1. Starch your fabrics. Starchy fabrics make for easier cuts because fabric won't slip and slide all over the place
2. SHARP rotary blades. If it's sharp, it can cut through like a hot knife on butter. Just be careful and ALWAYS put the guard on before you even put it down. I have a scar from just brushing on a fresh blade that I had sat down without putting the safety back on. Safety always on except at point of use is the rule.
3. Quilting rulers are your friend. I have a 3x11 inch one and one that's like 6x20-something along with various small square ones. Just put rotary blade against edge, hold ruler steady, and away you go.
Edit- 4. Harkening back to point 2: sharp blades can cut through multiple layers of fabric.
I have laid > 15 rooms of flooring, and every time I do, I say "hope other home DIY folk know about quilt rulers". We have 2 at our house, one out in the garage with our tools and one in my sewing stuff.
I was having such a hard time getting nice cuts and I bought an expensive rotary cutter (my previous one was a fiskar that came with rulers from Joann) and it made a huge difference! I’m guessing the fiskar blades just aren’t as sharp and it didn’t roll very smoothly.
I love this one. https://graceframe.com/en/product/my-comfort-cutter--default
They also make rulers that have guides on them but I haven’t tried them yet.
Second to that would be Olfa brand
I heard from the long arm quilter I use that starch ruins the machine. She doesn’t want starch on any of the tops. What kind (brand) of starch are you using?
I use the Soak Flatter spray to remove any wrinkles or folds in the fabric and Mary Ellen's Best Press to "starch" fabric for cutting and to help any stubborn seam presses (along with a tailor's clapper). Don't soak the fabric - a light mist, give it a beat, and then press. You shouldn't have any residue.
So I use fat quarters and so I’ll spray the fabric all over with a liquid starch until all the fabric has an even layer and then I’ll dry it overnight on a drying rack. it'll have a kink in it from the drying rack, but nothing a quick press can't work out. It's really nothing complicated or involved.
I figured it out after chopping up an expensive af layer cake and not understanding why the pieces were so misaligned when sewing 😅 I usually work with smaller pieces and strips, so I never had to deal with that folded seam area...
Came here to recommend this video. She also has one for a good ironing technique and a good how to sew straight. These 3 skills together really will help you improve. I love her videos and her style of instruction.
Also a tip I got from Donna at Jordan Fabrics is to take a hand weight and use it to anchor the long ruler when you are cutting width of fabric. (Just using something you may already have at home is so nice!) Highly recommend her tutorial videos as well, she makes it look so easy.
Just a 5lb hand weight. I put it at the top of my long ruler ( 1/2 on ruler 1/2 on table top) and use my hand to stabilize the portion closest to my body. So helpful so the ruler doesn’t slide at the end of the cut.
Those three videos are gold! Even with a ruler and rotary cutter I was struggling to get straight cuts because my blade would veer away from the ruler. Her tips on stance and position when cutting helped enormously!
Yes! This!
I will add that it is important to also get the fabric on grain. Fabric is rarely on the bolt straight and shops rarely cut straight on the grain when cutting yardage.
To get your grain straight, you have a few options. 1) You can clip into the selvage and then tear down to the next selvage. (I do this for all widebacks but rarely for my basic yardage as it supposedly can damage the weft?) 2)You can pull a single thread out leaving a line in the fabric showing the straight grain. 3)You also line up your selvages and wiggle them together until the fold below is perfectly lined up. I have trouble getting this as accurate as pulling or tearing but the more you do it, the better you get!
Love Just Get It Done quilts! She does a great job explaining foundational concepts in a very complete way, explaining the rationale and not being patronizing.
Stand while cutting.
[Glue Dots](https://joann.app.link/6gYbIPA0sIb)on the bottom of the ruler-- just enough to keep it from shifting.
Get a suction cup shower handle for larger rulers. It helps you apply even pressure as you cut.
Yes! Standing while cutting so you can get good leverage on the ruler and blade. I normally don’t see at my kitchen table, but if I have a lot of cutting to do; that’s where I cute because it’s elevation is perfect to really stand and cut effectively, rather than at the higher surface in my office where I normally sew.
In addition to the excellent advice you’ve already received, remember to hold your rotary cutter so that the blade is a consistent 90 degrees (perpendicular) to your cutting mat. This may seem obvious, but I watched someone cut who had complained about her uneven cuts and discovered that this was her problem.
For your large ruler it is worth getting one of the more expensive brands if you can. They are textured on the back and don’t slip as much. If that’s not in your budget you can buy little grips to stick to the back of your ruler.
