first starting to quilt. You should only purchase the template size that you would need for the particular project you are working on.

When you purchase your cutting ruler and templates, try to find ones that have a non-slip underside. If you cannot find a non-slip template in the size you want, there is a product out there called Invisigrip. When this clear plastic product is applied to the underside of your ruler or template, the product will make your ruler or template less likely to slip when you cut your fabric.

Accurate cutting is important when you want your quilt project to come out well. Rotary cutting makes this accuracy possible and saves you many hours in the process. Investing in rotary cutting supplies will be the best quilting investment you will ever make.

Related News

Hot Products

Promotional Multi-Function Pen

Gel Pen

Promotional Pen with Hook

Plastic Gel Ink Ball Point Pen

Plastic Gel Pen for Promotion

Internet Marketing By Netcec& Bossgoo

Product Catalogue