Sewing With A Rotary Cutter
A revolution has taken in place in the cutting of fabric for sewers across the world. The rotary cutter is the center of this exciting trend. This sewing tool makes cutting fabric more precise, less wear and tear on the users hand and wrist, faster, easier, and safer.
This invention is simple but ingenious. It consists of a circular blade connected to a handle and protected by a sliding shield. You hold the handle in your hand, and press down while rolling the cutter. It is so quick and easy. It is also safe when some basic precautions are taken.
Remember safety first. While the rotary cutter comes with a convenient protective shield, when the shield is drawn back, the sharp razor like blade is exposed. Caution: It is sharp and will cut fingers and more. Prevent accidents by always practicing proper cutting techniques. Keep out of the reach of children. Never run with the rotary cutter.
Always cut with a sharp rotary blade. Never use a rotary blade that is dull or has a nick on the blade. Change it. It may be possible to sharpen a rotary blade, but it is generally quite inexpensive, and may be better to just replace it when it gets dull or marred by pins, paperclips, staples, pieces of plastic, cardboard, and other debris. Always keep the blade in its handle with safety guide on, until cutting, and then replace the safety as soon as finished.
Keep the rotary cutter clean, free of oils, free of lint, free of anything that might affect its precision cutting ability.
Rotary cutters are easy to use, once you learn to properly hold them. Take the handle in your hand. Line your index finger up with the blade. This will help guide and control your cutting. Relax and avoid tensing up.
Use the rotary cutter exclusively on a fully supported cutting surface. Never use a rotary cutter without its rotary cutting mat. Use the cutting mat on a stable cutting table capable of supporting the cutting process.
On top of the cutting mat, lay out your materials and smooth it out. Eliminate any lumps, bumps, or debris.
Plastic rulers sometimes tend to slip and slide on fabric. Be careful. You may purchase special rulers with non slip backing, or you can purchase a special adhesive sandpaper dots or non-slip film to make your ruler non-slip. Check out the Omnigrid InvisiGripTM your local sew and quilt store.
Place the clear ruler edge just where you want to cut. Keep grainline in mind when setting your ruler to achieve the best possible cut. Place the rotary cutter blade beside the ruler with the handle rising up at its recommended angle (varies depending on the design of the cutter). Pull the Safety lever back exposing the rotary cutting blade. The blade should line up with the ruler, but not cut into it.
Properly position your body, your hands, your arms, and your feet for optimum cutting control and comfort. Avoid reaching. If you are too tall or too short to cut on the table, fit the table height before cutting. If you slip, fall, or otherwise move, it will mess up your cut. Position your support hand on the ruler to keep it in place.
Again, never reach in an careless manner. Using a non slip ruler makes it easy to walk your support hand along the ruler while you cut. The procedure is easy to do. When you feel uncomfortable with your reach, stop the cut. Do not move the ruler or the cutter. Move your support hand forward to a comfortable support position and start cutting again. Keep steady pressure on the cutter to the end of the cut.
At the end of the cut, release the safety. Always seal the blade after every cut. Every time up put the cutter down, make certain the safety is covering the blade. No one wants to get cut. It is also a good idea to wear shoes when cutting. Remember, respect the razor sharp rotary blade at all times.
The more you discover about how to use this amazing tool, the faster, easier, and more accurate your cutting will become. Do not be afraid to experiment and discover new ways to streamline your sewing and quilting.
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