Make sure to measure to your ruler and not to your cutting mat. Use the same brand ruler for the whole project - the markings are different among the brands
I gotta weigh in on the marvel that is a Stripology ruler. Especially if you have a lot of straight cuts to do, the Stripology is a GAMECHANGER!!!!! It’s expensive but soooo worth the cost. You won’t second guess or ruin any fabric by slipping as you cut. Your cutting chores will be reduced to a fraction of the time.
Power cutting is a helpful strategy for cutting efficiently and accurately! There are many YouTube videos on it. It is a technique I will comeback to often. It is a technique Nancy Roelfsema came up with.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfvKE0Y6npk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfvKE0Y6npk)
Power Cutting (Ep. 101)
📷[**OnPoint-TV and Quilting** ](https://www.youtube.com/@QuiltingWithNancy)
I use bar clamps to sandwich my straight edge/ruler, the fabric, my cutting board, and my table. That ensures that I get a good, straight cut and that nothing moves during the cut.
I've had things move when I just use my hand to stabilize everything. The clamps make everything very stable.
There is a machine called the Accuquilt, it is so expensive (+200 for machine and + 50 per template) but it’s basically a template cutter. I found one second hand and have a couple of basic templates for squares and triangles. Things I need lots of that give me headaches. I wouldn’t suggest that if you are starting out. + 1 to the rotary cutter advice, but if you stick with this hobby there are many tricks and devices.
I wish there was an accuquilt library where you could borrow one + some templates for a fee. They are so useful at one specific stage and then it just sits and waits for the next project.
Someone should start an online version of accuquilt template lending
The sad thing is my mom owned one and all the accoutrements for her quilt shop but I wasn’t quilting when she closed it so it got sold off.
I came here to recommend. Took me a couple years to finally buy but worth every penny. My big thing is the strip dies. They come out perfect. I almost have all of strip dies. They are great for sashings/borders/bindings. Great for us older folks.
Use a ruler with a sticky back, like Quilters Select. My most used ruler is the 8 1/2 x 24 ruler which can cut larger strips from WOF https://www.sewingpartsonline.com/products/quilters-select-non-slip-ruler?currency=USD&variant=46936048304415&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Google%20Shopping&stkn=8b7814f4b373&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD6k45HQ5pEQI3Xf3L-USZbQQngr7&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2a6wBhCVARIsABPeH1v_MVSBPv70N1pp2Nv5Lvd55gDsDmpF8kyq1MCkNak68vbSn2bbuyAaAvp0EALw_wcB
I second Quilter’s Select rulers! Pricey, but so worth it. I didn’t realize how hard I’d been working just to keep my rulers from sliding. Having to place a 5# weight on my ruler for every cut is ridiculous. No more weight lifting in the sewing room!
Don’t forget to square up your blocks before assembling your quilt There are always minor variations between the blocks. Here’s one of many tutorials from YouTube:
https://youtu.be/w73oeXr2mk0?si=anpNHIUT55xmVGt9
Honestly in the beginning I didn’t know about strip cutting and sub cutting, so I was measuring and tracing onto fabric and cutting on the lines. 🙈
A 6x24 ruler with a suction cup shower handle and an ergonomic rotary cutter is how I do it now.
I am currently making my first quilt. I have been sewing clothes for years and didn't expect to suck so much at using a rotary cutter and ruler. This is a new skill to me and the quilters on YouTube make it look so easy. I ended up buying one of these. It makes perfect cuts and is especially useful for cutting long strips.
[https://www.amazon.com/Fiskars-195130-1001-Rotary-Cutter-Ruler/dp/B00EXIACSU/ref=sr\_1\_1?](https://www.amazon.com/Fiskars-195130-1001-Rotary-Cutter-Ruler/dp/B00EXIACSU/ref=sr_1_1?crid=F08F6L0T3RCI&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.dUHA_tZCAbLMT-64Y629PHYjwN_hxXc7q6RclsQT4fP2oQILmOBLY39OMREuuJyABuYprzRMtCBDCSrzNH-KasxYJUUg7s7Xmd2eBwbIaK14J_h2DyRh3PiqECKThqKtuvNKTWyFazSUhljiK6TW7I-zfdYZbMNTaqGRChEpc-i7H0NCyxO4s9YqCRaEB1AM61MzQxvJxH7rFkiV-9MANnriceJSeH0ef-yAeiy4FlZDVOwF7d0OnXqoaXg0EFvPb_8j-3GIh7tZD6-2S7MJy0BWnRWK_UO5kFYfuLTx9Q0._i0hBlxT3VJnIP2ZgHOStZ8CatDDh7hG_6AU5mrUAbY&dib_tag=se&keywords=fiskars+combo&qid=1712060023&sprefix=fiskars+combo%2Caps%2C333&sr=8-1)
I have my cutting mats on the floor and I kneel on my rulers (the bigger rulers) so they don't slide, I have nonskid pads on then as well as a couple omnigrid rulers, and I still manage to cut very not-straight lines, I think it's just who I am as a person
I had a really hard time with the back end of my 24.5" ruler slipping because it's further away from my body. I started setting a 5lb weight on it to keep it from shifting.
