Need to cut straight cuts in your fabric for sewing projects and quilt blocks? The rotary cutter will be your best friend! With a ruler and rotary mat, they make precise cuts! Even beginner quilters can cut straight lines!
Using the right tools for the job always makes it easier! Rotary cutters are one of the most used tools for quilters, along with the cutting mat and the quilters rulers. Be careful. The rotary blades are very sharp. Many quilters have accidentally cut themselves using their rotary cutters. Here is how to use a rotary cutter, as well as some tips on cutting fabrics with your rotary cutter.
Rotary cutters come in a variety of sizes. The blade rotates in a handle making it easy to cut through multiple layers of fabric quickly and accurately. Common blade sizes range from 18mm, 28mm, 45mm and 60mm. If you are going to invest in one size to start, I recommend the 45mm rotary cutter.
To use a rotary cutter, you’ll need at least one quilters ruler. If you are just starting as a quilter, the best ruler to purchase first is one that is 6-inches wide by 24-inches tall. With this ruler it is easy to cut strips of fabric from both 45-inch fabric folded in half as well as fat quarters.
You will also need a self-healing mat. Don’t use a rotary cutter on your tabletop – it will damage the table top and your rotary cutter blade. The smallest you should start with is 18 x 24. Cutting mats are specially made and are ‘healing’. This keeps your blade sharper, longer.
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How do rotary cutters work?
Rotary cutters are a tool quilters use with an acrylic ruler to cut fabric. They are like a very sharp pizza cutter, intended for fabric. The round blade is placed next to an acrylic ruler on a healing mat. Pressure is given to the blade and it moves along the ruler cutting the fabric.
You can cut multiple layers of fabric accurately at one time. There are several different styles of rotary cutters and sizes of blades. Pick the cutting handle that works best for you, and the right size blade for the project. Larger circumference blades are best for straight cutting. Smaller blades are best for curved or short cuts with your rotary cutter.
Start by laying your fabric flat on your cutting mat. If it is 45-inches wide, fold it in half width wise. Make sure that it is folded with the selvedge edges matching and there are no wrinkles in the fabric. The cut edges of the fabric may not (probably won’t) line up. This is because the fabric is rolled on the bolts, sometimes with a finish and it is not necessarily rolled on the straight of grain. See our article about bias.
How to cut straight strips with a rotary cutter
The first thing you need to do when cutting strips of fabric with a rotary cutter is to make sure your fabric is folded straight. Fabric straight from the fabric shop or your stash may not have a straight-cut edge. You’ll want to press your fabric and line up both selvage edges. Keep adjusting the selvage edges until the fabric is flat at the fold.
TIP: Cut with a rotary cutter in a standing position. This gives you more leverage when cutting.
Take a look at your ruler, you’ll see the grid lines both horizontally and vertically.
See how the cut edge is not straight? Line up the selvage edge on a straight line on your cutting mat. The folded edge is at the top, away from you. Place the ruler so that its horizontal lines are straight with the cutting mat. Make sure you have the right side of the ruler facing up.
Make an initial cut to make sure you have a straight edge on your fabric. This is called truing up your fabric edge. I save these strips and use them to make fabric coil bowls and fabric coil trivets.
Now you are ready to cut strips from your fabric. I don’t use the markings on the cutting mat to cut my strips, I rely on the ruler only. This way the strips are all the same. Each tool may be just a little different.
Take your ruler and line up a horizontal line with the selvage of your fabric and the appropriate vertical line with the cut width for your strip of fabric. I’m cutting a 2-1/2 inch strip of fabric.
Here is a close-up so you can see the horizontal line on the selvage and the vertical line at the 2-1/2 inch mark. Using your rotary cutter you’ll get a nice clean cut, which is hard to do using fabric scissors.
If you find yourself cutting a lot of straight strips, you might want to purchase a June Tailor Shape Cut ruler. With this ruler, you still need to line up the selvage edges and make sure your fabric lies flat. You won’t need to make the true cut to the edge of the fabric. Just cut in the correct grooves for the width of your strips!
Rotary cutting makes for perfect cuts!
How to cut curves with a rotary cutter
For some acrylic templates, you’ll want to be able to cut a curve. Use a rotary cutter with a smaller blade. The drunkards path block is a good example of when you’d want to use an acrylic template and a smaller cutter.
Rotary Cutter Safety
Keep rotary cutters out of reach of children and pets.
Rotary cutters are sharp. And, yes, they can cut your fingers if they get in the way. Rotary cutters can cut many layers of fabric at once – they can easily cut your fingers. Use a special quilter’s protective glove when using your rotary cutter. Always cut away from your body. Start the cutter at the edge of the ruler closest to you and roll it away from you cutting the fabric.
When you are done with the cut, put on the blade cover or click the blade down, depending on your rotary cutter. If you have children in the home, make sure the cutter is put away somewhere where they can’t accidentally get it. They are sharp! And, if you have a furry friend that gets on your table where you keep the cutter, you don’t want them to accidentally get cut.
Rotary cutters are sharp and can cause serious damage. Upside, they make our job of cutting fabric accurately much easier.
Tips for using a rotary cutter
- There are a lot of different brands. Buy a name-brand rotary cutter. It’s important to have high-quality products. I like the rotary cutters by Kai, Olfa, and Fiskars. Pick a style that works for you. There are different handles and features.
- Pick one that has a blade guard or that you can disengage the blade. The blade edge is very sharp.
- Select the right blade size for your project. I like the 45 or 60mm blade for cutting strips of fabric. I use the 18mm blade for cutting small templates or shapes.
- Use ruler grips on the wrong side of your ruler to give it more traction for less slipping on your fabric.
- Longer rulers make it easier to cut long strips.
- Place a handle on your most-used rulers so that you have a good grip on it while cutting.
- Wear a quilter’s glove on the hand that is on the ruler. Rotary cutters are very sharp!
- Having trouble making a good cut with your rotary cutter? Make sure you have a good, sharp blade. If you know you have a fresh blade, try applying more pressure down on your blade as you cut. Dull blades are frustrating and don’t cut your fabric well.
- Replace your rotary cutter blade when it begins to skip threads, make ragged cuts or tear the fabric. When blades get dull it gets frustrating because your fabric doesn’t cut all of the way and we sometimes get sloppy with our safety.
Replacing your rotary cutter blade
Follow the directions that came with your rotary cutter. If you have purchased a single replacement blade, place the old blade in the plastic container the new blade came in for disposal. Even though the old blade may not be cutting fabric effectively, it is still very sharp.
I don’t recommend trying to sharpen your blade. There are several tools on the market that claim to sharpen your rotary blades and other DIY suggestions. I find it better to replace the blade and know that it will work well right away.