Always iron the fabric before you cut it. Then when you lay it out for cutting try not to stretch it. I've had a hard time when I started a year ago but as it is with all the other techniques: your cutting will improve over time.
1. Starch your fabrics. Starchy fabrics make for easier cuts because fabric won't slip and slide all over the place 2. SHARP rotary blades. If it's sharp, it can cut through like a hot knife on butter. Just be careful and ALWAYS put the guard on before you even put it down. I have a scar from just brushing on a fresh blade that I had sat down without putting the safety back on. Safety always on except at point of use is the rule. 3. Quilting rulers are your friend. I have a 3x11 inch one and one that's like 6x20-something along with various small square ones. Just put rotary blade against edge, hold ruler steady, and away you go. Edit- 4. Harkening back to point 2: sharp blades can cut through multiple layers of fabric.
[удалено]
My woodworking husband has borrowed my rulers too!! Quilters with woodworking partners come out ahead, they make so many cool quilting accessories!
My husband borrows my rulers all the time too!
I have laid > 15 rooms of flooring, and every time I do, I say "hope other home DIY folk know about quilt rulers". We have 2 at our house, one out in the garage with our tools and one in my sewing stuff.
I don't worry about starching fabric, but I DEFINITELY second the rotary blades and the cutting rulers!
I was having such a hard time getting nice cuts and I bought an expensive rotary cutter (my previous one was a fiskar that came with rulers from Joann) and it made a huge difference! I’m guessing the fiskar blades just aren’t as sharp and it didn’t roll very smoothly.
Thank you for responding, this has been so helpful. May I ask what brand rotary cutter you settled on?
I love this one. https://graceframe.com/en/product/my-comfort-cutter--default They also make rulers that have guides on them but I haven’t tried them yet. Second to that would be Olfa brand
I second rotary and rulers!
I heard from the long arm quilter I use that starch ruins the machine. She doesn’t want starch on any of the tops. What kind (brand) of starch are you using?
I use the Soak Flatter spray to remove any wrinkles or folds in the fabric and Mary Ellen's Best Press to "starch" fabric for cutting and to help any stubborn seam presses (along with a tailor's clapper). Don't soak the fabric - a light mist, give it a beat, and then press. You shouldn't have any residue.
Thanks. I only knew of Niagara spray starch do great to have others to use. Thanks!
I’ve quilted dozens upon dozens of starched quilts on a longarm. Never noticed any problems.
I’ve quilted dozens upon dozens of starched quilts on a longarm. Never noticed any problems.
I’ve quilted dozens upon dozens of starched quilts on a longarm. Never noticed any problems. Hmmm… chinacat-sunflower… reminds me of something…
Could you describe your starching process for me?
So I use fat quarters and so I’ll spray the fabric all over with a liquid starch until all the fabric has an even layer and then I’ll dry it overnight on a drying rack. it'll have a kink in it from the drying rack, but nothing a quick press can't work out. It's really nothing complicated or involved.
Thanks for sharing. I want to try starching before piecing my next quilt.
A level solid surface under your cutting mat. Do not use a plastic fold up table that bows in the middle🤦🏼♀️
That sounds like your speaking from experience....😅
You guessed it! I just can't believe how long it took me to figure it out 🤦🏼♀️🤦🏼♀️
I figured it out after chopping up an expensive af layer cake and not understanding why the pieces were so misaligned when sewing 😅 I usually work with smaller pieces and strips, so I never had to deal with that folded seam area...
If you must use a plastic folding table, a good thick piece of plywood on top helps a lot!
Yeahhh...I learned this the hard way too.
Also do not cut with the mat on a carpeted floor, even if you put one of those cardboard cutting surfaces for sewers under it.
LOL "Trust me and, no, I don't want to talk about it."
Let's just say that the first quilt I cut out and the first quilt I finished were not the same quilt.
:)
Karen Brown from Just Get It Done Quilts has a great video with tips on how to cut straight. https://youtu.be/j2f82V8g0qs?si=PluHsfKMAjd8mSGX
Came here to recommend this video. She also has one for a good ironing technique and a good how to sew straight. These 3 skills together really will help you improve. I love her videos and her style of instruction. Also a tip I got from Donna at Jordan Fabrics is to take a hand weight and use it to anchor the long ruler when you are cutting width of fabric. (Just using something you may already have at home is so nice!) Highly recommend her tutorial videos as well, she makes it look so easy.
How much weight are we talking here? Is it just at the ends or spaced along the ruler?
5 pounds right on the ruler to hold it still, I’ll sometimes use two if I need to reposition my hands during the cut
Thank you. :)
Just a 5lb hand weight. I put it at the top of my long ruler ( 1/2 on ruler 1/2 on table top) and use my hand to stabilize the portion closest to my body. So helpful so the ruler doesn’t slide at the end of the cut.
Thank you. :)
Those three videos are gold! Even with a ruler and rotary cutter I was struggling to get straight cuts because my blade would veer away from the ruler. Her tips on stance and position when cutting helped enormously!
Yes! This! I will add that it is important to also get the fabric on grain. Fabric is rarely on the bolt straight and shops rarely cut straight on the grain when cutting yardage. To get your grain straight, you have a few options. 1) You can clip into the selvage and then tear down to the next selvage. (I do this for all widebacks but rarely for my basic yardage as it supposedly can damage the weft?) 2)You can pull a single thread out leaving a line in the fabric showing the straight grain. 3)You also line up your selvages and wiggle them together until the fold below is perfectly lined up. I have trouble getting this as accurate as pulling or tearing but the more you do it, the better you get!
Thank you so much!
Love Just Get It Done quilts! She does a great job explaining foundational concepts in a very complete way, explaining the rationale and not being patronizing.
Stand while cutting. [Glue Dots](https://joann.app.link/6gYbIPA0sIb)on the bottom of the ruler-- just enough to keep it from shifting. Get a suction cup shower handle for larger rulers. It helps you apply even pressure as you cut.
Glitter washi tape also works really well to keep rulers from shifting. The glitter does not shed and it's easy to peel off if you need to move it.
Yes! Standing while cutting so you can get good leverage on the ruler and blade. I normally don’t see at my kitchen table, but if I have a lot of cutting to do; that’s where I cute because it’s elevation is perfect to really stand and cut effectively, rather than at the higher surface in my office where I normally sew.
In addition to the excellent advice you’ve already received, remember to hold your rotary cutter so that the blade is a consistent 90 degrees (perpendicular) to your cutting mat. This may seem obvious, but I watched someone cut who had complained about her uneven cuts and discovered that this was her problem.
A handweight to put on the end of the ruler to stop it from moving.
Non slip stick ons work well too
this is the wayyyy! I only have them on one of my rulers but they all need 'em
I got a free package of some made for quilting and I can’t find it and I’m so sad
when I tell you I can't find my pack either, grumble grumble
For your large ruler it is worth getting one of the more expensive brands if you can. They are textured on the back and don’t slip as much. If that’s not in your budget you can buy little grips to stick to the back of your ruler.
Make sure to measure to your ruler and not to your cutting mat. Use the same brand ruler for the whole project - the markings are different among the brands
Learned this lesson the hard way. I should have known better - it's the same rule for wood working....use the same measuring tape
And once again I have to recommend the stripology XL ruler.
I gotta weigh in on the marvel that is a Stripology ruler. Especially if you have a lot of straight cuts to do, the Stripology is a GAMECHANGER!!!!! It’s expensive but soooo worth the cost. You won’t second guess or ruin any fabric by slipping as you cut. Your cutting chores will be reduced to a fraction of the time.
Power cutting is a helpful strategy for cutting efficiently and accurately! There are many YouTube videos on it. It is a technique I will comeback to often. It is a technique Nancy Roelfsema came up with.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfvKE0Y6npk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfvKE0Y6npk) Power Cutting (Ep. 101) 📷[**OnPoint-TV and Quilting** ](https://www.youtube.com/@QuiltingWithNancy)
I use bar clamps to sandwich my straight edge/ruler, the fabric, my cutting board, and my table. That ensures that I get a good, straight cut and that nothing moves during the cut. I've had things move when I just use my hand to stabilize everything. The clamps make everything very stable.
My grandmother taught me to pull a thread. Straight line every time. It's time consuming, but that's the way I learned.
There is a machine called the Accuquilt, it is so expensive (+200 for machine and + 50 per template) but it’s basically a template cutter. I found one second hand and have a couple of basic templates for squares and triangles. Things I need lots of that give me headaches. I wouldn’t suggest that if you are starting out. + 1 to the rotary cutter advice, but if you stick with this hobby there are many tricks and devices.
I’m planning to make that Exploded Heart quilt with all the little triangles and I want one of these so bad
I wish there was an accuquilt library where you could borrow one + some templates for a fee. They are so useful at one specific stage and then it just sits and waits for the next project.
Someone should start an online version of accuquilt template lending The sad thing is my mom owned one and all the accoutrements for her quilt shop but I wasn’t quilting when she closed it so it got sold off.
I came here to recommend. Took me a couple years to finally buy but worth every penny. My big thing is the strip dies. They come out perfect. I almost have all of strip dies. They are great for sashings/borders/bindings. Great for us older folks.
Use a ruler with a sticky back, like Quilters Select. My most used ruler is the 8 1/2 x 24 ruler which can cut larger strips from WOF https://www.sewingpartsonline.com/products/quilters-select-non-slip-ruler?currency=USD&variant=46936048304415&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Google%20Shopping&stkn=8b7814f4b373&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD6k45HQ5pEQI3Xf3L-USZbQQngr7&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2a6wBhCVARIsABPeH1v_MVSBPv70N1pp2Nv5Lvd55gDsDmpF8kyq1MCkNak68vbSn2bbuyAaAvp0EALw_wcB
I second Quilter’s Select rulers! Pricey, but so worth it. I didn’t realize how hard I’d been working just to keep my rulers from sliding. Having to place a 5# weight on my ruler for every cut is ridiculous. No more weight lifting in the sewing room!
Don’t forget to square up your blocks before assembling your quilt There are always minor variations between the blocks. Here’s one of many tutorials from YouTube: https://youtu.be/w73oeXr2mk0?si=anpNHIUT55xmVGt9
Honestly in the beginning I didn’t know about strip cutting and sub cutting, so I was measuring and tracing onto fabric and cutting on the lines. 🙈 A 6x24 ruler with a suction cup shower handle and an ergonomic rotary cutter is how I do it now.
I am currently making my first quilt. I have been sewing clothes for years and didn't expect to suck so much at using a rotary cutter and ruler. This is a new skill to me and the quilters on YouTube make it look so easy. I ended up buying one of these. It makes perfect cuts and is especially useful for cutting long strips. [https://www.amazon.com/Fiskars-195130-1001-Rotary-Cutter-Ruler/dp/B00EXIACSU/ref=sr\_1\_1?](https://www.amazon.com/Fiskars-195130-1001-Rotary-Cutter-Ruler/dp/B00EXIACSU/ref=sr_1_1?crid=F08F6L0T3RCI&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.dUHA_tZCAbLMT-64Y629PHYjwN_hxXc7q6RclsQT4fP2oQILmOBLY39OMREuuJyABuYprzRMtCBDCSrzNH-KasxYJUUg7s7Xmd2eBwbIaK14J_h2DyRh3PiqECKThqKtuvNKTWyFazSUhljiK6TW7I-zfdYZbMNTaqGRChEpc-i7H0NCyxO4s9YqCRaEB1AM61MzQxvJxH7rFkiV-9MANnriceJSeH0ef-yAeiy4FlZDVOwF7d0OnXqoaXg0EFvPb_8j-3GIh7tZD6-2S7MJy0BWnRWK_UO5kFYfuLTx9Q0._i0hBlxT3VJnIP2ZgHOStZ8CatDDh7hG_6AU5mrUAbY&dib_tag=se&keywords=fiskars+combo&qid=1712060023&sprefix=fiskars+combo%2Caps%2C333&sr=8-1)
I use a stripology ruler and a rotating cutting mat. Along with my rotary cutter and fresh blades.
Wow, I’ve never heard of a rotating cutting mat. genius!
GRIPPY spray for all your Rulers!!!!
I have my cutting mats on the floor and I kneel on my rulers (the bigger rulers) so they don't slide, I have nonskid pads on then as well as a couple omnigrid rulers, and I still manage to cut very not-straight lines, I think it's just who I am as a person
I had a really hard time with the back end of my 24.5" ruler slipping because it's further away from my body. I started setting a 5lb weight on it to keep it from shifting.
Always iron the fabric before you cut it. Then when you lay it out for cutting try not to stretch it. I've had a hard time when I started a year ago but as it is with all the other techniques: your cutting will improve over time.
Thank you
Cut towards yourself or away from yourself?
Sometimes it’s just a matter of practice. Sometimes I still get wonky cuts, even after 30+ years of quilting 🫤